Richard John Agnich James Randall Agnich
64-455: (2) Athens, Texas , U.S. Frederick Joseph Agnich (July 19, 1913 – October 28, 2004) was a Minnesota -born geophysicist who served from 1971 to 1987 as a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives. From 1972 to 1976, he was the Texas Republican National Committeeman . Agnich was born in Eveleth in St. Louis County in northeastern Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota at Saint Paul , from which he received
128-521: A Bachelor of Arts in geology in 1937. He immediately moved thereafter to Texas to work for Geophysical Services, Inc. The company sought to locate petroleum within the United States and abroad in such locations as Venezuela , Sumatra , and the not-yet-established Pakistan . Geophysical Services became Texas Instruments , headquartered in Dallas . In 1951, Agnich became the executive vice president of
192-517: A World War I veteran, served as a major general in the Texas Home Guard during World War II.) After the war, Bentsen returned to his native Rio Grande Valley . He served the people of his home area from 1946 to 1955, first as Hidalgo County Judge (a largely administrative post as opposed to a judicial one). First elected in the Truman landslide of 1948 , he served three successive terms in
256-560: A document to replace the Texas Constitution of 1876 . However, the new constitution fell three votes short, 118 votes instead of 121, of the two-thirds majority required in the combined state House and Senate. In 1977, he hired young Karl Rove to his first job in Texas as a legislative assistant in Agnich's Dallas office. Agnich served on House Appropriations and Finance and was the chairman of
320-434: A household in the city was $ 29,372, and the median income for a family was $ 35,359. Males had a median income of $ 27,388 versus $ 19,375 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 16,561. About 14.7% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over. According to the city's most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report ,
384-639: A lengthy illness in Dallas at the age of ninety-one, just days before the reelection of U.S. President George W. Bush . His widow, Brooksie, died on April 26, 2016, at the age of eighty-three. Agnich is honored through the Fred J. Agnich Scholarship Fund at the Texas Association of Professional Geoscientists in Austin . Athens, Texas Athens is a city and the county seat of Henderson County , Texas , in
448-540: A liberal icon, in a bruising primary campaign for the 1970 Texas Democratic Senatorial nomination. The campaign came in the wake of Yarborough's politically hazardous votes in favor of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and his opposition to the Vietnam War . Bentsen made Yarborough's opposition to the war a major issue. His television advertising featured video images of rioting in
512-511: A national level, and many observers believed the freshman senator was running without any real hope of winning the nomination, hoping instead to secure a vice-presidential nomination. Wallace and Jackson were considered to be the two main contenders for the moderate to conservative voters to whom Bentsen would appeal; early in the campaign few foresaw Jimmy Carter of Georgia also effectively appealing to that group. By October 1975 Bentsen, generating little national attention or significance in
576-635: A position held prior to 1962 by then state chairman Peter J. O'Donnell , a Dallas investor and philanthropist. Agnich was elected national committeeman at the state Republican convention in 1972. Four years later he was succeeded as committeeman by another oilman, Ernest Angelo , then the mayor of Midland , who held the post until 1996. From 1974 to 1976, Angich was the vice chairman of the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C. , as well as Texas national committeeman. In 1970, Agnich
640-484: A primary architect of the Clinton economic plan , Bentsen contributed to a $ 500 billion reduction in the deficit, launching the longest period of economic growth since World War II. More than 5 million new jobs were created during his tenure as Secretary. His legacy also includes many water, wastewater and other infrastructure projects in the impoverished colonias of south Texas, the preservation of natural areas across
704-611: A severe freeze, Lloyd Sr. invested $ 7 million in an insurance and financial holding company in Houston, of which his son, Lloyd Jr., served as chief executive until running for the U.S. Senate in 1971. In 1959, Texas Governor Allan Shivers appointed Lloyd Sr. major general in the Texas State Guard Reserve Corps. He died after a car accident, aged 95. At age 15, Lloyd Jr. graduated from Sharyland High School in Mission. He
