Dan Quayle, Politician

Take a look at the last young President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. JFK took office at the age of 43; Dan Quayle is now 41. But Quayle has more in common with JFK than being a youthful presence on his party’s national ticket; indeed the similarities are substantial, excepting of course Kennedy’s heroic status as commander of PT-109 during World War II, versus Quayle’s unexceptional service in a public-affairs unit of the Indiana National Guard during Vietnam.

Both were scions of wealthy families, men who grew up never having to worry about money, prestige, or social influence. Both were greatly assisted in running for the Congress by their families. Kennedy ran from a safely Democratic state, where machine control was the order of the day. Quayle ran from a safely Republican state, where the party is still machine controlled. Kennedy served three terms in the House without much distinction. Quayle served two terms in the House, similarly without distinction. Like Kennedy, Quayle has served eight years in the Senate, but it is here that the records diverge.

JM

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John McLaughlin

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Take a look at the last young President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. JFK took office at the age of 43; Dan Quayle is now 41. But Quayle has more in common with JFK than being a youthful presence on his party’s national ticket; indeed the similarities are substantial, excepting of course Kennedy’s heroic status as commander of PT-109 during World War II, versus Quayle’s unexceptional service in a public-affairs unit of the Indiana National Guard during Vietnam.

Both were scions of wealthy families, men who grew up never having to worry about money, prestige, or social influence. Both were greatly assisted in running for the Congress by their families. Kennedy ran from a safely Democratic state, where machine control was the order of the day. Quayle ran from a safely Republican state, where the party is still machine controlled. Kennedy served three terms in the House without much distinction. Quayle served two terms in the House, similarly without distinction. Like Kennedy, Quayle has served eight years in the Senate, but it is here that the records diverge.