The George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign began when United States Senator George McGovern from South Dakota launched his second candidacy for the Presidency of the United States in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to win the 1972 presidential election against incumbent president Richard Nixon, winning only in the District of Columbia and the state of Massachusetts. If elected, McGovern would have been the first South Dakota native to become president. McGovern's running mate, former U.S. ambassador to France Sargent Shriver (who replaced Senator Thomas Eagleton), would have become the second vice president from Maryland, after the incumbent vice president at that time, Spiro Agnew, and the first Roman Catholic vice president; this feat would be eventually accomplished 36 years later by Joe Biden, who would become the first Catholic vice president.
Leading up to the announcement McGovern had run a short presidential campaign in 1968, acting as a stand-in for the assassinated Robert F. Kennedy leading up to the 1968 Democratic National Convention. McGovern then spent the remainder of the general election campaign ensuring his own re-election to the Senate.
But following the 1968 convention, he had planned on running for president again, a decision he solidified in January 1969.Anson, McGovern, pp. 243–244. He began hiring legislative aides who could double as campaign policy staff, press secretaries, and the like. McGovern hired an agent to book speaking engagements, and in early 1969 began doing an average of three appearances a week.
During 1969, McGovern headed the Commission on Party Structure and Delegate Selection, often later referred to as the "McGovern commission", which was chartered to redesign the Democratic nomination system after the messy and confused nomination struggle and convention of the 1968 election.White, The Making of the President 1972, pp. 17–20. Due to the former influence of Eugene McCarthy and Kennedy supporters on the staff, the commission significantly reduced the role of party officials and insiders in the nomination process, increased the role of caucuses and primaries, and mandated quotas for proportional black, women, and youth delegate representation. McGovern's staff may have been influenced by the model of John F. Kennedy's 1952 campaign for the Senate, where his acting campaign manager Robert Kennedy had created an organizational structure that had 286 campaign "secretaries" function as "shadow units" to the regular Democratic Party machinery, ensuring their loyalty lay first with the Candidate and not exclusively to the Party.JFK's 1952 Senate run against Henry Cabot Lodge in Logevall, Fredrik, JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917–1956, (2020) New York, Random House, pp. 507–516White, The Making of the President 1972, pp. 24–33.
Senate Majority Whip Ted Kennedy, the younger brother of Robert and John, had been the early favorite to win the 1972 nomination, but his hopes were derailed by his role in the July 1969 Chappaquiddick incident.White, The Making of the President 1972, pp. 74–75.
McGovern's early efforts were beset by organizational problems and much activity without plan or result in polls.Anson, McGovern, pp. 259–264. He began replacing most of the campaign staff. In March 1970, he met Gary Hart in Denver, and soon hired him to be his Western political affairs coordinator; a couple of months later, he became McGovern's national campaign director. Shortly thereafter he opened a New York office and hired the first woman as executive director, Phyllis Holtzer, a former Robert Kennedy staffer. At a July 25, 1970, get-together at McGovern's farm in St. Michael's, Maryland, the McGovern campaign was restarted.
The favorite for the Democratic nomination by then was Edmund Muskie,Frum, How We Got Here, p. 298. the 1968 vice-presidential nominee, who had especially benefited from a speech on the eve of the congressional elections in November 1970 that made a calm but effective response to statements by President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew impugning the patriotism of Democrats.White, The Making of the President 1972, p.76.
Announcement McGovern announced his candidacy on January 18, 1971, in the form of a televised speech from the studios of KELO-TV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota,Anson, McGovern, pp. 267–268. and in letters sent to many a newspaper editorial board and potential backer. The early entry, nearly two years before the election date, was designed to give him time to overcome Muskie's large lead.
In his announcement speech, McGovern promised to withdraw every American soldier from Indochina if elected. He said economic conditions would also be improved by an end to the war and reduced military spending. McGovern declared some themes of his campaign: I seek the presidency because I believe deeply in the American promise and can no longer accept the diminishing of that promise. ... I make one pledge above all others—to seek and speak the truth with all the resources of mind and spirit I command. ... I seek to call America home to those principles that gave us birth.
At the time of his announcement, McGovern ranked fifth among Democrats in a presidential preference Gallup Poll.
Campaign staff and policy team Future senator Gary Hart (who subsequently sought the 1984 Democratic presidential nomination and emerged as the frontrunner for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination before his campaign was prematurely thwarted by an extramarital liaison) was McGovern's campaign manager. Future president Bill Clinton (with assistance from his wife and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Rodham) managed the McGovern campaign's operations in Texas.
