Lloyd Bentsen, who who served as President Bill Clinton?s first Treasury secretary, died May 23 at age 85.
His facsimile signature appears on Series 1993 Federal Reserve Notes of $1-$100 denominations. It is paired with that of Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow.
Bentsen, the 1988 Democratic vice presidential nominee, served in Congress for 28 years.
Bentsen is probably known better for his rebuke of Republican Vice President Dan Quayle during a 1988 election debate, in which Quayle remarked, ?I have as much experience in Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency.?
Bentsen replied, ?Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you?re no Jack Kennedy.?
Bentsen was the running mate of failed presidential contender Michael S. Dukasis.
A powerful figure in Texas politics who was mentored by former speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, Bentsen served on the Senate Finance Committee and in 1976, he ran for the Democratic presidential nomination. He eventually dropped out of the race.
As Treasury secretary, Bentsen led a fight for approval of the first Clinton budget in 1993 and helped push passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement. After two years in the Clinton cabinet, Bentsen resigned at age 73.
