Pacifist McGovern, who suffered humiliating defeat, dies aged 90

Published on 22/10/2012 00:53

Former US Senator George McGovern, a Democrat and fierce opponent of the Vietnam War whose 1972 presidential race against Richard Nixon led to one of the worst electoral defeats in US history, has died at the age of 90, his family said.

The McGovern family said he died yesterday morning at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, surrounded by family and friends. He had suffered from a combination of medical conditions due to age that had worsened in recent months.

“We are blessed to know that our father lived a long, successful and productive life advocating for the hungry, being a progressive voice for millions and fighting for peace,” a statement released by his family said.

President Barack Obama hailed Mr McGovern as “a statesman of great conscience and conviction,” who dedicated his life to his country.

“When the people of South Dakota sent him to Washington, this hero of war became a champion for peace,” the president said in a statement.

Former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said of him: “The world has lost a tireless advocate for human rights and dignity.”

McGovern, who served in the Senate for South Dakota from 1963 to 1981, challenged Mr Nixon in 1972 on a platform opposing the war in Vietnam. He suffered one of the most lopsided defeats in US history, taking only 37.5 per cent of the vote and winning only Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.

Later, the Nixon presidency unravelled in the Watergate scandal, bumper stickers saying, “Don’t blame me, I’m from Massachusetts,” and buttons saying “Don’t blame me, I voted for McGovern,” appeared.

McGovern was not the first choice of the Democratic Party leadership to serve as their standard bearer in the 1972 race, and his nomination marked a shift away from the influence of party overlords and toward voters determining the nominee through state primaries and caucuses.

His platform not only called for ending the Vietnam War, but greatly reducing defence spending and an amnesty for draft evaders. During the campaign he proposed what came to be known as “demogrants” – a $1,000 payment to Americans to guarantee them income and replace some welfare programmes – but he eventually dropped that from his campaign.