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#1733086336795768-753: A substantial fortune from the "Pride O Texas" citrus trademark. The brothers were directors of the Elsa State Bank; Lloyd Sr. was also a principal at several First National banks, president of the Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce from 1944 to 1946, and played a major role in the unity and development of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties. Both brothers donated land that became the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park . Eventually moving out of land development due to some disputes mainly resulting from crop failure due to
832-536: Is a 1,799 acre reservoir located in the eastern half of the city. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Athens has a humid subtropical climate , Cfa on climate maps. The town was heavily damaged by a low-end EF2 tornado on November 4, 2022 . As of the 2020 United States census , there were 12,857 people, 4,095 households, and 2,733 families residing in
896-408: Is located in the northwest part of the city. In addition to Lake Athens, Cedar Creek Reservoir is located northwest of the city, and is a popular vacation destination, especially for Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex residents, some of whom own a lake home on or nearby. Lake Palestine is located to its east. Lloyd Bentsen Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr. (February 11, 1921 – May 23, 2006)
960-422: The 1980 Republican presidential nomination, which instead went to Ronald W. Reagan , the former governor of California who then unseated Jimmy Carter , thus far the last Democrat to have won the electoral votes of Texas. Agnich was considered generally conservative . In 1975, he criticized higher education in Texas for excessive spending. Yet, he was also a member of the "Dirty Thirty" legislators who exposed
1024-659: The Air Force during World War II . He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in Europe. After the war, he won election to the United States House of Representatives , serving from 1948 to 1955. He defeated incumbent Senator Ralph Yarborough in the 1970 Democratic Senatorial primary and won the general election against George H. W. Bush . He was reelected in 1976 , 1982 , and 1988 , and served as
1088-797: The Athens Independent School District and is home to the Athens High School Hornets. A very small portion in the eastern outskirts of Athens is within the Brownsboro Independent School District . The main campus of Trinity Valley Community College is located in Athens. The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , is located east of the city on Lake Athens . The East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society
1152-813: The Dallas Museum of Art , the Dallas Opera , the Dallas Historical Society , and the Dallas Petroleum Club in the Chase Tower . Agnich raised funds for the Texas Republican Party during the 1950s and in the unsuccessful 1960 and 1964 presidential campaigns for Richard M. Nixon and Barry M. Goldwater , respectively. From 1967 to 1969, he was the Republican chairman for Dallas County ,
1216-706: The Sharpstown banking scandal in Houston and challenged the power of Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Gus Mutscher of Washington County . He did not hesitate to use state power to promote his favorite interests, environmental legislation, and wildlife preservation, specifically the Wildlife Conservation Act of 1983. In 1989, Agnich, with his wife Brooksie, retired to their homes in Dallas and Athens, Texas, and on Lake Lenore in Ouray, Colorado . He died of
1280-589: The United States House of Representatives . With the South, including Texas, still mostly home to yellow dog Democrats , winning the Democratic nomination was tantamount to election , and Bentsen was unopposed by Republicans in each of his three House campaigns. He became a protégé of Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn and developed a reputation as an excellent poker player. Bentsen upset incumbent Ralph Yarborough,
1344-537: The United States Signal Corps during World War I . He and Edna accompanied his parents on their relocation to the "citrus and vegetable utopia" of Sharyland , Texas, where Peter Bentsen worked as a land agent for Sharyland's founder, John H. Shary , and started a nursery seedling business. Lloyd Sr. and his brother Elmer helped with the family business, investing in land purchase, becoming the "premier colonizers and developers of Hidalgo County", and gaining
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#17330863367951408-614: The 1950s and 1960s, law schools began awarding the Juris Doctor degree rather than the LL.B. As with most law school graduates of his era, Bentsen's LL.B. was amended to reflect award of the J.D.) After brief service as a private in intelligence work in Brazil, he trained to be a pilot and in early 1944 began flying combat missions in B-24s from Foggia, Italy , with the 449th Bomb Group . At age 23, he
