“I keep trying to change them.”
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George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern was an American politician, diplomat, and historian from South Dakota who served in both chambers of the United States Congress, first as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing South Dakota's 1st congressional district from 1957 to 1961, and then as a United States Senator from 1963 to 1981. McGovern also served as the director of Food for Peace…
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politics · American politician and historian (1922–2012) · politician · diplomat · historian · autobiographer · university teacher · peace activist · political scientist · also George McGovern, George Stanley McGovern, George S. McGovern, McGovern
Born 19 July 1922 · Died 21 October 2012 · Q331742
78 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 5 entries
“I ... wish that during the years I was in public office I had had this firsthand experience about the difficulties business people face every day. That knowledge would have made me a better U.S. senator and a more understanding presidential contender.”
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“fell because the leadership was corrupt and decadent and did not have the support of its own people.”
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“I am 1,000 percent for Tom Eagleton and have no intention of dropping him from the ticket.”
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“s 35th mission, which marked fulfillment of the Fifteenth Air Force”
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2015· 1 entry
The Argus Leader, the daily newspaper in Sioux Falls, published an article detailing the extensive files on McGovern compiled through the years by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including letters and notations from
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2012· 6 entries
Died 2012-10-21.
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McGovern's family announced he had entered Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls; his daughter Ann said, "He's coming to the end of his life
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When he introduced his recorded narration for Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra
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McGovern's son Steven died at age 60
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With a Washington event hosted by World Food Programme and attended by many liberal Democratic politicians, along with (as The Washington Post termed it) "one respectful conservative", Republican Party U
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“Steve had a long struggle with alcoholism. We will all miss him deeply, but are grateful that he is now at peace.”
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2008· 2 entries
McGovern and Dole were made World Food Prize laureates for their efforts to curb hunger in the world and in particular for their joint program for school feeding and enhanced school attendance
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Awarded World Food Prize (2008).
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2007· 2 entries
Several events were held at Dakota Wesleyan and in Washington, D
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That the McGovern campaign was the last time in presidential politics that liberals had "their chance to speak of their goals with enthusiasm and their dreams with fire
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2006· 1 entry
Co-wrote the book Out of Iraq: A Practical Plan for Withdrawal Now
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2005· 1 entry
Reciting his traditional upbringing and family values, culminating with "I'm what a normal, healthy, ideal American should be like", and in 2006 asked, "How the hell do you get elected in South Dakota for twenty years if
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2003· 2 entries
The McGoverns became part-time residents of Marco Island, Florida; by then, Eleanor was struggling with heart disease
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That "[McGovern's] career was extraordinary and historic
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2001· 2 entries
That his political image had been exaggerated: "I am a liberal and always have been – just not the wild-eyed character the Republicans made me out to be
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“I am a liberal and always have been – just not the wild-eyed character the Republicans made me out to be.”
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2000· 2 entries
Won Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by Bill Clinton (2000).
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And funded largely through the Congress, would go on to provide more than 22 million meals to children in 41 countries over the next eight years
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1998· 2 entries
Career landmark: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture (1998–2001).
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That "he remains one of the country's most decent and thoughtful public servants
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1996· 1 entry
It presented a harrowing, unsparing view of the depths to which she had descended, the torment that he and the rest of his family had experienced in trying unsuccessfully to help her, and his ongoing thoughts and guilt a
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1992· 2 entries
Nationally syndicated Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene wrote, "Once again politicians – mostly Republicans, but some Democrats, too – are using his name as a synonym for presidential campaigns that are laughable and
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McGovern published his reflections on the experience in The Wall Street Journal and the Nation's Restaurant News
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1991· 1 entry
Awarded Gandhi Peace Award (1991).
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1988· 1 entry
Using the money he had earned from his speeches, the McGoverns bought, renovated, and began running a 150-room inn in Stratford, Connecticut, with the goal of providing a hotel, restaurant, and public conference facility
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1982· 1 entry
Turned the group into a political action committee, which raised $1
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1980· 1 entry
McGovern was one of several liberal Democratic senators targeted for defeat by the National Conservative Political Action Committee (NCPAC), which put out a year's worth of negative advertising about McGovern
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1979· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1979–1981).
