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 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 July 19, 1922 Avon, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | October 21, 2012 (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 |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  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.[1] 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 through 1961. After that he was the Senator of South Dakota.
In 1968, McGovern decided to run for President because Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated.[2] McGovern was the Democratic presidential nominee for the 1972 presidential election. His running mate was Sargent Shriver. He lost to Richard Nixon.
Later he was the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture from 1998 through 2001.
Personal life
McGovern was married to Eleanor Stegeberg from 1943 until her death in 2007. McGovern is survived by his 4 daughters. His son (July 27, 1952 - July 27, 2012) was an alcoholic.[3]
Death
McGovern died on October 21, 2012 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota from natural causes, aged 90.[4]
George McGovern Media
The Corn Palace, a longtime sight of McGovern's hometown of Mitchell, South Dakota
Effects of a 1936 Dust Bowl storm in nearby Gregory County, South Dakota
Liberal Army Airfield in Kansas during World War II, where McGovern learned to fly the B-24
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 S. McGovern, date uncertain
McGovern as Food for Peace director in 1961, with President John F. Kennedy
McGovern with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. in Southern India in February 1962, seeing a photograph of President Kennedy enshrined beneath one of Mahatma Gandhi
Senator McGovern on his first trip to South Vietnam, November 1965
McGovern as seen in a 1972 campaign poster
McGovern speaking at an October 1972 rally in Houston during the final weeks of the campaign
References
- ↑ Current Year Biography 1967, p. 265.
- ↑ Hunter, Majorie (August 11, 1968) (fee required). M'Govern Opens Presidential Bid With Peace Plea. p. 1. http://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F10D13F8345E157A8EDDA80994D0405B888AF1D3.
- ↑ McGovern's son dies
- ↑ Former U.S. Sen George McGovern dead at 90. The Chicago Tribune. October 21, 2012. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-former-us-sen-george-mcgovern-dead-at-90-20121021,0,151594.story. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
Other websites
Media related to George McGovern at Wikimedia Commons