Former U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen has died at the age of 85. In addition to serving Texas for 22 years in the U.S. Senate, Bentsen also served as President Clinton's first Treasury Secretary and was the Democrats candidate for vice president in 1988. A family spokeswoman said that Bentsen died at his home in Houston.
Known as a moderate, pro-business Democrat, Bentsen chaired the Senate Finance Committee from 1987 until 1992.
One of the best remembered moments from Bentsen's career came during the 1988 vice presidential debate between Bentsen and Dan Quayle. A question was asked about Quayle's relative lack of experience and the Indiana Republican claimed he had as much experience as John F. Kennedy did when he ran for president in 1960. Bentsen struck back at Quayle by saying, 'Senator, I knew Jack Kennedy. I served with Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.'
Bentsen got his law degree from the University of Texas and served his country in World War II as an intelligence officer and flying B-24s. After the war, he practiced law before being elected to Congress in 1948 where he served six years. He did not run for re-election in 1954 and then went into business.
After serving as Treasury Secretary, Bentsen was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999.
