Vice president Dan Quayle, is mainly remembered for many of the things that came out of his mouth incorrectly, twisted around, or just plain wrong. People in public speaking could well take his advice, though, "Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things."
James Danforth Quayle served as the 44th vice president of the United States from 1989 to 1993 under President George H. W. Bush. Here are some of his more memorable (mis)statements:
"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice-president, and that one word is 'to be prepared'."
"The global importance of the Middle East is that it keeps the Far East and the Near East from encroaching on each other."
"Republicans have been accused of abandoning the poor. It's the other way around. They never vote for us."
"I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix."
"I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret that I have is that I didn't study Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people."
"Bank failures are caused by depositors who don't deposit enough money to cover losses due to mismanagement."
"It's time for the human race to enter the solar system."
"Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts."
"I want to be Robin to Bush's Batman."
"The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Dan Quayle may or may not make."
"What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is."
"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teaches our children."
And, of course, his most famous screw up:
"Add one little bit on the end...Think of 'potato,' how's it spelled? You're right phonetically, but what else...? There ya' go...all right!" (incorrectly correcting a student's correct spelling of the word 'potato' during a spelling bee at an elementary school - he told the student to add an 'e' at the end.
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