1472-545: The 1970 Senate race, the Keynesian economist John Kenneth Galbraith endorsed the Republican candidate, then U.S. Representative and future president George H. W. Bush, arguing that if Bentsen were elected to the Senate, he would invariably become the face of a new, more moderate-to-conservative Texas Democratic Party and that the long-term interests of Texas liberalism demanded Bentsen's defeat. Nevertheless, Bentsen convincingly won
1536-472: The 1988 presidential election, while the Republicans nominated Vice President George H. W. Bush and Senator Dan Quayle . During the 1988 vice presidential debate, Quayle responded to a question about his purported inexperience by comparing his time in office up to that point to that of John F. Kennedy , leading Bentsen to famously castigate Quayle: " Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy ." Though Dukakis hoped that
1600-672: The 1991 Gulf War . A poor economy in 1991-1992 eroded Bush's standing among voters and he ended up losing the election to Bill Clinton. Appointed to Clinton's cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury, Bentsen helped win crucial Republican votes to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Bentsen also was pivotal in winning passage of
1664-495: The 1994 crime bill, the Federal Assault Weapon Ban , which temporarily banned assault rifles. After the resignation of Les Aspin in early 1994, Bentsen was seriously considered for the position of Secretary of Defense . But this prospect did not materialize, and William Perry , then Deputy Secretary of Defense , was chosen to succeed Aspin. In early December 1994, Bentsen announced his retirement as Secretary of
1728-528: The 449th Bomb Group, destroyed all petroleum production within its range, eliminating about half of Nazi Germany's sources of fuel. Bentsen's unit also flew against communications centers, aircraft factories and industrial targets in Germany, Italy, Austria , Czechoslovakia , Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria . Bentsen participated in raids in support of the Anzio campaign and flew missions against targets in preparation for
1792-632: The Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee from 1987 to 1993. In the Senate, he helped win passage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and played a role in the creation of the individual retirement account . Bentsen sought the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination but was unable to organize an effective national campaign. Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis chose Bentsen as his running mate in
1856-624: The Environmental Affairs Subcommittee on Wildlife throughout his 18-year career in the legislature. His interest in the environment was an outgrowth of the management during the 1960s of his 3,500-acre ranch near Athens in Henderson County east of Dallas. He built a 3,000-foot dam to fill a 500-acre lake. He turned his ranch into a wildlife refuge for the undertaking of research into habitat conservation . In 1979, Agnich endorsed former Democratic Governor John Connally for
1920-678: The Senate Finance Committee. The Dukakis-Bentsen ticket lost the election. Bentsen was unable to swing his home state, with 43 percent of the Texas vote going for the Dukakis ticket while Bush and Quayle took 56 percent. But he was simultaneously reelected to the United States Senate with 59 percent of the vote. Bentsen considered running for president in the 1992 presidential election , but he, along with many other Democrats, backed out because of Bush's apparent popularity following
1984-400: The Treasury. Before election day he had discussed with President Clinton that he was not prepared to stay in office through the end of Clinton's first term in 1997. He was succeeded in the position by Robert Rubin . In 1995, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said in an interview with Larry King when asked which Democrats she admired: "I like Lloyd Bentsen very much indeed, I
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2048-608: The Treasury. Bentsen accepted, though he told Clinton that he would not serve a full four-year term in the office. As Treasury Secretary, he helped win the ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the passage of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 . Bentsen retired in December 1994 and was succeeded by Robert Rubin . He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999. Bentsen
2112-520: The Union address in 2000, saying: "In 1993 we began to put our fiscal house in order with the Deficit Reduction Act, which you'll all remember won passages in both Houses by just a single vote. Your former colleague, my first Secretary of the Treasury, led that effort and sparked our long boom. He's here with us tonight. Lloyd Bentsen, you have served America well, and we thank you." Bentsen appeared in
