|
Post by doctork on Oct 24, 2012 22:35:30 GMT -5
I have been remiss is not posting an RIP notice for George McGovern, and I think he was a monumental enough individual that he deserves his own thread, not just another listing in the RIP thread. There were numerous moving obituaries, even a very laudatory one in WSJ, but here is a link to the wiki bio/obit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_McGovernA consistent, unabashed and principled liberal, he was a WWII war hero, held elective office, ran for President in 1972 on an anti-war platform against Richard Nixon, then continued his public and humanitarian service until very recently. One of the last of the Greatest Generation, from an era where working together across the aisle was not an obscene concept, and there was still an emphasis on the "service" portion of "public service." I voted for him in 1972, my first vote in a federal election, as while I was in college I was vigorously against the Viet Nam War. Though I stumped for Richard Nixon in 1968 when I founded and was president of TAR (Teen Age Republicans) Club, times were different then and in the Deep South the Republicans were the more progressive party. However, when one of my high school boyfriends was KIA in Viet Nam, I began to feel differently. Watergate, the casualties mounting to over 58,000, the awful suspense of watching the draft lottery to determine who would be next to head over there to fight and die for nothing... I had one of those bumper stickers on my first car after college graduation: Don't blame me, I voted for McGovern. RIP indeed Mr. McGovern. You've certainly earned it.
|
|
|
Post by BoatBabe on Oct 24, 2012 23:15:19 GMT -5
Yes, McGovern was my first presidential vote as well. We already had more dead 18-year olds than we could carry. And we pretty much still can't justify the mandatory draft nor the "war."
Rest In Peace, George. You fought a decent fight.
|
|
|
Post by booklady on Oct 25, 2012 8:34:59 GMT -5
He was my first presidential vote, too, though I always remember (or seem to....is my memory correct??) voting for Jerry Brown in the California primary. I had been appalled that Nixon won in '68 (sorry, Kristin. I sat up late election night that year, and was distraught that Humphrey lost, though I preferred Bobby Kennedy....alas, '68 was a year, wasn't it?) and was appalled when he won again. I like something I heard McGovern say once about his landslide defeat and comparisons to Nixon. It mentioned scandal, deceit, Watergate, resignation, and Mcgovern's own life by comparison....I don't remember the exact words.
Interesting that both a son and a daughter died of alcoholism.
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Oct 25, 2012 22:47:39 GMT -5
I did not remain a fan of RMN for long, so no worries. But as I said, in the state of Louisiana in 1968 the Republicans were the progressive party, the ones in favor of school desegregation and civil/voting rights for Black people, none of them popular concepts in the deep South at the time.
Last night Howard and I watched "Ethel" on HBO - a film about Ethel Kennedy done by her youngest daughter Rory, who was born after her father was assassinated. For all their dynastic wealth and power, the Kennedys, like McGovern, still believed in public service, had principles and character, cared about all Americans not just the 1%.
Yes 1968 was quite a year. ABC News did a one hour special called "A Crack in Time" in 1978 to commemorate the year, wish I could get a DVD copy of it now but have not been able to find it.
"Lost my soul in '68. Where were you? Where were you?" (from War's album "All Day Music" - great album, remember that?)
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Nov 14, 2012 20:24:26 GMT -5
I'm so happy to find this thread. (Remember how you were all supposed to remind me to Scroll Down ?) 1968 was my first vote and I gave it to Humphrey. If only..... You're right, BB, we already had far too many dead boys and uncountable dead Vietnamese farmers. I'm certain Humphrey would have ended the war sooner and certainly not dragged the negotiations out to win a 2nd term, as Nixon did.
Interesting that K thought the Republicans were the progressives at that time. I hadn't really thought about it. Certainly the Dixiecrats were nothing to be proud of, an unholy alliance for Democrats that tainted the party. But when I think of sound, decent Republicans back then I can't really remember any from the South. Not that I don't believe it, just one more thing to research.
I still have a bunch of McGovern pins that I can't bring myself to throw away. If anybody wants one, let me know.
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Nov 15, 2012 2:42:37 GMT -5
I hope I was specific that in Louisiana the Republicans/Republican Party were progressive, a very important difference from saying Republicans in general were progressive. David Treen was the Republican gubernatorial candidate that my TAR Club supported. Southern Democrats by and large then were racists; recall they were the south that LBJ "lost" when he signed the Civil Rights Act.
Wasn't 1968 the "Clean for Gene" (McCarthy) year?
Anyway I was just a kid back then so what I remember now may be quite different from what was really happening then. Plus we all know if you remember the 60's you weren't really there.
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Nov 15, 2012 9:40:19 GMT -5
Yes, I leaped from LA to the South in general, though it may well have been true in other southern states. What I may research (along with the myriad things needing research that come up every day) is Republican names from that time. The ones I remember off the top of my head were Rockefeller, Dirksen, Howard Baker, Hatfield, Gov. Percy. Must be lots more. Flash! here's a list to put you to sleep: www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/chronlist.pdf Skimming over some years in the list above, I'm amazed at what a lock the Democrats had on the Senate (maybe the House, too). But those Dems included what are now conservative Repubs. Democrats in name only. Yep, Clean for Gene was a big movement. Liberals were torn between McCarthy and Bobby Kennedy, would have been happy with either. They were left reeling after Bobby's assassination. Then they were so enraged by the Chicago Dem Convention that they vowed to write in McCarthy's name rather than vote for Humphrey, who had been Johnson's VP. What a tragedy. Vietnam was surely owned by the Democrats, but Humphrey was a truly decent man who would have fought to get us out. That's one of the reasons I'm so soured on 3rd party hopeless votes: my liberal friends helped hand the election to Nixon and thousands more of our soldiers died. How many between 1969 and 1973? I don't know, but 2 of them were friends of mine.
|
|
|
Post by Jane on Nov 15, 2012 10:37:03 GMT -5
I'm am ashamed to say that my first vote was for Nixon (the new Nixon, that is). I had been working for McCarthy (including standing on a street corner in Lansing asking for signatures on an anti-war petition during an VFW convention), and, after the convention, was so mad that I cast a "protest" vote for the noxious Nixon.
I also voted for Anderson once when he was running as an independent. I also voted for Romney and Milliken (both Republicans) for governor of Michigan.
In the current state of affairs, I am almost certain that there is not a Republican I would vote for.
Last night Progressive Women's Alliance hosted our newly elected state rep. (the first woman from GR EVER in the state house of reps) and Barb Byrum, term-limited out this year, who was one of the two women banned from speakcing because she said "vasectomy" on the house floor.
|
|
|
Post by BoatBabe on Nov 15, 2012 23:32:44 GMT -5
Amazing stories!
I am glad and grateful to know you all.
|
|