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Former Senator and Presidential Candidate George McGovern Dies at Age 90

Oct. 21, 2012 7:35am Madeleine Morgenstern

Former senator and presidential candidate George McGovern died Sunday morning at age 90. (Getty Images)

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (TheBlaze/AP) — A family spokesman says former U.S. Sen. George McGovern, the Democrat who lost to President Richard Nixon in 1972 in a historic landslide, has died at the age of 90.

The spokesman, Steve Hildebrand, told The Associated Press by telephone that McGovern died at 5:15 a.m. Sunday at a hospice in Sioux Falls, surrounded by family and friends.

McGovern was a bomber pilot in World War II who became an early critic of the Vietnam War and a leader of the Democrats’ liberal wing.

He was elected to his first of three Senate terms in 1962.

McGovern ran for president three times, also making a try for the nomination in 1968 and 1984.

Despite the 1972 Watergate break-in, Nixon won a second term in one of the biggest landslides in modern history.

“George McGovern dedicated his life to serving the country he loved,” President Barack Obama said in a statement Sunday morning. “George was a statesman of great conscience and conviction, and Michelle and I share our thoughts and prayers with his family.”

Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement he and wife Jill were “profoundly saddened” to hear of McGovern’s death, someone he served with and considered a friend.

“George believed deeply in public service. It defined him as a Senator and as a man. And he never stopped serving for his entire life – whether it was his courage in World War II, his time in Congress, or his fight to eliminate hunger at home and abroad,” Biden said.

This post has been updated.

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Comments (71)

Rock_Moninoff
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 12:30pm
Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement he and wife Jill were “profoundly saddened” to hear of McGovern’s death, someone he served with and considered a friend, yet he couldn’t stop laughing.

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Cryinthewilderness
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 12:13pm
Maybe GOD is taking all the liberal, heartless, corrupt off the earth, better watch out Chuckie Schumer, Pelosi, reid and many more in washington. God is going to clean house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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- db321
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 12:36pm
  Wait a moment, isn’t Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez still around. They’re still breathing. So much for your point.
  
  If these two do in fact die, then that would leave all other dictators as Muslims throughout the World. Good thing America doesn’t have a Muslim President.
  
  Report this comment
- FiscalConserv
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 12:46pm
  Huh, God’s only taking the libs? …conservatives live forever?
  
  Report this comment
- BasketFullOfPuppies
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 4:10pm
  We know the mind of G-d, only to the extent that He allows. Probably better to speak your own mind, rather than His.
  
  Report this comment
SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 11:48am
Sorry Wango their will be no one to build you a new habitat for humanity home when your refrigerator box home catches fire.

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RodT82721
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 11:33am
McGovern was a liberals liberal along with a war hero.
A product of Washington DC, that was sure he knew how everyone should act and live. And fought to make sure everyone lived as he wanted.

Later on in his life he left Washington DC, and returned home to SD, to put all his great knowledge of everything political and economics.
Tried to open and run a Bed & Bath.
A true liberal, leaving the teat of government to try out all his great ideas.

He went bankrupt, and finally learned just how wrong his liberal policies & ideas were.
I give him credit for admitting it.

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chanteuse
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 11:32am
Funny story: My totally non-political husband once chatted with him on an elevator in a UN area hotel in Manhattan back in the late 1970′s. When my husband came back to the room, he said to me, “Honey, I just met a man on the elevator who looked familiar. I think he ran for president once.” After he described him, I called down to the front desk to ask if George McGovern was staying in the hotel and they replied that he was!

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ricckky
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 11:30am
These people think they have left a great legacy-and they are special–Well–he is special alright–99% percent of any good American found him a dirt bag—Only God can judge him!!! May he rest in peace

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Wango
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 11:23am
SKREW . . . Jimmy Carter will never die. He’s going to heaven. Heathen. Why do you hate Christians?

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SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 11:16am
Hey Wango I bet you will be the only one who cries when Jimmy Carter passes.

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BREWUP58
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 10:45am
When I hear his name I always think of Michael Stivic. I remember watching ” All in the Family ” back then and Mike was always touting his name.

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woodyee
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 10:37am
Gone is another dirtbag who turned his back on the first half of his life, in hopes of living the second half of his life in an America with a hammer and sickle on the flag.

The dead Ted Kennedy welcomes him and introduces him to other 20th century pals, like Lenin and Mao, Kim Il Sung, Che Guevara (yes, he’s dead kiddies) and Fidel.