2176-691: The United States. As of the 2020 census , the city population was 12,857. The city has called itself the " Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World." Athens was selected as one of the first "Certified Retirement Communities" in Texas. Athens was incorporated in 1856 and was named after Athens , the capital of Greece . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 19.2 square miles (49.7 km ), of which 16.8 square miles (43.6 km ) are land and 2.4 square miles (6.1 km ), or 12.32%, are covered by water. Lake Athens
2240-431: The career of Alan Steelman of Dallas . In 1982, he defeated James M. Collins of Dallas , who had first dispatched the strongly conservative State Senator Walter Mengden of Houston in the Republican primary. In 1988, he defeated Beau Boulter of Amarillo . Bentsen was also on the ballot as the Democratic vice presidential nominee that year; he could seek both offices under the 1960 "Johnson law" in Texas. Bentsen
2304-541: The city's various funds had $ 8.0 million in revenues, $ 8.6 million in expenditures, and $ 4.2 million in total assets, $ 0.7 million in total liabilities, and $ 0.7 million in cash and investments. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Athens District Parole Office in Athens. The United States Postal Service operates the Athens Post Office. The city of Athens is served by
2368-550: The city. As of the census of 2010, there were 12,710 people, 4,110 households, and 2,807 families residing in the city. The population density was 772.8 inhabitants per square mile (298.4/km ). There were 4,549 housing units at an average density of 311.2 per square mile (120.2/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 72.14% White , 19.23% African American , 0.31% Native American , 0.64% Asian , 0.06% Pacific Islander , 6.17% from other races , and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 17.37% of
2432-568: The company; president in 1956. He retired from the board at the age of forty-eight in 1961. In 1939, Agnich married Ruth Welton, also a native of Eveleth, Minnesota. The couple had three sons, William Frederick Agnich (born c. 1942 ) of Richardson , Texas, Richard John Agnich (born 1943) and wife, Tory, of Dallas, and James Randall Agnich (born 1950) and wife, Betsy, of Houston , Texas. Ruth Agnich died in November 1975. Two years later, Agnich married Brooksie Jeanne Penland Willie (born 1932),
2496-490: The early favorite. Bentsen was selected in large part to try to lure away the state of Texas and its electoral vote for the Democrats, even with fellow Texan George H. W. Bush at the top of the Republican ticket. Because of Bentsen's status as something of an elder statesman who was more experienced in electoral politics, many believed Dukakis's selection of Bentsen as his running mate was a mistake in that Bentsen, number two on
2560-604: The general election against Bush with 53.5% of the vote. Beginning in 1974, Bentsen campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination . In 1974 he visited 30 states and raised $ 350,000 at a single fundraiser in Texas. Bentsen formally announced his candidacy on February 17, 1975, and in the early part of that year he had already raised over $ 1 million for his campaign; only George Wallace of Alabama and Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson of Washington state had raised more money by that point. Bentsen did not organize effectively on
2624-618: The landing in southern France. He was shot down twice. Bentsen was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the Air Force's highest commendations for achievement or heroism in flight. In addition to the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bentsen was awarded the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters . Bentsen served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1950 to 1959, and was promoted to colonel in 1953. (His father,
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2688-626: The mother of three daughters and two sons. From 1955 to 1959, Agnich was chairman of the board of Greenhill School in Addison , the first co-educational, non-denominational pre-kindergarten through grade 12 private school in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex . He was a trustee for the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies, since the University of Texas at Dallas . Agnich served as a director for
2752-568: The pallor of the other three men. However, there have been questions raised as to how well Bentsen really knew Kennedy. Some have claimed they only had a nodding acquaintance." Bentsen had in fact considered in advance how to respond, because Congressman Dennis E. Eckart , who played Quayle in Bentsen's rehearsals, knew that Quayle had previously compared himself to Kennedy, so he worked it into Bentsen's debate preparation. Quayle had been prepped by Senator Bob Packwood , as Packwood served with Bentsen on
