Chapter Five-The 1972 US Presidential election II-(Part five)

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Quote: "History and experience tell us that moral progress comes not in comfortable and complacent times, but out of trial and confusion", unquote-US President Gerald Ford

PART FOUR

I

By July 12, 1972, McGovern won.

By 3:00 am, he told his supporters: Quote: "Come home America!", unquote; The New York Times declared: quote: "A stunning sweep", unquote; McGovern supported his Vice Presidential Nominee, Missouri Senator, Thomas Francis Eagleton, (September 4, 1929 – March 4, 2007); Eagleton suffered from bi polar disorder type II, (in the 1960's he underwent electro shock therapy (EST) for depression; Eagleton accepted a Professorship at Washington University specialising in Public Affairs. He served from 1968-1987.

By August 1, 1972, Eagleton was forced out because of his health issues. McGovern asked then prominent Topeka, Kansas Psychiatrist Karl Augustus Menninger, (July 22, 1893 – July 18, 1990), to see his friend; Menninger, who had his private clinic, and Foundation, obliged. But Eagleton's political career ended abruptly after that.

Thankfully, the rest of his life was happy...and the Professorship was a godsend to him.

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II

The end to McGovern came when he put forward Robert Sargent "Sarge" Shriver, Jr., (/ˈsɑrdʒənt ˈʃraɪvər/; November 9, 1915—January 18, 2011), as his "Running Mate"; Shriver, (President JFK's brother-in-law), was the new "Ambassador to France".

Shriver, (who had served in the US Peace Corps), was the founder of "Jobs Corps", (to keep US military employees employed); Shriver was the married to Eunice Mary Kennedy Shriver, DSG, (July 10, 1921 – August 11, 2009); Eunice was the founder of "Camp Shriver", (1962). The camp was re-named, "The Special Olympics", (now "The Paralympic Games). The camp was called "Timberlawm", (in Maryland); Eunice and  Illinois Supreme Court Justice for the First Judicial District (Cook County, Illinois) Anne Marie Burke, (née McGlone), (February 3, 1944-), (1995); (1996-Appalate Court), helped her out; Justice Burke was married to Chicago Democrat Alderman, (14th Ward), Edward M. "Ed" Burke (December 29, 1943-).

She was the sister to President JFK, and Attorney-General, RFK, and was very influential both politically, economically, and socially in all of life's work in her day...like the other Kennedy women before, (and after her).

III

OCTOBER, 1972

McGovern was in Houston, Texas.

He was up against President Nixon's team. Nixon went to China to meet Chairman Mao, (December 26, 1893 – September 9, 1976), in Beijing on February 21, about 7 to eight months before. With international experience, he was miles ahead of McGovern's experience in overseas matters. Nixon's wife, the First Lady Thelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon, (March 16, 1912 – June 22, 1993), visited several Chinese schools...and was given a personalised tour of the cities she wanted to see. McGovern's campaign ended...and he vanished form the Halls of Power for the last time once he was defeated.

NOVEMBER 2, 1972-FOOTNOTE

McGovern was in Battle Creek, Michigan on. As he was making a speech, a Nixon supporter heckled him; McGovern's uncut quote to him was, whispering, "I'm got a secret for you; you can kiss my ass!", unquote; McGovern's outburst made the US newspapers for all of the wrong reasons...but showed he had a lot of ticker left in him.

NOVEMBER 7, 1972

McGovern lost 61% to 37% of the votes. It was a massive defeat. But, even though it was fair, the Watergate mess was beginning to rear its ugly face after Christmas of that year. And, by January of 1973, the scandal over Nixon's Presidency, surfaced...and wreaked havoc.

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