I REMEMBER LLOYD. The news of Lloyd Bentsen's death today reminded me of the one time I met him.

It was during Bentsen's 1988 run for the vice presidency. I was at the Carnegie Deli, seated in a chair that was relatively close to the entryway. Outside I had noticed a bunch of dark-suited men wearing those ear thingies, but I was still surprised when Bentsen strode into the deli.

I watched in bewilderment as the tall Texan stepped toward me, his right hand extended to receive my welcoming handshake. There was just one problem: Even though I supported the Democratic ticket against Bush/Quayle, I resented being manipulated for the photo op. I was in the deli to eat lunch--why in hell did I get Bentsen's prime handshake seat? I rebelled against the situation and kept my hands to myself, observing Bentsen's brief befuddlement before he bypassed me.

I've been haunted by the incident ever since. Friends assure me that Bentsen must have gotten over it. But that's what friends are for. To this day I wonder if the Dukakis/Bentsen ticket would have triumphed if I had just played along. It's like that Butterfly Effect. Perhaps...if I'd shaken Bentsen's hand...the Republican resurgence of the 1980s would have been nipped in the post-Reagan bud, with the current President's father never making it to the Oval Office. Or maybe dinosaurs would be roaming the earth.

Instead, the United States took the huge risk of making Dan Quayle the Vice President. Dan Quayle! And today another Republican with similar credentials is the Chief Executive--in his second term!

Here's the famous clip that, alone, should have kept Quayle out of office.




And, for the sake of comparison, here's a glimpse of John F. Kennedy as a campaigner.



Quayle/Bentsen Source
Kennedy Source
Photo: David Marc Fischer