Lloyd Bentsen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lloyd Bentsen
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| 69th United States Secretary of the Treasury | |
| In office January 20, 1993 – December 22, 1994 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Nicholas F. Brady |
| Succeeded by | Robert Rubin |
| Chair of the Senate Finance Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1987 – January 20, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Packwood |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Patrick Moynihan |
| United States Senator from Texas |
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| In office January 3, 1971 – January 20, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Ralph Yarborough |
| Succeeded by | Bob Krueger |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 15th district |
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| In office December 4, 1948 – January 3, 1955 |
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| Preceded by | Milton West |
| Succeeded by | Joe M. Kilgore |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr.
February 11, 1921 Mission, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | May 23, 2006 (aged 85) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Beryl Ann Longino
(m. 1943) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
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| Years of service | 1942–1947 (Active) 1950–1959 (Reserve) |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit |
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| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |  Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (4) |
Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr. (February 11, 1921 – May 23, 2006) was an important American politician. He served as a U.S. Senator for Texas for four terms, from 1971 to 1993. In 1988, he was the Democratic Party candidate for Vice President. Later, he became the 69th United States Secretary of the Treasury under President Bill Clinton.
Bentsen was born in Mission, Texas. He studied law at the University of Texas School of Law. During World War II, he served in the Air Force and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1948 to 1955.
He became a Senator in 1970, beating George H. W. Bush. He was reelected three times. In the Senate, he helped create the individual retirement account (IRA). He also led the Senate Finance Committee. In 1988, he ran for Vice President with Michael Dukakis. During a debate, he famously told Dan Quayle, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
After the 1992 election, President Bill Clinton asked Bentsen to be his Secretary of the Treasury. Bentsen helped pass the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He retired in 1994. In 1999, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a very high honor.
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Early Life and Education
Lloyd Bentsen Jr. was born in Mission, in Hidalgo County. His father, Lloyd Millard Bentsen Sr., was a successful businessman. His grandparents came from Denmark and became farmers.
Lloyd Sr. and his brother Elmer helped develop land in Texas. They made a lot of money from citrus fruit. They also helped local banks and the Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce. The Bentsen brothers even donated land for the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park.
Lloyd Jr. graduated from Sharyland High School in Mission when he was 15. He was an Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank in Boy Scouts. He also received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
In 1942, Bentsen earned a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. He was ready to become a lawyer, but then World War II started.
Military Service in World War II
Bentsen joined the military during World War II. He first worked in intelligence in Brazil. Then, he trained to be a pilot. In 1944, he started flying B-24 bombers from Foggia, Italy.
At just 23 years old, he became a major. He commanded a squadron of 600 men. This included 15 bombers, their crews, and maintenance teams. He was later promoted to lieutenant colonel before leaving the military in 1947.
Bentsen flew 35 dangerous missions. Many targets were heavily defended, like the oil fields in Ploiești, Romania. These oil fields were very important for the Nazis to make war supplies. His unit helped destroy about half of Nazi Germany's fuel sources.
He also flew missions against factories and industrial targets in other countries. Bentsen was shot down twice during his service.
For his bravery, Bentsen received the Distinguished Flying Cross. This is one of the Air Force's highest awards for heroism in flight. He also earned the Air Medal four times.
After the war, Bentsen continued to serve in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1950 to 1959. He was promoted to colonel in 1953.
Early Political Career
After his military service, Bentsen returned to Texas. From 1946 to 1955, he served as the Hidalgo County Judge. This was mostly an administrative job, not a judicial one.
In 1948, Bentsen was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served three terms. He was a protégé of Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn. Bentsen was known for being a good poker player.
In 1970, Bentsen ran for the U.S. Senate. He won against the sitting Senator, Ralph Yarborough. Bentsen then won the general election against George H. W. Bush.
Some people worried that Bentsen was too moderate. However, he won the election against Bush with 53.5% of the votes.
1976 Presidential Campaign
In 1974, Bentsen started campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination. He visited many states and raised a lot of money. He officially announced his candidacy in February 1975.
However, Bentsen did not organize his campaign well across the country. Many people thought he was hoping to become the Vice President instead of the President.
By October 1975, Bentsen's campaign was not getting much attention. He decided to focus on a few states. But he did not win many votes. He eventually stopped his national campaign. Jimmy Carter later won the nomination and became president.