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1978· 1 entry
In reaction to the ongoing Cambodian genocide
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1977· 2 entries
It issued a new set of nutritional guidelines for Americans that sought to combat leading killer health conditions
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Career landmark: United States senator (1977–1979).
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1975· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1975–1977).
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1974· 2 entries
“s subsequent September 1974 pardon of Nixon was difficult to understand, given that Nixon”
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Faced possible political peril because of his having neglected the state during his long presidential campaign, and by May 1973, he had already begun campaigning for re-election
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1973· 2 entries
A few hours after Richard Nixon was re-inaugurated, McGovern gave a speech at the Oxford Union that talked about the abuses of Nixon's presidency; it brought criticism, including from some Democrats, for being ill-manner
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Career landmark: United States senator (1973–1975).
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1972· 7 entries
The McGovern–Shriver ticket suffered a 61 percent to 37 percent defeat to Nixon – at the time, the second biggest landslide in American history, with a United States Electoral College total of 520 to 17
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Election lost: 1972 presidential election.
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McGovern officially won the Democratic nomination
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Campaign: 1972 presidential election.
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That he was not a pacifist and that use of force was sometimes necessary, such as in World War II
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Very few in the Democratic Party wanted him as a presidential candidate again
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A third more primaries were held in the Democratic nomination process than in 1968 and those primaries produced half again as many delegates
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1971· 4 entries
During a televised speech from the studios of KELO-TV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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With somewhat weaker provisions designed to gain more support
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Career landmark: United States senator (1971–1973).
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“This administration, which pledged to slow inflation and reduce unemployment, has instead given us the highest rate of inflation and the highest rate of unemployment in a decade.”
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1970· 1 entry
Established the principles of free food stamps and a nationwide standard for eligibility
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1969· 4 entries
Career landmark: United States senator (1969–1971).
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The Oglala Sioux named McGovern "Great White Eagle
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McGovern was named chairman of the Commission on Party Structure and Delegate Selection, also known as the McGovern–Fraser Commission; owing to the influence of former McCarthy and Kennedy supporters on the staff, the co
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A chance to join the powerful United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
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1968· 2 entries
In Washington, two weeks in advance of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, committing himself to "the goals for which Robert Kennedy gave his life
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And 1974, McGovern was defeated in his bid for a fourth term in 1980
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1967· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1967–1969).
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1965· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1965–1967).
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1964· 1 entry
McGovern published his first book, War Against Want: America's Food for Peace Program
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1963· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1963–1965).
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1962· 1 entry
Campaign: 1962 election and early years as a senator.
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1961· 1 entry
McGovern oversaw the distribution of U
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1960· 1 entry
McGovern decided to run for the U
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1959· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States representative (1959–1961).
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1957· 2 entries
Career landmark: United States representative (1957–1959).
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Traveled and studied conditions in the Middle East under a fellowship from the American Palestine Committee
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1956· 1 entry
McGovern sought elective office himself, and ran for the House of Representatives from South Dakota's 1st congressional district, which consisted of the counties east of the Missouri River
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1953· 1 entry
Studied at Northwestern University, Doctor of Philosophy (1953).
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1946· 1 entry
Studied at Dakota Wesleyan University, Bachelor of Arts (1940–1946).
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1944· 1 entry
McGovern flew 35 missions over enemy territory from San Giovanni, the first five as co-pilot for an experienced crew and the rest as pilot for his own plane, known as the Dakota Queen after his wife Eleanor
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1943· 1 entry
During a three-day leave (lonely and in love, the couple had decided to not wait any longer)
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1940· 1 entry
Studied at Mitchell High School (1940).
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1922· 1 entry
Born 1922-07-19.
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1868· 1 entry
Was pastor of the local Wesleyan Methodist Church there
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