2816-429: The polls, scaled back his campaign to a limited effort in areas of 8 to 10 states, hoping for a deadlocked convention. In the first state contest Bentsen vigorously contested, Mississippi , he managed only 1.6% of the vote. Two weeks later Bentsen staked the remainder of his campaign and resources in neighboring Oklahoma but finished third with only 12%. A few days later Bentsen shut down his national campaign, staying in
2880-522: The population. There were 4,110 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% are classified as non-families by the United States Census Bureau . Of 4,110 households, 131 are unmarried partner households: 106 heterosexual, 14 same-sex male, and 11 same-sex female households. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who
2944-582: The race only as a favorite son in Texas. In the May 1, 1976, primary, Jimmy Carter won 92 of Texas's 98 delegates. The eventual nominee and president, Carter was later quoted as saying he had expected a much stronger showing by Bentsen but that Bentsen's failure to campaign nationally had ended his hopes. Bentsen was overwhelmingly reelected to the Senate in 1976 , 1982 , and 1988 . He defeated sitting Republican congressmen from safe House seats in all four of his Senate elections, including Bush in 1970. In 1976, he ended
3008-471: The selection of Bentsen would help the Democratic ticket win Texas, the Republican ticket won the state and prevailed by a wide margin in the nationwide electoral and popular vote. Bentsen considered running for president in 1992 but chose not to challenge Bush, who was popular after the Gulf War . After Bill Clinton defeated Bush in the 1992 general election, Clinton offered Bentsen the position of Secretary of
3072-447: The state, and major funding for numerous medical facilities. Bentsen's retort to Vice President Dan Quayle during the 1988 vice presidential debate, "You're no Jack Kennedy," has entered the lexicon as a widely used phrase to deflate politicians who are perceived as thinking too highly of themselves. Bentsen is also known for coining the term astroturfing . Bentsen's family continues to be active in politics. His nephew, Ken Bentsen ,
3136-446: The streets at the 1968 Democratic National Convention , implying that Yarborough was associated with the rioters. While this strategy was successful in defeating Yarborough, it caused long-term damage to Bentsen's relationship with liberals in his party. Bentsen's campaign and his reputation as a centrist Democrat served to alienate him not only from supporters of Yarborough, but from prominent national liberals, as well. Indeed, during
3200-660: The summer of 2004 at the portrait unveilings at the White House of Clinton and former First Lady Senator Hillary Clinton . Bentsen died on May 23, 2006, at his home in Houston at the age of 85, from stroke-related complications. He was survived by his wife, the former Beryl Ann Longino, three children, and seven grandchildren. His memorial service was held on May 30 at the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, where Bentsen and his wife had been members for many years, and
3264-472: The ticket, appeared more presidential than did Dukakis. During the vice presidential debate (see below), Republican vice presidential nominee Dan Quayle spent most of his speaking time criticizing Dukakis as too liberal while avoiding a match up with the seasoned Bentsen. One elector in West Virginia even cast a ballot for him rather than Dukakis, giving Bentsen one electoral vote for president. Bentsen
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#17330863367953328-450: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.13. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males. The median income for
3392-586: Was a U.S. Representative (D) from 1995 to 2003 in Texas's 25th District, and a U.S. Senate candidate in 2002 . His grandson, Lloyd Bentsen IV was a senior research fellow for the National Center for Policy Analysis in Dallas. On January 22, 2009, the Senator Lloyd and B.A. Bentsen Stroke Research Center officially opened in the Fayez S. Sarofim Research Building in the medical district of Houston, Texas as part of
3456-515: Was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy ." Quayle replied, "That was really uncalled for, Senator." Bentsen responded, "You're the one that was making the comparison, Senator." Peter Goldman and Tom Mathews wrote in The Quest for the Presidency 1988 that Bentsen "was the forgotten man" of the campaign until the exchange with Quayle. Thereafter, his "gray solidity" was "made luminescent by
3520-407: Was an Eagle Scout and received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America . Bentsen graduated from the University of Texas School of Law with an LL.B. degree in 1942 and was admitted to the bar, but joined the military for World War II. (When law schools accredited by the American Bar Association began requiring a bachelor's degree for admission to law school in