Taking their cue from the McGovern–Fraser Commission, Hart and future United States District Judge Rick Stearns (an expert on the new system) devised a strategy to focus on the 28 states holding caucuses instead of primary elections. They felt the nature of the caucuses made them easier (and less costly) to win if they targeted their efforts. Recruited as a Harvard University senior by Hart, 22-year-old pollster Pat Caddell also played an integral role in paving McGovern's route to the nomination by encouraging him "to increase his populist rhetoric and tour factories instead of obsessing about the Vietnam War."
MIT Sloan School of Management professor Edwin Kuh headed McGovern's economic advisory panel, for which he recruited Lester Thurow and other academic economists.
Abner "Abby" Levine served as Vice Chairman of Finance. Levine and former Robert Kennedy staffer Phyllis Holtzer established the New York office, helped to organize at least five big events, and met regularly with the senator. They assisted Warren Beatty with his production of Together for McGovern, which filled Madison Square Garden and reunited Nichols and May, Simon and Garfunkel, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Singer Dionne Warwick also performed.
Washington Redskins guard Ray Schoenke was named chairman of Professional Athletes for McGovern. In this capacity, Schoenke recruited over 83 professional athletes to endorse and campaign for McGovern. Among these athletes were Schoenke, Buck Buchanan, George Seals, Ed Podolak, Marv Fleming, Jan Stenerud and Bob Stein.
Political positions Here is a list of what Senator McGovern ran for in the 1972 presidential election:
George McGovern was a passionate critic of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, believing that American military action was not only unwarranted but also destructive to both American and Vietnamese lives. He called for an immediate withdrawal of American troops. McGovern proposed a bold plan for comprehensive national health insurance that aimed to ensure that every American had access to quality healthcare, regardless of their economic status. He believed that healthcare is a fundamental right and should be accessible to all, not just those with the means to afford it. Recognizing the growing rates of poverty in America, McGovern supported the introduction of a guaranteed minimum income. This proposal aimed to provide a safety net for disadvantaged individuals and families, ensuring that everyone could meet their basic needs for food, shelter, and healthcare. By alleviating poverty through this financial support, McGovern sought to create a more equitable society and reduce the stigma associated with receiving assistance. McGovern was a strong advocate for education reform, emphasizing the need for increased funding for public education at all levels. He believed that accessible and affordable higher education was essential for both individual success and societal progress. Proposals included enhanced funding for public schools, the establishment of loan programs with favorable terms for students, and initiatives to ensure that college remained within reach for families from all economic backgrounds. McGovern understood the urgency of addressing environmental issues and advocated for stronger regulations and policies designed to combat pollution and protect natural resources. A staunch supporter of labor unions and workers' rights, McGovern championed fair wages and improved working conditions for all workers. He believed that the rights of workers must be upheld to create a fair and just economy. McGovern was a fervent supporter of women's rights, advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to ensure that gender equality was enshrined in the Constitution. His policies focused on advancing reproductive rights and addressing issues of gender discrimination in the workplace. McGovern held a deep commitment to civil rights, emphasizing the necessity for equal rights and protections for all racial and ethnic groups. He actively advocated for anti-discrimination measures to combat systemic racism. McGovern envisioned a foreign policy rooted in diplomacy, cooperation, and respect for human rights rather than military intervention. He believed in fostering peaceful relationships with other nations through dialogue and collaboration. Aware of the growing influence of money in politics, McGovern called for comprehensive reforms to reduce this influence and promote fair elections. He argued that campaign financing should be transparent and equitable, ensuring that all candidates had an equal opportunity to be heard and elected, regardless of their financial backing. Addressing hunger and malnutrition was a central concern for McGovern, who proposed a series of measures aimed at assisting low-income families through food assistance programs. McGovern advocated passionately for the protection and expansion of Social Security benefits, recognizing its vital role in providing financial security for the elderly. He believed that a strong social safety net was essential for assisting seniors in maintaining their dignity and quality of life, and he proposed measures to enhance benefits to address the rising costs of living. Supporting a progressive tax system, McGovern sought to alleviate the tax burden on the middle class while ensuring that wealthier individuals contribute more. His vision was to create a tax system that would promote economic equity, enabling increased funding for social services and public programs that could benefit all Americans, particularly the most disadvantaged. McGovern focused on revitalizing urban areas, understanding that cities faced significant challenges in terms of infrastructure, housing, and social services. He proposed initiatives for federal funding and support aimed at addressing these urban issues.
Campaign developments, 1971 The establishment favorite for the Democratic nomination was Ed Muskie, the moderate who acquitted himself well as the 1968 Democratic vice-presidential candidate. In August 1971 Harris polling amid a growing economic crisis, Muskie came out on top of incumbent Nixon if the election had been held that day.