On the death of George McGovern, I yield the floor Kevin Woster, who came of political age in the McGovern era. Woster says McGovern made him see the value of politics:
As the years passed from that defining '72 campaign, I released some of Sen. McGovern's liberal beliefs and held tight to others. But I have never released my full-hearted admiration and respect for the kind-and-caring man who shaped my views of public service and public servants.
They remain positive views, mostly, unlike the cynicism and even hatred shown by those who belittle politicians and politics in our nation today.
It's an imperfect system, for sure, fully of failings and imperfect human beings.
But it is still a system that matters in our lives, and can do abundant good.
My senator taught me that. And it's something I'll never forget [Kevin Woster, "McGovern Taught Me Love of Politics," Rapid City Journal, October 21, 2012].
Woster waxes Aristotelian: politics is the art of living together in the polis, the community. Even when we have our passionate disagreements, we must find the common understanding, respect, and compromise on which we build the community that enables and safeguards all the blessings of civilization to all of humanity.
* * *
George McGovern granted Madison High School journalist Becky Froelich a phone interview a few weeks ago. Perhaps his closing words to her and her generation will inspire future citizens as his service inspired Kevin Woster 40 years ago.
Froelich: What advice would you give to my generation, the youth of America?
McGovern: First, get as much education as you reasonably can. Go out and think about the impact of your life on the scope of the world. And don't just be someone who knocks everything and is critical. Whatever happens, try to see an opening for how you can help others, because you'll find the world really is a good place [Becky Froelich, "George McGovern: A Retrospective Interview," Madison HS Maroon, October 19, 2012].
Update 10:56 MDT: Never mind philosophy; Bob Mercer says George McGovern was just a vain old man who won fleeting political victories on demographic luck and negative campaigning. Perhaps Mercer will see vanity in the conversation Tom Lawrence recounts: McGovern told Lawrence that he considered running for the Presidency one more time in 1992 and discussed the possibility with Richard Nixon in a chance meeting on a plane.
I miss the days when people who disagreed could still talk to one another without calling each other names. George ,as well as Jim, were those kind of people. You will be missed George
It is impossible to miss the seething petulance in Mr. Mercer's little exercise in dishonor. One must wonder just what occasioned it.
RIP Mr. McGovern. It was an honor to meet you on the campaign trail 4 years ago. You were a great leader, humanitarian, and veteran. I hope we can take what we learned from you and move forward in your vision of true peace and compassion for others who need our help.
George McGovern was the only politician of his era who was right about Vietnam
I used to think Bob Mercer was the sharpest tool in the box among the lackluster press in Pierre. Bitterness seems to be ruling his judgment since he served as Janklow's press secretary. His researched attack on the character of Senator McGovern displayed an arrogance and vitriol of a real hater. The fact he prepared and launched the stench within hours of the great statesman's death showed a complete lack of class and professional conduct.
Bob needs to go back to drinking coffee in the morning. The cup of bile seems to be corrupting his judgment.
If we can learn anything from Mr. McGovern, let it be this: while remaining true to who were are as individuals, keeping our values in our hearts, while respecting those who disagree with us, we can act in a more humble manner toward one another. If all of us could finally learn from observing Mr. McGovern in how he conducted himself, our politics in this nation would finally change for the better.
RIP George. If there is an afterlife, Bob Mercer won't be meeting with George Mcgovern there.
Read Mercer's story and I'll never read him again. I mean the day McGovern died and right a story like that.
What would have you said if somebody ripped Janklow on the same day he died. You'd been leading the charge ripping the writer.
No class Mercer-no class
Mercer said what he said. On the day Janklow died, I wouldn't have criticized someone for reminding us that Janklow was a mean SOB. Of course, calling Janklow a mean SOB isn't a matter of historical or psychological interpretation; it's obvious fact. Mercer's claims seem more debatable.
Mercer is just wrong about the surge of the Democrats. He forgets that the older baby boomers couldn't vote until they were 21. There were lots of high school and college kids in 1968, including me, who could volunteer for him, but they couldn't vote. The surge happened much earlier, and McGovern was a part of building it gradually through the 1950s. Then, in 1960 JFK won, bringing a lot of young energetic new blood into the party. The big push during the late 1960s and early 70s was due to the enough of the Greatest Generation turning against the Vietnam War. Remember, Nixon ran in 1968 as a mild opponent to the Vietnam War, promising to bring it to and end.
McGovern was a good politician. He would talk to anyone and work with anyone. McGovern had pretty good support from Chamber of Commerce-types, who you would expect not to support a Democrat, and water development advocates. In fact, McGovern lost a lot of support later in his career with his positions on the Oahe Irrigation Project.
I'm not going to call Bob Mercer a shameless bootlicker to the Republican Party. Nor will I refer to him as a petty little troll unworthy to lick George McGovern's boots. But when someone accuses Bob Mercer of eating poop sandwiches I will defend him by pointing out he doesn't like bread.
Catholics: can't live with 'em and you can't jail the Pope.
Mercer is anti-choice: connect the dots.
I had a chance to talk with George McGovern at the state fair this year. He was the same mentally vigorous, pleasant, thoughtful and humble man I have known for years. He had a true servant's spirit. And he cared for people. Especially the least among us. I spoke to him and heard him speak dozens of times and never heard him to speak a harsh word about Bob Mercer.
