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Subscribe to RSSGeorge McGovern, who ran for president in 1972 against Nixon, was an inspiration to anti-war liberals. McGovern, who was a bomber pilot during World War II, focused his later life on issues of hunger. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
Updated at 12:36 p.m. ET: George McGovern, the unabashedly liberal Democratic senator whose outsider campaign against President Richard Nixon led to a landslide defeat and the eventual reformation of the Democratic Party as a more centrist organization, died early Sunday, his family said in a statement. He was 90 years old.
McGovern died at a hospice in Sioux Falls, S.D., where he had been admitted Monday.
Steve Hildebrand, a spokesman for the family, said in a statement to NBC News: "At approximately 5:15 am CT [6: 15 a.m. ET] this morning, our wonderful father, George McGovern, passed away peacefully at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD, surrounded by our family and life-long friends.
"We are blessed to know that our father lived a long, successful and productive life advocating for the hungry, being a progressive voice for millions and fighting for peace.
"He continued giving speeches, writing and advising all the way up to and past his 90th birthday, which he celebrated this summer."
Senior Democrats praised McGovern on Sunday as a visionary whose political sacrifices opened up the party to women and minority groups.
Although McGovern was ridiculed for many years for having led the Democrats to an overwhelming defeat against Nixon, former Sen. Gary Hart of Colorado, his 1972 campaign manager, argued Sunday that McGovern "helped save the Democratic Party."
In 1968, McGovern headed a committee that reformed the party's nominating process. In a column for Politico remembering McGovern on Sunday, Hart wrote:
Those rules were designed to open party participation, especially in nominating candidates, to women, minorities, and young people. The reforms succeeded and the Democratic Party opened itself up to democratic participation. The control of power-brokers and party bosses was broken. Decrepit political machines largely collapsed. ... We will never know the nature of a McGovern presidency. But someday the American Democratic Party will find a way to honor him as it should.
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President Barack Obama called McGovern "a statesman of great conscience and conviction," saying in a statement that "this hero of war became a champion for peace. And after his career in Congress, he became a leading voice in the fight against hunger."
Among the most prominent Democrats to get their political starts on McGovern's insurgent 1972 campaign were former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. In a statement Sunday, they lamented the passing of a "friend" and a "tireless advocate for human rights and dignity":
We first met George while campaigning for him in 1972. Our friendship endured for 40 years. As a war hero, distinguished professor, Congressman, Senator and Ambassador, George always worked to advance the common good and help others realize their potential. Of all his passions, he was most committed to feeding the hungry, at home and around the world. The programs he created helped feed millions of people, including food stamps in the 1960s and the international school feeding program in the 90's, both of which he co-sponsored with Senator Bob Dole.
In 2000, Bill had the honor of awarding him the Medal of Freedom. From his earliest days in Mitchell to his final days in Sioux Falls, he never stopped standing up and speaking out for the causes he believed in. We must continue to draw inspiration from his example and build the world he fought for. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
Ed Widdis / AP
The life of former Democratic Sen. George McGovern, who lost the 1972 presidential election to Richard Nixon and gained fame throughout his career for his devotion to fighting hunger and opposing war.
George Stanley McGovern was bomber pilot who flew 35 combat missions in World War II, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. He became a history and political science professor after the war and was elected to Congress in 1958. He won the first of three Senate terms in 1962.
McGovern became an early critic of the Vietnam War and a leader of the Democrats' liberal wing, propelling him to a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968 as an anti-war candidate.
Four years later, McGovern emerged at the top of the heap after a fractious campaign that divided the party between his corps of young, idealistic supporters and the more establishment organization of Sen. Edmund Muskie of Maine, who was the losing vice presidential candidate on the ticket with Hubert Humphrey in 1968.
McGovern lost to Nixon in one of the biggest landslides in history, winning only Massachusetts and the District of Columbia — Nixon even won McGovern's own state, South Dakota.
