Lloyd Bentsen

Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr. (February 11, 1921 – May 23, 2006) was an influential American politician, businessman, and lawyer. He served as a United States Senator from Texas from 1971 to 1993 and as the United States Secretary of the Treasury under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1994.

Early Life and Education

Lloyd Bentsen was born in Mission, Texas, to a family involved in the valley agricultural business. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a degree in economics in 1942. During World War II, Bentsen served as a B-24 bomber pilot in the United States Army Air Corps, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and other medals.

Political Career

Bentsen's political career began in 1948 when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, serving until 1955. He made an unsuccessful bid for the governorship of Texas in 1970 but was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1971. As a senator, Bentsen was known for his work on tax reform, financial deregulation, and health care issues. He played a key role in the passage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and was a proponent of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

In 1988, Bentsen was the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States, running alongside presidential nominee Michael Dukakis. Although the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket lost to George H. W. Bush and Dan Quayle, Bentsen's performance, particularly in the vice-presidential debate where he famously told Quayle, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy," was widely praised.

Secretary of the Treasury

After his tenure in the Senate, Bentsen served as the Secretary of the Treasury from 1993 to 1994 under President Bill Clinton. During his time as secretary, he focused on economic policies that aimed to reduce the federal deficit and was involved in the administration's health care reform efforts.

Later Life and Legacy

Bentsen retired from public service in 1994 and returned to private life in Houston, Texas, where he passed away in 2006. His contributions to American politics, particularly in the areas of finance and health care, left a lasting impact. The Lloyd Bentsen Highway, part of U.S. Route 59 in Texas, is named in his honor.

See Also

• List of United States Senators from Texas
• United States presidential election, 1988