Lloyd Bentsen

Lloyd Bentsen was born into a wealthy family and met Beryl Ann Longino in 1941, marrying her in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II from 1942 to 1945, flying 50 missions as one of the youngest squadron commanders and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. After passing the bar in 1945, he served as a judge from 1945 to 1948 before becoming the youngest member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Following three terms, Bentsen left Congress to establish a successful insurance and investment business in Houston, accumulating significant personal wealth. He returned to public service in 1970, winning a U.S. Senate seat by defeating George Bush. Throughout his nearly quarter-century in Congress, Bentsen was known for his moderate-to-conservative voting record, urbane leadership, and keen political instincts, eventually chairing the influential Senate Finance Committee. Fluent in Spanish, his civil rights record often leaned liberal. In 1988, he was selected as Michael Dukakis's vice-presidential running mate, though their ticket ultimately lost the election to George H.W. Bush. Bentsen was regarded as a consummate negotiator, meticulous, and self-assured, often described as calm and well-prepared. He suffered a stroke in 1999 and died on May 23, 2006, at his home in Houston, Texas, at the age of 85.