George McGovern
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| George McGovern | |
|---|---|
| Name | George McGovern |
| Caption | McGovern in the 1960s |
| Office | United States Senator from South Dakota |
| Term start | January 3, 1963 |
| Term end | January 3, 1981 |
| Predecessor | Joseph Bottum |
| Successor | James Abdnor |
| Office1 | United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture |
| Term start1 | 1998 |
| Term end1 | 2001 |
| President1 | Bill Clinton |
| Predecessor1 | Thomas R. Pickering |
| Successor1 | Tony P. Hall |
| Office2 | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's 1st district |
| Term start2 | January 3, 1957 |
| Term end2 | January 3, 1961 |
| Successor2 | Ben Reifel |
| Birth date | 19 July 1922 |
| Birth place | Avon, South Dakota |
| Death date | 21 October 2012 |
| Death place | Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Eleanor Stegeberg (m. 1943) |
| Children | 5, including Teresa |
| Education | Dakota Wesleyan University (BA), Northwestern University (MA, PhD) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Serviceyears | 1943–1945 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
| Battles | World War II, European Theatre |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal |
George McGovern was an American politician, historian, and diplomat who served as a United States Senator from South Dakota and was the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 United States presidential election. A prominent progressive voice, he was a staunch opponent of the Vietnam War and a lifelong advocate for hunger relief and food security. His political career, marked by both principled stands and electoral challenges, left a lasting impact on the New Deal coalition and American liberalism.
Early life and education
Born in Avon, South Dakota, he was the son of a Methodist minister and grew up during the Great Depression. He attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, where he was a champion debater and graduated with a degree in history. His academic pursuits were interrupted by World War II, after which he earned a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in American history from Northwestern University, studying under renowned historian Arthur S. Link.
Military service and early career
He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1943, serving as a B-24 Liberator pilot with the 741st Bomb Squadron in the European theatre of World War II. He flew 35 combat missions, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. After the war, he returned to his alma mater, Dakota Wesleyan University, as a professor of history and political science before entering electoral politics.
Political career
He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1956, serving two terms. In 1960, he served as the first director of the Food for Peace program under President John F. Kennedy. Elected to the United States Senate in 1962, he became a leading critic of the Vietnam War, delivering a seminal 1963 speech warning of the dangers of American involvement in Southeast Asia. He played a key role in reforming the Democratic National Committee through the McGovern–Fraser Commission, which increased grassroots participation in the presidential nominating process.
1972 presidential campaign
Winning the Democratic nomination on an anti-war platform, his campaign advocated for immediate withdrawal from Vietnam, a guaranteed minimum income, and amnesty for draft resisters. His candidacy was hampered by internal division, the Eagleton affair involving his running mate Thomas Eagleton, and a formidable opponent in incumbent President Richard Nixon. He suffered a historic landslide defeat in the general election, carrying only Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.
Later career and advocacy
After losing his Senate re-election bid in 1980 to James Abdnor, he remained active in public life. He taught at several institutions including Northwestern University and American University. In 1984, he made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Appointed by President Bill Clinton as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, he worked from Rome to combat global hunger. He later served as the United Nations global ambassador on world hunger and co-chaired the McGovern–Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.
Personal life and legacy
He was married to Eleanor Stegeberg for 64 years until her death in 2007; the couple had five children, including daughter Teresa who struggled publicly with alcoholism. He authored several books on history and policy. His legacy is defined by his unwavering opposition to the Vietnam War, his transformative work on Democratic Party reform, and his decades of humanitarian advocacy, particularly through the United Nations and the World Food Programme. The McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service at Dakota Wesleyan University continues his commitment to public engagement.
Category:1922 births Category:2012 deaths Category:United States Senators from South Dakota Category:Democratic Party presidential nominees Category:United States Army Air Forces officers Category:World War II pilots