He Knew Jack Kennedy

Mission native Lloyd Bentsen, who fought in World War II and went on to make a name for himself in politics, has died, the Houston Chronicle reports:

Bentsen was a member of a prosperous Rio Grande Valley family, and almost everything he touched seemed to turn to gold, be it far-flung personal investments, the insurance company he founded in the 1950s or his political career, which stretched from being Hidalgo County judge immediately after World War II to taking a seat in the Cabinet during President Clinton's first administration in 1993.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who started out as a Democrat before switching to the GOP, orders flags lowered to half-staff to honor the Texas politician. Meanwhile, Republicans, Democrats and independents alike praise the former senator.

As Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis' running mate, Bentson uttered the immortal smackdown against Republican VP candidate Dan Quayle, "Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy," during the 1988 vice-presidential debate.

Interestingly, Bentsen served as Hidalgo County judge from 1946-48 before getting elected to Congress. He became a senator in 1970 before resigning to serve as Clinton's Treasury secretary.

Frankly, he had been out of the public spotlight for so long that I thought he died some time ago.