Many factors contributed to McGovern's defeat: the dirty tricks of the Nixon campaign, which soon exploded into the Watergate scandal that led to Nixon's resignation in 1974; unresolved differences with key Democratic leaders after the bitter campaign, including Humphrey and Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts; and the successful tarring of McGovern as a far-left fringe candidate by Republicans, which was summed up most succinctly in Vice President Spiro Agnew's dismissal of McGovern as the candidate of "amnesty, abortion and acid."
Particularly damaging was McGovern's failure to win the endorsement of organized labor, despite his strong pro-labor voting record. McGovern publicly feuded with AFL-CIO President George Meany, who strongly supported the war in Vietnam.
But the biggest blow probably was the Democrats' mishandling of the selection of Sen.. Thomas Eagleton of Missouri as their vice presidential nominee. In a 1986 interview on C-SPAN, McGovern said that party leaders were divided among several higher-profile possibilities, including Kennedy, and that he eventually settled on Eagleton because he was "everybody's second choice."
Within two weeks, it became public that Eagleton suffered from severe depression, having been hospitalized several times and, on at least one occasion, having undergone electroshock therapy. By Juy 31, 1972 — less than three weeks after he had been nominated, Eagleton witrhdrew and was replaced by Sargent Shriver, former director of the Peace Corps and a member of Nixon's administration as ambassador to France.
Nixon walked to victory, collecting 520 electoral votes to McGovern's 17.
He returned to the Senate, only to be defeated by Republican James Abdnor in the 1980 Reagan landslide. But over time, his reputation was rehabilitated, and he made a creditable showing — finishing fifth — in the 1984 Democratic presidential primaries, in which he ran as a peace candidate.
Through the years, McGovern insisted that his biggest mistake hadn't been taking such liberal stances — it was not having stuck to his liberal beliefs fiercely enough.
"If anything, I don't think the Democrats have been strong enough in clinging to their principle," he said in a 2011 interview with the Argus-Leader of Sioux Falls, S.D.
"You can say they were too ideological. Well, I don't think you hold political convictions just to be able to spout out a complicated philosophy or ideology. You try to support what you think is in the best interests of the country. My qualms with the Democrats in recent decades is they aren't strong enough in dissenting from policies that they should be able to see are against our best interest."
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I didn't realize 1972 was such an epic landslide, makes you wander why Nixon even bothered orchestrating the Watergate operation?
We can only speculate how much different the world would be today had he won in 1972 but my guess is we would be better off.
Break-in.....laws were broken...........operation makes it sound o.k......It wasn't
Because he and the cronies around him were all paranoid crazies like a lot of Repugs today!!!!
He played nopart in the break in itself but took all the blame because he tried to make it go away instead of firing his own people. Hindsight is always 20/20
My condolences to family and friends of Georege McGovern. He worked for South Dakota and the nation from the time I was a young girl. He's a fine example of what it meant to be a Democrat. He leaves a lifetime legacy of serving the state and the nation, a sad day for all of us to lose such a statesman!!!
The late 60's and early 70's were turbulent years; however, Mr. McGovern always gave us hope amongst the chaos. He will be remembered by many and know he will be sorely missed by all.
RIP Sen McGovern. This is the first election I can remember. I was 8. Now that I think about it, it was considered inappropriate to discuss politics and you kept your choices to yourself back then. People had decorum then. Today, people don't think about or care about what comes out of their mouths be it truth or not.
I was the same age in NY and remember this so well and our second grade teacher having us write a composition about the election as it was coming up. The title? "Who Would you Pick for President?" Knowing Viet Nam was winding down but still going on and how much I saw on our evening news of war footage, seeing the ugliness, I chose you at 8 years old because I thought "you would take care of our soldiers better". Honestly and to this day, believe you would have as well as had an honest Presidency.
I am turning 50 and reflect on so much btwn then and NOW but you never "forget". In the words of S&G: "Where have you gone Joe Dimaggio?" We need heros with HEART who believe in "truth to power" more then ever when our media has so few good, integral journalists left who have the guts to do so and when they DO, they're ostracized or blacklisted for it. So long Senator!
