"I spend a great deal of time with the President. We have a very close, personal, loyal relationship. I'm not, as they say, a potted plant in these meetings"

Dan Quayle is implying that he is not simply a passive observer in his conferences with the President. He is suggesting that he is an active participant in the conferences, which he and the President have a close, individual, and devoted relationship. This indicates that Quayle is a crucial consultant to the President, which he is not simply a token in the conferences. Quayle is also suggesting that he is not simply a "potted plant" in the conferences, which is a metaphor for someone who is simply present but not actively included. This quote reveals that Quayle is a crucial consultant to the President, which he is not just a passive observer in their meetings.