Senate Career and Achievements
Bentsen was reelected to the Senate many times. He won in 1976, 1982, and 1988. In each election, he defeated Republican congressmen.
In 1970, he beat George H. W. Bush. In 1976, he defeated Alan Steelman. In 1982, he won against James M. Collins. And in 1988, he beat Beau Boulter. That same year, he was also on the ballot as the Democratic Vice Presidential candidate.
During his time in the Senate, Bentsen helped pass important laws. He guided the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). This law protects the pensions of American workers. He also supported the creation of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). These accounts help people save money for retirement.
Bentsen also worked on laws to improve healthcare for women and children with low incomes. He also pushed for tax breaks for oil and gas producers. This was to help reduce America's reliance on foreign oil. From 1987 to 1993, he was the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
1988 Vice Presidential Campaign
In 1988, Governor Michael Dukakis chose Bentsen to be his running mate. They ran together in the presidential election. Bentsen was chosen partly to help the Democratic ticket win Texas. This was important because George H. W. Bush, a fellow Texan, was at the top of the Republican ticket.
Some people thought Bentsen seemed more presidential than Dukakis. During the vice presidential debate, Republican candidate Dan Quayle compared his experience to John F. Kennedy's. Bentsen famously replied, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
Quayle said, "That was really uncalled for, Senator." Bentsen responded, "You're the one that was making the comparison, Senator." This moment became one of the most famous parts of the campaign.
Even though Bentsen was popular, the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket lost the election. They did not win Texas. However, Bentsen was reelected to the U.S. Senate at the same time.
Bentsen thought about running for president in 1992. But he decided not to, because President Bush was very popular after the Gulf War. However, Bush later lost the election to Bill Clinton due to a struggling economy.
Secretary of the Treasury
After Bill Clinton won the 1992 election, he asked Bentsen to be his Secretary of the Treasury. Bentsen accepted the job.
As Treasury Secretary, Bentsen helped pass important agreements. He helped get enough votes for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This agreement made trade easier between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He also helped pass the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
Bentsen was also important in passing the 1994 crime bill. This bill temporarily banned assault rifles.
In December 1994, Bentsen announced he would retire. He had told President Clinton earlier that he would not stay for the full four-year term. Robert Rubin took over his position.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1995, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher praised Bentsen. She called him a "marvelous politician" and a "person of great dignity."
In 1998, Bentsen had two strokes. This meant he needed a wheelchair. In 1999, President Clinton gave Bentsen the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest honors for civilians in the U.S.
President Clinton also honored Bentsen in his final State of the Union address in 2000. He thanked Bentsen for his work on the Deficit Reduction Act. This act helped the U.S. economy grow.
Bentsen passed away on May 23, 2006, at his home in Houston. He was 85 years old. He was survived by his wife, Beryl Ann Longino, their three children, and seven grandchildren. Former President Bill Clinton gave a speech at his memorial service. Bentsen is buried in Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.
Bentsen's Impact and Honors
As a Senator, Bentsen helped create the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). This law protects workers' pensions. He also supported the creation of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). These help people save for retirement.
He also worked to improve healthcare for low-income women and children. He helped give tax breaks to oil and gas companies. This was to reduce America's need for foreign oil.
A long part of U.S. Highway 59 in Texas is named Senator Lloyd Bentsen Highway. This is in honor of his success in getting federal funding for projects.
As Secretary of the Treasury, Bentsen helped reduce the national debt by $500 billion. This led to a long period of economic growth in the U.S. More than 5 million new jobs were created while he was in office.
Bentsen also worked on water and wastewater projects in poor areas of south Texas. He helped protect natural areas across the state. He also secured funding for many medical facilities.
His famous line to Dan Quayle, "You're no Jack Kennedy," is still used today. It is a way to tell politicians they might be thinking too highly of themselves. Bentsen also created the term "astroturfing." This term describes fake grassroots campaigns.
Bentsen's family is still active in politics. His nephew, Ken Bentsen Jr., was a U.S. Representative. His grandson, Lloyd Bentsen IV, worked for John Kerry's presidential campaign.
In 2009, the Senator Lloyd and B.A. Bentsen Stroke Research Center opened in Houston. It is part of the University of Texas Health Science Center.
Images for kids
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Bentsen as a U.S. Representative
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Bentsen's signature, as used on American currency
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Alternate portrait as Secretary of the Treasury
See also
In Spanish: Lloyd Bentsen para niños
