Index of University Press Releases

Peter, Paul and Mary group member laments
America’s poor standing in world

Ross Dolan
The Daily Republic - 10/06/2006

Laura Wehde/Republic - Noel Paul (from left), Mary Travers, former Sen. George McGovern, Peter Yarrow and Mike Farrell visited with the audience Thursday night at the Corn Palace. Peter, Paul and Mary performed their songs, including “Puff the Magic Dragon.”

Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul and Mary, lamented America’s poor standing in the world during a Thursday concert at the Corn Palace that kicked off a weekend of festivities surrounding the dedication of the George and Eleanor McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service.

“To my chagrin,” Yarrow said, “we are the most reviled nation in the world.”

Yarrow and fellow group members Noel “Paul” Stookey and Mary Travers gave a nearly packed house a personal, emotional and ideological homecoming during the concert, the first event in three days of celebration that will culminate with the Saturday dedication of the McGovern Library. Former President Bill Clinton is Saturday’s keynote speaker and Sen. Bob Dole will speak at a DWU campus banquet tonight.

Prior to the banquet, visitors will have the opportunity to stroll the McGovern Legacy Museum for the first time. The museum, which highlights McGovern’s political life, is housed in a special wing attached to the library.
McGovern escorted Yarrow, Stookey and Travers onto the stage and the group was later joined by former “MASH” actor Mike Farrell, also a longtime McGovern supporter. Farrell called the group “Troubadours of Human Values.”

It was a bittersweet evening for McGovern, who as emcee for the concert introduced the legendary folk group as “my favorite friends and entertainers.”

“They sang for me in 12 different cities when I ran for president (in 1972). With that kind of help I don’t know how I lost,” he said. “Tonight we’ll all be winners and will be royally entertained.”

McGovern reminded all that the new library also will be named for his wife, and briefly shocked the audience when he said, “I regret to say that Eleanor is critically ill.” He gave no further details.

The singers coaxed a song from McGovern, who broke out in several choruses of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” and personalized the lyrics by adding “dearest Eleanor in his hands.”

If the audience hoped to hear the old standards that launched PP&M onto the 1960s world stage, they weren’t disappointed. They led off the concert with a driving version of “When the Ship Comes In,” an anthem of McGovern’s ’72 campaign, and moved into well-known standards such as “Leavin’ On a Jet Plane” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone.” They ended with a rousing version of their trademark number, “If I Had a Hammer.”

The opening chords of “Puff the Magic Dragon” brought cheers from the audience and a bouquet of flowers from a veteran.

“I love a man in uniform,” quipped Travers.

As always, PP&M used their music to preach a gospel of tolerance and inclusiveness. Yarrow commented on the sorrow caused by recent school shootings in the news and followed with the song “Don’t Laugh at Me,” which rejects the values of those who gain pleasure in the pain of others.

The audience was with them all the way.

Dorothy Brewick of Rapid City, a friend of the McGovern family who grew up in Forestburg, attended with friends Chris Coleman, Cynthia Hilton and Lacie Neu. All wore special “I voted for George in ‘72” T-shirts they made for the event. “ We were very disappointed in ‘72,” she said.

Physician Kevin Weiland, of Rapid City, wore a tie-died shirt with a huge peace symbol on the chest. “My wife bought it for me,” he said. “I found it last night and decided to wear it.”
Howard banker Kent Thompson and his wife, Sally, also attended.
He said, “I thought (the concert) was fabulous. They’re still great.”

Travers who recently survived a life-threatening bout with leukemia, was aided by stem-cell therapy, she told her audience.

In final comments, McGovern’s voice broke briefly as he said, “I want Eleanor to recover.” He said Travers’ recovery was as remarkable as anything he had seen and hoped for similar fortune for his wife.

He said of the singing group, “I don’t think they lost a stroke in 46 years.”

Members of the audience — numbering more than 2,500 — agreed.

“Paid attendance was 2,454,” said Corn Palace Director Mark Schilling, “which means we had at least 2,700 to 2,800 people in the audience.”

The Corn Palace seats about 3,000 when filled for concerts.

“There are three reasons for the numbers,” Schilling said. “Peter, Paul and Mary; George McGovern, and a strong connection to Dakota Wesleyan University.”