Letter from Washington

A day in the life of a vice-presidential candidate, 1988: Dan Quayle hops a flight to Philadelphia. A throng at the annual firemen’s exposition awaits him. Television cameras stand at the ready. The national press is there to record every word.

Here’s what he says: “Being a senator from Indiana for eight years, I’ve been in a lot of parades. And every parade that I’ve been in, you know what leads that parade. A fire truck. Right there. It leads the parade because each and every community around America, big or small, places tremendous importance on the fire department.”

Featured Tags

Manage following

Presidential Election

A day in the life of a vice-presidential candidate, 1988: Dan Quayle hops a flight to Philadelphia. A throng at the annual firemen’s exposition awaits him. Television cameras stand at the ready. The national press is there to record every word.

Here’s what he says: “Being a senator from Indiana for eight years, I’ve been in a lot of parades. And every parade that I’ve been in, you know what leads that parade. A fire truck. Right there. It leads the parade because each and every community around America, big or small, places tremendous importance on the fire department.”