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Today in History: Bentsen tells Quayle he's no Jack Kennedy

By Drooid · Oct 5, 2026, 10:35 AM UTC · How we work

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Story summary

In the October 5, 1988 vice-presidential debate, Democratic nominee Senator Lloyd Bentsen rebuked Republican Senator Dan Quayle with the retort, “Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy,” after Quayle likened his congressional experience to John F. Kennedy’s. The sharp reply entered political lore and underscored the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket’s loss to Bush-Quayle.

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Story summary

In the October 5, 1988 vice-presidential debate, Democratic nominee Senator Lloyd Bentsen rebuked Republican Senator Dan Quayle with the retort, “Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy,” after Quayle likened his congressional experience to John F. Kennedy’s. The sharp reply entered political lore and underscored the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket’s loss to Bush-Quayle.