I remember 2 years later when I was 10, our teacher brought in a copy of the LA Times that read NIXON TO RESIGN across the front page. She said, "remember this because it is a big part of our history and it will shape the things to come". She was so right.
4th grade and Watergate. P.S. 165 in Flushing, NY which is still there though the name I cannot remember now. It used to be Vleigh Elementary when I went there from K-6. Another huge event that rolled out was the Patty Hearst kidnapping and I'll never forget that either, along with our teacher having the class make and write "Welcome Home" cards for the returning POWs from Viet Nam that we sent en masse from the school to these men. My mother taught me always that we hould always respect our service men and women for she grew up knowing her won father served in the Navy in both WWI and WWII as his father did in WWI when his ship was downed in the Dardenelles.
Then my great uncles all served in the Navy during WWII and Korea. My adopted father was a paratrooper in the Army as well but right out of HS.
No matter what you think of the "war", it is those who are on the lines we all must think of and it is our duty to never forget them. I want my children to know what life is like w/o US being at war. Afghanistan has been going on since my first was born and we need our government for the good of this nation and those serving, to end this once and for all and get to work REBUILDING AMERICA and "taking of our own for a change". All of us before it's too late.
"A time to mourn, and a time to heal". We need to HEAL NOW.
Mr. McGovern was a great American. Rest in Peace.
Rest in peace George. Our prayers go out to your family for their loss.
Our nation would have been a lot better off if he had become President instead of Nixon. I cast my first vote for George McGovern --while in uniform -- a memorable day for me. He was a true war hero and patriot with a progressive vision. Not sure why this nation is addicted to electing chicken hawks; hope we don't make the same mistake this election.
So, what do you think of the POTUS you helped to vote into office, what he has done to this country with his absolutely suffocating overregulation, outright lawlessness, and dishonesty; and are you going to vote for him and the further destruction of our country just to assuage your guilt in voting for Nixon 40 years ago??
McGovern AND JFK would not recognize the Dem party of today and would more than likely align with the GOP.
RIP Senator.
You are ignorant beyond measure, belief and imagination, Krazee!
You are describing yourself Sarita or is it Shamika?
Truly a good man, Rest In Peace George.
Rest in Peace George, We need more politicians like you, I to voted for George in my first Pres. election I guess my state and DC were the only ones that voted for the right guy and not Nixon a crook. Today's politians for the most part are only in it for themseleves and will say whatever it takes to get elected.
Again, RIP
Fellow Americans, I am proud of you so far today for not spewing hate at the passing of a man who truly cared about all of America. Ultra-Liberal to Ultra-Conservative, he did have your back.
Thanks again for the dignity you have shown this Sunday Morning.
Rest In Peace George, God has your back now!
George McGovern was just another far left liberal democrat. There's nothing honorable about that.
TheStar: Of what? Ignorance and stupidity? You are one of those who the Repubs/Baggers absolutely adore, because they can manipulate you into whatever they want. And they want only one thing from you - your pathetic vote. Period! After that, you'll get rolled under the bus the same as all Repubs who have outlived their usefulness.
Typical venom from another left wing extremist. The left has gone beyond pathetic. They still adore that piece of crap Paul Wellstone too.
And the right still adore a pretty face with no substance.
"honor- definition
1. personal integrity; allegiance to moral and ethical principles"
Nope... don't see any right-wingers in that.
TheStar is either a hack or a troll...perhaps both. After posting "venom" of his own, TheStar gets all upset because somebody else called them on it. Typical right wing hypocrisy...kind of like Romney whining about Obama not presenting an agenda (although he has) while not actually presenting a cogent one of his own. Changing your mind two or three times a day is not presenting an agenda, Mr. Romney.
The left trying to paint a picture of a piece of crap liberal as some kind of national hero repulses me.
