Despite a landslide loss to Nixon, McGovern's candidacy and particularly his opposition to the Vietnam War was embraced by the left. McGovern later described the loss as one of the most disheartening points in his life, as South Dakota Public Broadcasting's Charles Michael Rays reports for our Newscast desk.As I will go to my grave believing the country would have been better off. Remember, we voted in Tricky Dick and the Watergate gang again, and despite Kissinger's "Peace is at hand" announcement preceding the election, the war continued until our ignominious departure in 1975. Nixon was the first and only president in history to resign the office in disgrace.
"I thought the program I spelled out there was the truth," McGovern said. "I thought it was best for America and I'll go to my grave believing America would be better off had I been elected."
George McGovern was a brave man, an eloquent man, and a good man. I'm proud to say that I voted for him in 1972.
Isn't the picture splendid?
