George McGovern

Guide Note:George McGovern ran for President as the Democratic nominee in 1972 on a platform of opposition to the Vietnam War. He lost that election to Richard Nixon, and returned to his position as U.S. Senator for South Dakota, retiring in 1981.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: July 19, 1922
2. Birthplace: Avon, South Dakota
3. Occupation: historian, professor, politician
4. Currently: United Nations global ambassador on hunger
5. U.S. Senate: 1963-1981
6. U.S. House of Representatives: 1957-1961
7. World War II veteran
8. Spouse: Eleanor McGovern (1921-2007)
9. 5 children
10. Religion: Methodist

After Hillary Clinton lost the 2008 North Carolina Primary and won the Indiana Primary by a small margin, pressure increased on her to withdraw from the contest.

On May 7, 2008, McGovern endorsed Barack Obamafor the Democratic nomination saying he had concluded it was mathematically impossible for Clinton to win.

McGovern said "We need to concentrate on a unified party that's capable of winning the White House...[Clinton has] "made a great valiant race for the nomination. So has Barack Obama. It would appear to me that he has all but won the nomination."

1. The son of a minister,
2. Graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell
3. October 31, 1943: married Eleanor Stegeberg

1. Volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II
2. Served as B-24 Liberator bomber pilot in the Fifteenth Air Force
3. Flew 35 missions over enemy territory
4. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for saving his crew by crash landing his damaged bomber

1. Earned degree from Garrett Theological Seminary
2. Worked briefly as a Methodist minister but went back into education
3. Earned Ph.D in history from Northwestern University
4. Became a professor at Dakota Wesleyan University

1. 1952: Joins Democratic Party after hearing Adlai Stevenson's speech accepting the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party
2. Worked as a volunteer on Stevenson's campaign
3. 1953: Executive Director of the South Dakota Democratic Party
4. 1956: Won a seat in the House of Representatives
5. 1958: Won reelection in against Joe Foss