For Immediate Release
Office of the Vice President
September 10, 2003
Vice President's Remarks at Presentation of Bust for Former VP Dan Quayle
The United States Capitol
4:52 P.M. EDT
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much,
Mr. Chairman. It's a special privilege for me, as it is for all of us
today, as President of the Senate, to join in honoring my predecessor
and my good friend, Dan Quayle. Being cast in marble is something that
every Vice President looks forward to. (Laughter.) It's not only a
high honor, it's our one shot at being remembered. (Laughter.)
Around here, our 44th Vice President is very fondly remembered by
former colleagues of both parties. We're so pleased to welcome him
back, along with Marilyn and their children, that we remember from
their years of service here in Washington. And Dan's mother, Corinne,
as well, too. It's a pleasure to see you here this afternoon.
The honor we pay her eldest son today is also a tribute to her and
to her late husband, Jim. The Quayles were here on Inauguration Day in
1989, and Jim would have been just as proud today. Vice President
Quayle and I are especially honored, as always, to be in the company of
a man who's been a friend and an example for both of us -- President
George Bush. Mr. President, thank you for joining us today.
And it was during the Bush-Quayle years that I spent the most time
working with Dan. We and our wives go back well before that, however,
to the late 1970s, when we first joined the House of Representatives.
I was a fairly young member, which made it all the more impressive that
Dan, who was even younger at 31, was already in his second term in the
House. And even then, he was preparing to give up a safe seat for an
uphill Senate race. He went on to win that campaign. And later at age
39, to gain reelection to the Senate in one of the biggest victories
Indiana had ever seen.
As we stand here today about to unveil a bust of Dan Quayle, the
man is still younger than two-thirds of the current members of the
United States Senate. (Laughter.) You don't get that far in this
business at such an early age without having first-rate political
instincts and first-class character. In Dan's case, those qualities
were joined with an obvious integrity and a good-hearted manner that
sat well with his constituents and earned him great respect here in the
Capitol.
He made his name in the Senate as a skilled and serious legislator,
particularly in the field of national security, as a member of the
Armed Services Committee. When he moved up to the vice presidency, and
when I was privileged to join the Cabinet as Secretary of Defense, I
could always count on his excellent advice, his expertise in defense
policy, and his grasp of the legislative process.
Over the years, I've known six other Vice Presidents. And a few
years ago, I even headed up a vice presidential search committee. If
you're ever offered the job, take it. (Laughter.) But I -- (applause)
-- I share former President Bush's office -- that Dan defines the
standard for that office.
It says something important about a man that can walk these
corridors for 16 years and leave behind not a trace of ill will. Harsh
things can oftentimes be said in politics, but you can search the
record and never find a malicious word spoken by Dan Quayle about
anyone else. As Congressman, as Senator, Vice President, he took his
job seriously and wore his titles lightly. Today's honor is mandated
by a Senate resolution, by virtue of Dan's service as Vice President of
the United States. We confer the honor, however, with the level of
respect and warm regard that could only be earned by the man himself.
So, Dan, on behalf of your friend, President George W. Bush, and
the nation, and in the presence of your fine family, thank you for your
service to the nation. (Applause.)
END 4:55 P.M. EDT
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