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- db321
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 12:29pm
  I thought Liberals lived forever. His death means that he is going to have to account to God, that he helped throw out of America, for every Word, Deed, Vote, and Support he has done in his life. I wounder if he now thinks it was worth it.
  
  Report this comment
Ducky657
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 10:28am
He will be counted as one of those who could always be counted on to champion everything that was against the United States. We were always to blame for any problem which arose and he always had the best solution–he was a legend in his own mind. My father was a life-long Democrat and he considered George McGovern the biggest horse’s a$@ to ever be elected to public office and voted for the only time in his life for Richard Nixon in 1972. Modern progressives owe many of their techniques to his twisted little mind so they will be shedding tears today.

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- AlwaysAmazed
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 5:16pm
  Unless he is one of those dead people who just won’t quit voting…
  
  Report this comment
IspytheGov
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 10:21am
For those that did not know, or think he had little influence over your life, please study up on recent Americana history please. This guy was instrumental in the current explosion of a whole list of ailments that now plague us all, the “McGovern Report” 1977 Google it, was instrumental in pushing the hart healthy baloney of the low fat high carbohydrate, that is the root of a lot of problems like ADD, on set Diabetes in ever younger people, and why so many can’t lose weight.
You will really like the line he “McGovern” says “that we in the government can’t wait for all the data is in before making a recommendation to the American people” Honest he say’s just that on video tape no less, and it’s just another example of good intention running out of control, by people who think you are too stupid to know whats good for you.

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- ktgab
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 1:01pm
  I believe this video clip in in the movie, “Fathead,” which is an excellent and informative film, not to mention very funny.
  
  Report this comment
- Lloyd Drako
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 4:48pm
  His reformulation of the Democratic Party’s rules transformed it from an alliance of working class and middle class voters based on economic interest into a melange of identity groups–black, Latino, feminist, gay, environmentalist, what have you. This accompanied the Republicanization of the South, which took advantage of the racist backlash against civil rights. Everybody’s loss.
  
  Report this comment
KidCharlemagne
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:42am
McGovern’s stance on Vietnam was remarkably similar to that of Governor Romney’s stance on Vietnam:

————————————–
“Well you know when I came back from Vietnam, then I just had the greatest brainwashing that anybody could get…..not only by the generals, but also the diplomatic corp over there.”
-Governor George W. Romney, September 4, 1967
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSdSiBehQpI

————————–
George Romney’s ‘Brainwashing’ – 1967

Governor George W. Romney of Michigan was a leading contender for the 1968 Republican presidential nomination until September 4, 1967, when he told Detroit television newsman Lou Gordon that he had been “brainwashed” by American generals into supporting the Vietnam war effort while touring Southeast Asia in 1965.

Though Romney tried in earnest to explain himself, he became the target of blistering press and partisan attacks. Romney’s candidacy never recovered from the furor he created with his statement.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/frenzy/romney.htm

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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 10:16am
  AND your point is?
  
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bcope01
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:40am
Good bye!

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BlackCrow
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:38am
He needs to welcome Fidel to HELL.

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jrock76sd
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:17am
I am no fan of McGovern’s politics or the way he chose to wield them, but a man who flew 35 combat missions and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross while flying a B-24 during WWII is deserving of respect. We may disagree with each other, but let us not degenerate to the level of others and lose our civility. May God’s grace and peace be with his family.

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:23am
  Dittoes,
  
  Report this comment
- rickroland
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:29am
  I agree with you on all counts.
  
  Report this comment
- Bum thrower
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:35am
  Agree; a good American gone ‘bad’….go figure.
  
  Report this comment
- SocialistSlayer
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:37am
  Sorry I disagree – As a military vet I have known many sleazeballs, Traitors and Communists that have served in the Military. George McGovern is one of them !
  
  Report this comment
- Fecal_Matters
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:40am
  I thought he was dead.
  
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- RIGS
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:57am
  I totaly agree wih you the man deserves the respect and wish him eternal peace.
  
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- Vickie Dhaene
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 10:25am
  Kudos for your statement. MAY HE SEE THE LIGHT OF TRUTH IN THE LORD’S HOUSE.
  
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NLN
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:11am
Who cares.

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SolitudeBliss
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 8:22am
If I were a cold heartless witch I’d say he was 90 !!!! Old news, who cares

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RAN58
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 8:19am
True that Mr. McGovern was a liberal politician, but later in life after he became an entrepreneur and started a Bed and Breakfast, which ended in bankruptcy. He lamented not having this experience prior to entering politics. Here is an essay he wrote that people may find interesting, regarding that experience. http://www.inc.com/magazine/19931201/3809.html
May the Lord comfort his family in their grief and hopefully the senator made it to the promised land.

