Quayle, in Illinois, Says He’s ‘the Future’

As his caravan of 11 vehicles snaked north through the picturesque farmlands of eastern Illinois on Tuesday, Republican vice presidential candidate Dan Quayle had one eye on the calendar and one notion in mind: The future.

Just three weeks before the election, Quayle--the GOP’s verbal pit bull--lost some of his snarl. He softened, ever so slightly, his usually bludgeoning criticism of Democratic presidential candidate Michael S. Dukakis.

Instead, while visiting tiny, rural towns in road-show style, he touted himself as “the future,” the freshest link in the Republican continuum.

“In George Bush you get experience and with me you get the future,” he said repeatedly. His remarks were full of references to problems that lie ahead, such as child care and retraining for jobs.

“We are the ones moving this country forward,” he shouted over the applause of thousands of students at Olivett Nazarene University here.

A Sermonizing Tone

Rather than be too boastful as the Republicans strive to resist over-confidence, he challenged his listeners to action, adopting a religious tone.

“Join with us on our crusade,” he exhorted an afternoon audience in Danville. “Our crusade to change America and make it even better. Our crusade that will see an America that is second to none. . . . Join with us in our crusade for hope, for opportunity!”

While Quayle went after the votes of younger Illinois residents, praising the “new generation of leadership” symbolized by himself, he also invoked the name of Ronald Reagan, the Illinois native who, in the two past presidential elections, won the allegiance of young voters.

“You’re going to help us win an election for George Bush, win an election for America--and, yes, one more time, win one for the Gipper!” he said.

Quayle launched the bus caravan, the first of two planned for this week, to lobby for votes in the far reaches of the Midwest, where a visit from a candidate for national office is a momentous event.

Small-Town Itinerary

Indeed, Quayle has spent much of his time making a big splash in tiny towns. Monday night, he became the first national candidate ever to visit Traverse City, Mich. On Tuesday, his campaign’s 727 jetliner became the largest plane ever to take off from the municipal airport in Gaylord, Mich. (It set the landing record there the night before.)

Quayle on Tuesday made no specific policy proposals to reinforce the definition of himself as the candidate of the future, but relied instead on posing for “photo opportunities” and rallying speeches.

At times, the day took on the coloration of a commercial in progress, with Quayle calling the Midwest “the heartbeat of America,” echoing an auto sales slogan, intentionally or not.

As a camera crew from ABC television’s “Nightline” program recorded a “day in the life” of the campaign, Quayle hopped off his bus at selected stops along rural roads to accept the applause of folks who just happened to be standing there.

In Kansas, Ill., he stopped along Route 1 to greet dozens of schoolchildren waiting patiently beside a fence in the chill wind.

“You’ve got to go back and study hard,” Quayle admonished them as he left.

“No!” came the rousing reply.

“Yes,” the senator said soberly. “Mind your teachers, mind your parents, do all the right things.”

Posing With Pumpkins

Down the road in Vermilion County, Quayle stopped at a pumpkin patch for a photo opportunity like the one he jumped at last week in Ohio.

There a preschooler on a field trip, more interested in pumpkins than Quayle, handed his name tag to the senator while he made his pick.

“Will you hold this?” he asked.

“Yes, sir!” Quayle said, laughing. He posed with Illinois Gov. James Thompson and bought three pumpkins before heading down the road.

Later, as the caravan slowed to a crawl in Rossville, well-wishers stood on Chicago Street waving American flags and signs expressing their support.

“Quayle’s the best--so is Mom’s apple pie,” declared a sign outside Ruth’s Bake Shop.

Everywhere he went, Quayle’s message to the faithful was the same: Take nothing for granted.