Obviously not enough...are you paid by the post? You seem to have a comment about nearly everything, and most have absolutely no value.
i thought he was dead 20 years ago.
Well, I guess that shows how well-informed you are...
He had been brain dead for at least 50 of those 90 years.
George was a true American and a good Democrat. He was a Democrat in the days when the party cared about the good of all people not just his party. I would trade him for Obama any day.
Rest in peace George and God bless you.
Krazee & True: Today is not the day for your kind of crap !!! Why can't you just honor this wonderful man without your BS ?? You both dishonor his memory !!
i knew him well very well indeed i dont recall him saying anything that smells of malice when it came to his former adversaries ;; he wished to see a better more tolerant world i weep for george and send true condolences to his family ;; i am a better man for knowing him
I campaigned and voted for George McGovern in 1972 when I was in college. The best candidate I ever had the privilege of voting for.
Why do they call these people progressives. They certainly against progress in any form or manner. They try to keep as many people on the government plantation as possible. They should call them the anti-progress people.
Quite difficult to stay on topic, isn't it...?
Thank you Senator McGovern! You kept me out of Vietnam by putting pressure on Nixon to withdraw from that divisive hellhole where 50,000 young Americans gave their lives. Instead, I served in Germany along side many whose previous assingments were in Vietnam. That duty did to them what it did to the country. Bless you for your efforts to help begin the healng process for our soldiers and for our country!
i knew him well & can say that i am a better man for knowing him ;;deep& sincere condolences for his family & his peple
for the loss of a genuinely caring human being
I voted for George McGovern in 1972 because he stood for peace and compassion for all. He devoted his entire life to those causes, particularly the fight against poverty and hunger. The passing of this great man fills me with sadness, in part because a great advocate for decency has left us. The family and friends of Senator McGovern have my condolences.
God speed, Senator McGovern.
I am PROUD to say my first vote for President of the United States was for this good man.
I am very disappointed that New Week mentions his election loss to Nixon in their "header"- this man who served his country with honor deserves more respect than this story from MSN posted. As a result I posted the story from CNN to face book. Shame on you MSN
MSN is becoming a "fox light along with CNN". The only "liberal media" is in the imaginations of the RW fascists who keep repeating the lie that our media is "liberal". ALL our media have bceom mere tools of the "corporate state" and manipulated as such to dumb down the country. You want to find out what is going in the USA, foreign sources are getting better ALL THE TIME and that is WHY the fascists are so determined to destroy PBS. It is not a "corporate" controlled and operated crap machine.
One more off of the gov. dole and our payroll! HOW many more of these Gov. elected and unelected are still being paid for by us the taxpayer, for LIFE! they serve 4-6 years and they get a pension for the rest of their lives. They screwed us then and they are still screwing us! and they begrudge giving us Social security, which we have been paying for our whole lives, and they paid nothing! that is the biggest progressive lie ever perpetrated on the american people! the Gov. invented the pyramid scheme. They lied about medicare, medicaide, and now obamacare.
Give it a friggin' rest. The guy just died.
My goodness, Republicans are bratty jerks.
Stay classy, edwardo. It must physically hurt to possess such a level of ignorance that you do.
You sound like a criminal who has no respect for the life of a fellow man. George McGovern served his country in war and in the Senate. He deserved every penny of his compensation! Have a little respect for you fellow human being.
There are more thugs running around telling people that caring for fellow human beings does not matter if it costs money and more thugs telling women that they do not deserve health care or equal pay.
Those thugs are the same ones who are draining our country of respect for those of us who stand up for ALL and not just one Republican with huge tax breaks who runs for office to preserve the tax breaks for himself and his Republican friends.
Sometimes if you can't say something appropriate to the situation, the death of a patriot, you should not say anything at all. I might need to repeat myself for you. Just don't say anything on this matter - many of us are in mourning over this man!
edwardo;
Your parents are on their way home from church, and when they get home and find you've been trolling the internet instead of playing your video games, you are going to be in so much trouble you might be grounded from the 8th grade Xmas party.