Lol, R, funny stuff.
On the day Bob Mercer dies, no paper of any repute will have a thing to say about his life. He may as well have never existed.
Easy now: Mercer can be wrong about plenty, but he's also one of the few reposits of institutional memory available to students of South Dakota politics.
He made quite an impression on my daughter Becky and she feels pretty special that she probably got one of the last interviews with Mr. McGovern. She said she chose him for her project because a lot of her classmates didn't know who George McGovern is (was).
Mercer may be a repository but it seems as if he needed a suppository this morning.
He may be a source of history, but he also seems unable to deal with this simple fact that Conor Friedersdorf points out:
"Over the course of his career, McGovern made a lot of arguments that I personally find unpersuasive. But he sure did get the most important issue of his time right. Think of all the Americans who’d be alive today if the country had listened to McGovern rather than his opponents about the Vietnam War. Think of all the veterans who’d have been better off. Think of how many Vietnamese civilians would’ve been spared death by napalm."
"Easy now: Mercer can be wrong about plenty, but he's also one of the few reposits of institutional memory available to students of South Dakota politics."
Sorry Cory Mercer has no credablity with me. To say that on the day McGovern dies. Crap is the only word I can think of
Paula, that impression is clear in the article Becky wrote. Well done, and well chosen, given her classmates' lack of knowledge. Someday when I teach HS history class, I'm going to teach it in reverse: last fifty years in South Dakota, then zoom out for the larger chronology and geography.
You can write a column like Mercer's that for every politician. They got lucky, they did things that they probably shouldn't have in a campaign (to win) and everything they are given credit for doing is blown way out of proportion. I'm guessing there is some personal beef between the two. I met George once, was very nice and polite. But I know quite a few people who have been around him in Mitchell, and Democrat or Republican they all really liked him. Said if you didn't know who he was you'd swear he was just your average late 80's gentlemen, always preferred to be called George and never wanted much attention.
Pisses you guys off to be confronted with the truth, dudenit?
Grudz,
There has always been a convention that politician's families are allowed to grieve without political acrimony. Coverage of Nixon's life was peppered with phrases like "elder statesman" and "rehabilitation."
If Mercer wants to write his version of SD political history in a couple of years with this column as his thesis, I'll have no problem. Publishing it today is an example of ill-timed ill will.
Indeed, LK. Indeed.
grud, have a spud on another Bob.
I respect Mr. McG. and his accomplishments. We all should.
Mr. Justin just wished a nice young fellow dead. Again. Mr Justin has a lot to learn about life. But he is very, very young. And Mr. McG. has nothing to appologize for.
I met the man a few times, and I only wish he had opened his quaint little Inn here in South Dakota.
Looking back I regret a lot of things. You know they say hindsight is 20/20. I didn't vote for the late Senator McGovern when he ran for President, I was married and had been brainwashed by my now "ex". If I could do it over, say in the last 30 years I would have. It feels great to be able to think for myself.
Can someone tell me whether Lederman's wife is catholic?
"There were some testy times in the Senate chamber as supporters of Sen. Lee Schoenbeck maneuvered to put Schoenbeck in a light more favorable than Lt. Gov Daugaard in anticipation of a 2010 Republican primary for the governor nomination." Mercer.
wrong thread: sorry, cory. goes to motive.
I appreciate Mercer's point of view, and pointing out that McGovern was a politician who could be ruthless when he had to be isn't such a bad thing. There were other issues that came into McGovern's victory over Bottom, including the fact that Bottom had been twice rejected by the Republican Party for higher office. I'm not so sure the boozing rumors were that important.
At any rate, it's one thing to be a ruthless politician during a close election, and it's another thing to ruthlessly use governmental power, once elected, to destroy people because they speak up, as is their constitutional right. Janklow didn't know how to use power wisely. McGovern, whose reasoned approach to listening to all sides of issues, was far better at governance than Janklow.
Our state, country, and even the world, lost a very special man today. As a teacher, a congressman, senator, presidential candidate, UN special ambassador, and author, George McGovern conducted himself with the dignity, honor, and commitment he felt those positions deserved. I had the pleasure of being at one of his 90th birthday celebrations and was able to enjoy a few moments of conversation with him (he even signed my copy of "Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72" and how he and his wife liked and admired Hunter Thompson - that was a thrill!!). There aren't many like him around these days.
As for Mr. Mercer, everyone has a right to their opinion (and he has even taken Republicans to task from time to time) - no problem with that. But, I agree with LK - there really is no excuse for the timing of his missive. Regardless of your feelings or opinions, family members and friends have just lost a loved one - show the proper respect. This seems to be the curse of technology - we all have the ability to immediately broadcast any thought to the world through the web, often before we engage our filter. It's especially true in the political arena. Sadly, McGovern's passing closes another chapter of politics when respect of others' opinions, cooperation, and "loyal opposition" meant something...
I would add a caveat. McGovern was ruthless to opponents of the Oahe Project. It was one issue that he could gain Republican support on, at least until the opponents became the majority.
Grudz, who did I wish dead? Your imagination and memory are as out of whack as Bob Mercer's.
Dementia is a terrible disease. You and your family have my deepest sympathy.