Dan Quayle is an American politician and former Vice President of the United States who served from 1989 to 1993. Born in Indiana to James and Corinne Quayle, Quayle was raised in a middle-class family. He attended DePauw University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science. After college, Quayle served in the United States Air Force from 1969 to 1975.
Quayle entered politics in 1976, when he was elected to the House of Representatives from Indiana's 4th district. He was re-elected to the House in 1978, and in 1980, he won a seat in the United States Senate. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1986.
In 1988, Quayle was chosen by George H.W. Bush to be his running mate for the presidential election. They won the election, and Quayle was sworn in as the 44th Vice President of the United States in 1989. As Vice President, Quayle was an active participant in the Bush administration's foreign policy agenda, traveling to more than 40 countries to represent the United States.
Domestically, Quayle was an advocate for educational reform. He helped to create the America 2000 program, which was designed to improve educational standards in the United States. He also championed a program to encourage volunteerism among young people.
During his tenure as Vice President, Quayle was heavily criticized by the media for his perceived lack of intellectual depth. This criticism reached its peak in 1992, when Quayle misspelled the word "potato" during a school visit. The incident became an international joke and further damaged Quayle's reputation.
In 1993, Quayle and the Bush administration lost the presidential election to Bill Clinton and Al Gore. Quayle returned to private life after his term as Vice President ended.
Quayle has remained active in public life since leaving office. He has written several books, including Standing Firm, a memoir of his time in office, and has founded several business and charitable organizations. He served as the Interim President and CEO of the United Negro College Fund from 2013 to 2015.
Dan Quayle is remembered as one of the most controversial Vice Presidents in American history. Despite the criticism he faced during his tenure, he left a lasting legacy in the areas of educational reform and foreign policy.
