George McGovern

George Stanley McGovern (July 19, 1922 – October 21, 2012) was an American historian and politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

George S. McGovern
File:GeorgeStanleyMcGovern.png
United States Senator from South Dakota
In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Joseph Bottum
Succeeded by	James Abdnor
Chair of the United States Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs
In office July 1968 – December 1977
Preceded by	Committee created
Succeeded by	Committee abolished
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's 1st district
In office January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1961
Preceded by	Harold Lovre
Succeeded by	Ben Reifel
United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture
In office April 15, 1998 – October 19, 2001
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Laurie Tracy
Succeeded by	Tony Hall
Personal details
Born	George Stanley McGovern (1922-07-19)July 19, 1922 Avon, South Dakota, U.S.
Died	October 21, 2012(2012-10-21) (aged 90) Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Eleanor Stegeberg (1943–2007)
Children	Ann Susan Teresa Steven Mary
Alma mater	Dakota Wesleyan University Northwestern University
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (3)
Signature	George McGovern's signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	15px United States Army Air Forces
Years of service	1943–1945
Rank	First Lieutenant
Unit	741st Bomb Squadron 455th Bombardment Group 15th Air Force
Battles/wars	European Theatre of World War II

Early life

McGovern was born in Avon, South Dakota, on July 19, 1922. He studied at Dakota Wesleyan University and at Northwestern University.

Career

McGovern was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's 1st district from 1957 to 1961. Then, he became a U.S. senator from South Dakota.

In 1968, McGovern decided to run for president because Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. McGovern was the Democratic Party's presidential nominee for the 1972 presidential election. His running mate was Sargent Shriver. He lost to Richard Nixon and won only Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. Nixon won the other 49 states.

He became the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture from 1998 to 2001.

Personal life

McGovern was married to Eleanor Stegeberg from 1943 until her death in 2007. He is survived by his four daughters. His son (July 27, 1952 - July 27, 2012) was an alcoholic.

Death

McGovern died on October 21, 2012 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota from natural causes, aged 90.

George McGovern Media

• Mitchell corn palace.jpg

  The Corn Palace, a longtime sight of McGovern's hometown of Mitchell, South Dakota

• Dust Bowl - Dallas, South Dakota 1936.jpg

  Effects of a 1936 Dust Bowl storm in nearby Gregory County, South Dakota

• Liberal Army Airfield KS 7 Oct 1943.jpg

  Liberal Army Airfield in Kansas during World War II, where McGovern learned to fly the B-24

• 15th AF B-24 Liberator.jpg

  A B‑24 Liberator of the Fifteenth Air Force's 451st Bombardment Group (not McGovern's group, but also stationed in Italy), on a March 1945 mission over Germany

• George McGovern 1957.jpg

  McGovern as a freshman Representative, 1957

• JFKennedy GeorgeMcGovern.jpg

  McGovern as Food for Peace director in 1961, with President John F. Kennedy

• Arthur Schlesinger and George McGovern, Madras, India.jpg

  McGovern with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. in Southern India in February 1962, seeing a photograph of President Kennedy enshrined beneath one of Mahatma Gandhi

• George McGovern Vietnam trip Nov 1965.jpg

  Senator McGovern on his first trip to South Vietnam, November 1965

• George McGovern, c 1972.jpg

  McGovern speaking on June 30, 1972

• GeorgeMcGovern.png

  McGovern as seen in a 1972 campaign poster

Other websites

Media related to George McGovern at Wikimedia Commons

• George McGovern on IMDb
• George McGovern at the Notable Names Database