George McGovern
See also: McGovern
Dr. George Stanley McGovern (born the July 19th 1922) was a member of the Congrès of the United States, senator and presidential candidate for the democratic party, losing the presidential ones in 1972 against Richard Nixon.
McGovern is often reminded for its opposition to the Guerre of Vietnam. It serves at present the the United Nations as ambassador.
Youth and beginning of career
McGovern was born in Avon, in South Dakota in 1922, and lived near to the town of Mitchell during six years. It was voluntary for the air force during the Second world war and was useful as pilot, controlling 35 missions above the enemy grounds from North Africa and, later, Italy, often flying over the enemy shootings. McGovern received several medals of honor; these military exploits are described in a book of Stephen Ambrose entitled The Wild Blue .
McGovern marries Eleanor Stegeberg de Woodsocket, South Dakota, on October 31st, 1943.
On its return of the war, it receives a doctorate in history of the Northwestern University and becomes professor at the University Dakota Wesleyan.
In spite of the fact that these two parents were republican, it decided not to join any political party until 1948, during the elections, when it united the new Progressiste party and became independent. During the program, it took share with the first convention like deputy and gave time for the countryside of the Vice President of the time, Henry A. Wallace. Four years later, in 1952, he hears the speech of the Governor Adlai Stevenson accepting his nomination to direct the troops of the democratic party for the next elections. Immediately, it goes downtown to be registered like Démocrate and becomes voluntary for the candidate. In spite of the fact that Stevenson loses its elections, McGovern remains active for the party. In 1956, it presents and gains a seat in the Room of the Representatives.
Political career
In 1960, it aspires to the seat of Senator of South Dakota, but fails vis-a-vis the outgoing republican Karl Mundt with 48% of the voices. He becomes then director of the program Food for Peace set up by President John F. Kennedy.
In 1962, it retente its chance with the other seat of Senator of South Dakota and is this time elected.
Very quickly, it becomes adverse with the Guerre of Vietnam, criticizing bitterly the policy of President Lyndon Johnson.
At the Democratic Convention of 1968, it gives its support for Robert Kennedy, then, after the assassination of this last, to the Senator Eugene J. McCarthy, pacifist, to which the vice-president Hubert H. Humphrey, finally beaten by Richard Nixon will be finally preferred.
In 1972, McGovern is presented on a program preaching the end of American engagement to Vietnam and the installation of minimum wages. But the difficulties in the choice of the fellow candidate (Thomas Eagleton must be replaced by R. Sargent Shriver), and the republican countryside depicting it as a radical gauchist remove his chances to him, and it is severely beaten by Richard Nixon. Its defeat is broadest of the history of the United States, with only 38% of the voices compared with 62% with Nixon and 17 votes out of the 537 of the Electoral College.
After this defeat, McGovern remains Senator until his defeat in 1980 vis-a-vis the Republican James Abdnor.
It presents to the democratic primary educations 1984, without success. Of 1998 with 2001, he is Permanent representative of the United States near FAO with Rome.
In 2004, it supports the candidate with the democratic primary educations Wesley Clark, which will fail vis-a-vis John Kerry.