3584-400: Was an American politician who was a four-term United States Senator (1971–1993) from Texas and the Democratic Party nominee for vice president in 1988 on the Michael Dukakis ticket. He also served as the 69th United States Secretary of the Treasury under President Bill Clinton . Born in Mission, Texas , Bentsen graduated from the University of Texas School of Law before serving in
3648-556: Was born in Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas to Lloyd Millard Bentsen Sr. (known as "Big Lloyd"), a first-generation Danish-American , and his wife, Edna Ruth (Colbath). The elder Bentsen's parents, Peter and Tena, had come from Denmark to be homesteaders and farmers at Argo Township, near White and Brookings, South Dakota ; they experienced many hardships, including loss of their first dwelling and belongings to fire, crop failure, and poor medical care. Their son started out harvesting and taming mustangs for local farmers, then served in
3712-400: Was briefly thought of as among Walter Mondale 's short list of possible vice presidential candidates in 1984. In the end, Mondale chose New York U.S. Representative Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate. In 1988, Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts chose Bentsen to be his running mate in that year's presidential election , beating out Ohio Senator John Glenn , who was considered
3776-451: Was denied re-nomination, and the Republicans chose State Senator Henry Grover of Houston, who then lost to the Democrat Dolph Briscoe of Uvalde . Agnich was also a fundraiser for Republican U.S. Senator John Tower of Texas, who won his third term in 1972. Agnich was tapped as minority leader in 1972 by his Republican House colleagues. In 1974, Representative Agnich was part of the state constitutional convention held that spring to draft
3840-582: Was elected to the state House of Representatives in then District 33-R, renamed District 114 in 1983. He was the first Republican elected countywide in Dallas County since Reconstruction . He won as a Republican in a heavily Democratic year with the Texas statewide candidates for U.S. senator and governor , George Herbert Walker Bush and Paul Eggers both going down to defeat at the hands of Lloyd Bentsen and Preston Smith , respectively. In 1972, Agnich considered running for governor against Preston Smith but never filed his papers of candidacy. Instead Smith
3904-859: Was presided over by his then-pastor, William Vanderbloemen . He is interred in Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery. Former president Clinton delivered a eulogy. As a freshman Senator, Bentsen guided to passage the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), a long-stalled pension reform bill providing federal protections for the pensions of American workers. He also championed the creation of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), legislation improving access to health care for low income women and children, and tax incentives for independent oil and gas producers to reduce dependence on foreign oil. In recognition of his success in securing federal funding, two hundred seventy miles of U.S. Highway 59 , from I-35 to I-45 in Texas (between Laredo and Houston, respectively), are officially named Senator Lloyd Bentsen Highway. As
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#17330863367953968-437: Was promoted to major and given command of a squadron of 600 men, overseeing the operations of 15 bombers, their crews, and their maintenance units. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel before being discharged in 1947. Bentsen flew thirty-five missions against many heavily defended targets, including the Ploiești oil fields in Romania , which were critical to the Nazi war production. The 15th Air Force , which included
4032-423: Was responsible for one of the most widely discussed moments of the campaign during the vice presidential televised debate with fellow Senator Dan Quayle. In answering a question about his experience, Quayle stated that he had as much political experience as John F. Kennedy had when he ran for the presidency. Bentsen, at the age of 67, retorted, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy
4096-425: Was sad when he resigned. He's a real marvelous politician, a person of great dignity, a person we can look up to, respect and like as well." In 1998, Bentsen experienced two strokes, which left him needing a wheelchair. In 1999, President Clinton awarded Bentsen the Presidential Medal of Freedom , one of the nation's highest honors given to civilians. Clinton singled out Bentsen for applause during his final State of
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