Quayle Says Exxon Is Not Off Hook, Must Do More

Vice President Dan Quayle said today that Exxon must do more to clean up the Alaska oil spill, and the Bush Administration won’t let Exxon off the hook until the job is done.

Quayle and his wife, Marilyn, donned plastic suits to protect their blue jeans and tennis shoes during a brief visit to oil-plastered Smith Island. Officials built a boardwalk so Quayle would not slip on oil-slick rocks, but the vice president got out on the beach for a close-up look at the worst oil spill disaster in U.S. history.

The spill, Quayle said later, “is Exxon’s responsibility. They are the ones responsible for the disaster. And they are the ones who are responsible for the cleanup.”

‘Job Will be Done’

Speaking for the Bush Administration, Quayle added: “And this President is not going to let anyone off the hook. The job will be done.”

Asked if he thought that Exxon’s response was adequate, Quayle replied, “I would say that Exxon believes that it’s adequate. But I believe that Exxon is going to have to do more than they think they’re going to have to do.”

Quayle visited Cordova, where oil has drastically altered the way of life for 2,500 people dependent on fishing. At Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, he sat down with the governor and 16 mayors and native village leaders to assure them that the Administration is determined to have Exxon clean up the 10.9 million gallons spilled March 24.