Recently, Dan Quayle announced his intentions to run for President of the U.S. in 2000. Since many younger voters may not have been watching the news when these were said the first time, we provide you with this list of famous Quayle quotes.
"Mars is essentially in the same orbit… Mars is somewhat the same distance from the Sun, which is very important. We have seen pictures where there are canals, we believe, and water. If there is water, that means there is oxygen. If oxygen, that means we can breathe."
— Vice President Dan Quayle, 8/11/89
"The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation’s history. I mean in this century’s history. But we all lived in this century. I didn’t live in this century."
— Vice President Dan Quayle, 9/15/88
"I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy – but that could change."
— 5/22/89
"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is ‘to be prepared’."
— 12/6/89
"May our nation continue to be the beakon of hope to the world."
— The Quayles’ 1989 Christmas card.
"Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things."
— 11/30/88
"We’re going to have the best-educated American people in the world."
— 9/21/88
"I stand by all the misstatements that I’ve made."
— Vice President Dan Quayle to Sam Donaldson, 8/17/89
"Public speaking is very easy."
— to reporters in 10/88
"Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it."
— 5/20/92 (reported in Esquire, 8/92)
"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur."
— 9/22/90
"For NASA, space is still a high priority."
— 9/5/90
"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children."
— 9/18/90
"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between
a mother and child. "
— on Republican family values
"What a waste it is to lose one’s mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is."
— at a fundraising event for the United Negro College Fund. He was attempting to quote the line "a mind is a terrible thing to waste"
"When I have been asked during these last weeks who caused the riots and the killing in L.A., my answer has been direct and simple: Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters are to blame. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers are to blame."
— on the complex social issues behind the Los Angeles Riots
"I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the
only regret I have was that I didn’t study Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people"
"The loss of life will be irreplaceable."
— on the San Francisco earthquake
"We are ready for an unforeseen event that may or may
not occur."
"It is wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago."
"It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment.
It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."
"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix."
"Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts."
"The future will be better tomorrow."
"People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history."
"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a *part* of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a *part* of Europe."
"I am not part of the problem. I am a Republican."
"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."
"[It’s] time for the human race to enter the solar system."
"I support efforts to limit the terms of members of
Congress, especially members of the House and members of the Senate."
"If we don’t succeed, we run the risk of failure."
"I have made good judgments in the Past. I have made good judgments in the future."
"The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Dan Quayle may or may not make."
"We’re all capable of mistakes, but I do not care to enlighten you on the mistakes we may or may not have made."