Eleanor McGovern, wife of 1972 presidential canditate George McGovern
By way of the Missoulian (and hordes of others)…Eleanor McGovern, whose husband George McGovern served as a U.S. senator from South Dakota and ran for president, died Thursday morning at the family’s home in Mitchell, according to a Mitchell funeral home. She was 85.
George McGovern, a former congressman and senator, was a leading opponent of the war in Vietnam. He was the Democratic nominee for president in 1972, losing to Richard Nixon.
In a 2005 interview with the Argus Leader newspaper in Sioux Falls, S.D., she explained her approach to family life and politics.
“I was determined to help with George’s career, not only by taking responsibility for the family, but by contributing ideas,” she said. “In fact, I never considered it ‘George’s’ career — it was ours.”
From the McGovern Center web site:
Eleanor came to the forefront of national awareness during Senator McGovern’s 1972 Presidential campaign. George has described her as his most helpful critic and most trusted adviser. And as one of his key strategists, she shared in both the victories and the defeats associated with the fight for causes in which she believed deeply. As the wife of a presidential nominee, Eleanor broke new ground by campaigning on her own across the country.
An accomplished speaker, she stirred crowds from coast to coast and appeared frequently as a guest on network television and radio discussions dealing with national and international issues. Her high profile permanently transformed public perception of the role and value of political spouses.
~~The ODDones for OurDailyDead.com
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