George McGovern

On two instances I had the opportunity to write about George McGovern in print and in both cases got to be with him in conjuction with those pieces at the McGovern Library at Dakota Wesleyan University.  In George McGovern: A Political Life I wrote about the 1972 election.  In Plains Political Tradition I wrote a piece on the various U.S. Senators from South Dakota who have lost reelection bids, beginning with McGovern losing to Jim Abdnor in 1980.  As it happens both men have died within a few months of each other. I joked last year at the DW event on the Plains Political Tradition that maybe someday I'd get to write on an election that Mr. McGovern actually won. 

There much to say about George McGovern, but let me just mention on this.  In the 1950s the Democratic Party was virtually non-existent in this state.  George McGovern, then a mere college professor at DW in Mitchell, almost single handedly made a Democratic Party.  Never did the term "grassroots" seem so apropos.  Of course, McGovern would later author an autobiography by that very title.  The South Dakota Democratic Party could use another George McGovern today.  

Perhaps that's the tale that needs to be told in some detail.  It would allow one to write about some elections that George McGovern won.  RIP. 

Comments

[Ken Blanchard]

I should add belatedly that I too admired and liked George McGovern. When he ran for President I was very young and a little bit disappointed that Nixon won. Looking back, I think differently.

I think McGovern's greatest achievement was the one that Jon mentions above: rebuilding the South Dakota Democratic Party. We need a stronger second party in the state and that means we need another George.

I had the pleasure of meeting McGovern only once, when he appeared at what was then the Borders bookstore in Rapid City. I got to shake his hand, and I am grateful for that.