Thomas Eagleton

Thomas Eagleton was an American attorney and politician who served as a United States Senator from Missouri from 1968 to 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he is most widely remembered for his brief tenure as the 1972 Democratic vice presidential nominee alongside George McGovern. His subsequent Senate career was marked by advocacy for environmental policy, consumer protection, and a strong stance on national security issues. Eagleton was known for his sharp intellect, wit, and independence, often bucking his own party's leadership.

Early life and education

Thomas Francis Eagleton was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to a prominent local family; his father served as St. Louis County Republican chairman. He attended St. Louis Country Day School before enrolling at Amherst College, where he graduated with honors in 1950. Eagleton then earned his Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1953. During his education, he also served a brief stint in the United States Navy. He returned to Missouri to begin his legal and political career, working as an attorney in St. Louis.

Political career

Eagleton's political career began with his election as the Circuit Attorney for the City of St. Louis in 1956, gaining a reputation as a reformer. In 1960, he was elected Attorney General of Missouri, becoming the youngest person to hold that office in state history at age 31. After an unsuccessful run for the Senate in 1964 against incumbent Republican Edward V. Long, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Missouri in 1964, serving under Governor Warren E. Hearnes. This position positioned him for another Senate bid.

1972 vice presidential nomination

In 1972, Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern selected Eagleton as his running mate at the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach, Florida. Within days, it was revealed that Eagleton had undergone electroconvulsive therapy for clinical depression on three occasions in the 1960s. Despite initial declarations of support, intense media scrutiny and concern from the campaign and Democratic National Committee led McGovern to first announce he was "1000 percent" behind Eagleton, then request his withdrawal from the ticket. Eagleton stepped down, and was replaced by Sargent Shriver. The incident became a major controversy of the 1972 election.

U.S. Senate career

Eagleton had been appointed to the United States Senate in late 1968 following the resignation of Edward V. Long and was subsequently elected to a full term in 1970. Despite the vice presidential episode, Missouri voters returned him to the Senate in 1974 and 1980. He served on influential committees including the Appropriations Committee and the Commerce Committee. A liberal on domestic issues, he co-authored the Eagleton Amendment which sought to limit presidential war powers, and was a key figure in passing the Superfund law. He was also a staunch defender of the B-1 Lancer program and a critic of arms control agreements like the SALT II treaty.

Later life and death

Choosing not to seek re-election in 1986, Eagleton retired from the United States Senate and returned to St. Louis. He joined the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis, teaching public affairs, and practiced law with the firm Thompson Coburn. He remained an active commentator on political and legal issues. Eagleton died of cardiac and respiratory complications at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis in 2007. His papers are housed at the University of Missouri. The Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse in St. Louis is named in his honor.

Category:1929 births Category:2007 deaths Category:United States senators from Missouri Category:Democratic Party United States senators