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- OldGuy66
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 11:10am
  Thanks for that link. It does show at least some liberals are capable of changing their tune. Also shouts to all American voters, don’t vote for people who have never worked a real job in private industry. I must admit I was astounded by his change of heart. Imagine a liberal advocating consideration of the economic impact for laws. Who would have thunk it ? And for all the nasty remarks, the guy has a family, show some respect and restraint. Don’t lower yourselves to the lefties level.
  
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Wango
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 8:03am
Yes! That leaves only Alan West.

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Wango
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 8:02am
Reagan’s still dead right? OK, good.

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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 11:30am
  Yeah, but if you look real hard from your dank (no, not marijuana) and dilapidated trailer on your trash heap… you can look up to a higher spot and see a “shining city on a hill”…
  
  Keep working at it (stay off the dank) and you may get there someday WAINGRO (see the movie HEAT)…
  
  Report this comment
DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 8:01am
I met him back in 1986. He was cold and had the eyes of a shark.

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- swamp_donkey
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 10:20am
  you just described the entire gop
  
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- DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 1:33pm
  SWAMP_DONKEY
  
  That’s what most children would say.
  
  Report this comment
SilentRunner
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 7:57am
I never liked the guy or his politics. Thank God he didn’t have much influence over me or our country.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 8:13am
  I think that John Kerry learned from McGovern after his vote for the operation in the Bay of Tonkin and afterwards he essentially say that he was for it before he was against it. After the Dem-wits ran the war by micro managing it into a huge mess, the same Dem-wit Congress who had supported LBJ’s war efforts turned on it when Nixon became president. Nixon’s first term was spent trying to let the U.S. win. But, as the Dems fought him at ever step Nixon put into effect the efforts that ended the war and brought our troops home. I still occasionally meet young people who actually believe that Nixon started and bungled the Vietnam War. McGovern was a major part of this activity.
  
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- Small_Craft
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 8:14am
  I didn’t like his politics, but feel he was more honorable than most of todays Democrats. Google “damon koch small craft advisory” to read political commentary.
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:06am
  SMALL_CRAFT, In stead of honorable, I’d say more soft spoken and gentle while in the public eye.
  
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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:18am
  RJJ. We have young people (and have for years) that couldn’t find Viet Nam on a map, let alone knowing we fought LBJ’s war….
  
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- 13th Imam
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 10:45am
  JFK’s War DEMOCRAT, Massachussett’s
  
  Report this comment
- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 11:22am
  13th. We can actually say that the war involved 4 Presidents in all honesty…Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ and Nixon (maybe all the way beck to FDR). But I personally credit LBJ as the POTUS who ramped this war up and should be held accountable in history for 30,000 deaths by the time he left office.
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 12:59pm
  TIME, Actually Truman sent the first troops to Indochina. It was 300 from the 101st ABN Div. Orders were signed by Truman to send them, but they did not arrive until early 1953 just as Eisenhower took the White House. Eisenhower allowed them to stay since they were to assist the FFL for a short tour. There was a desire to not let down an ally at the time. Kennedy sent in the so called advisers and trainers, and you know the rest.
  Its odd to me that Truman did that since shortly after WWII Ho Chi Minh approached Truman to ask his assistance to keep the French from taking back their former colonies after the Japanese had kicked them out during the war. Truman ignored Ho not wanting further blood shed for Americans.
  
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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 3:45pm
  RJJ. I guess we’re all a bit correct. I give Johnson the credit for sending the first combat troops to ‘Nam (I call it HIS war)… but FDR, Truman, Eisenhower and definately Kennedy all share in what led up to Johnson’s ultimate decisions. I think FDR sent the first covert operatives (OSS) into ‘Nam to organize operations against the Japanese and then escalation from there for a number of reasons culminating in LBJ massive uptick and Nixon’s participation and end to the war.
  
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statutoryape
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 7:46am
This is the 1st time I have heard of this guy. My logic goes out to his friends and family. Science be praised!

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 8:15am
  Then, as you have mentioned before very young. Back when he ran against Nixon, I was not all that happy with Nixon myself. My vote was more against McGovern than for Nixon.
  
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- hcartexas
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 10:33am
  As a member of the Allied Atheist Allegiance, I will crush you like a clam on my tummy. Science be praised.
  
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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 12:10pm
  Kids and their cartoons…
  
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KingCanon
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 7:44am
He has met God.
So shall it be for all of us.

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