As has been well-reported, George McGovern died in his home state of South Dakota on October 21. And, on October 22, Russell Means died, also in South Dakota. See this obituary from Reason Magazine.
McGovern was the Democratic nominee for President in 1972, and he also sought the Democratic nomination in 1968 and 1984. Means sought the Libertarian nomination in 1988, and he probably would have received it if his opponent for that nomination, Ron Paul, had not been such a formidable candidate.
As far as is known, these two men are the only South Dakota residents who ever ran for President, except that in 1892 a South Dakotan sought the People’s Party nomination.
James H. Kyle, an independent member of the U.S. Senate who sought the Populist Party’s presidential nomination in 1892, was also a South Dakotan. Considered an “accidental politician,” the 38-year-old Kyle lost to James Weaver at the 1892 Populist convention.
Thanks, Darcy. I’ll amend the post.
McGovern = one more major WW II hero – surviving 35 missions flying a B-24 against MAJOR nazi defenses – fighters, AA guns. RIP.
Also during the 1988 convention, Larry Dodge of Montana was Russel means running mate, and he also passed away this year.
Demo Rep… Thanks for your post.
Read the Ambrose book “Into the Blue” to learn more about McGovern’s war experience. A true hero. Ironic that he became the peace candidate while draft dodgers became the chicken hawks?
# 6. Correction, “The Wild Blue” is the book’s title.
Mark, not really ironic. It usually those who do not know war that push for it. Those who have experienced it often want to avoid it most.
#8. True. Eisenhower fretted over the military-industrial complex; Truman refused to escalate; Kennedy did not want to get deep into Southeast Asia; Bush I refused to invade Iraq. We needed Johnson, Nixon, Bush II and now Obama to let loose the dogs of war.
John Cribbet, a long-time law professor at Illinois (and author of one of the most influential Property texts ever used) told a story about McGovern in his class. I don’t know if they knew each other. Please pardon the length and forgive me if I am not faithful to it.
McGovern, early in his political career, was campaigning in SD. He came to a small town, spied an abandoned old wagon, staked out a spot on the wagon and began his speech. A small crowd gathered but soon dispersed, long before the speech was done. Except for one family, who stayed the length of the speech.
Thinking he had won a handful of supporters, McGovern approached the family, thanked them, and asked what they liked about the speech. The father said “nothing, its our gawd-damned wagon!”
Your statement that McGovern, Means [and Kyle] are the only South Dakota residents to run for president is incorrect. U.S. Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD) sought the Republican Presidential Nomination in 1980.
Daniel Sachs is correct.
http://www.uncoveredpolitics.com/2010/06/30/what-ever-happened-to%e2%80%a6south-dakota%e2%80%99s-larry-pressler/