Index of University Press Releases

Former president says McGovern had huge impact,
even in presidential loss

Seth Tupper
The Daily Republic - 10/09/2006

Thousands heard former President Bill Clinton laud Mitchell’s own George McGovern as one of the nation’s most influential leaders Saturday at the dedication of the George and Eleanor McGovern Library and Center for Leadership and Public Service.

Clinton, who broke into politics working for McGovern’s unsuccessful 1972 presidential campaign, said McGovern’s legacy is in the many people he inspired.

“In the storied history of American politics, I believe no other presidential candidate ever had such an enduring impact in defeat,” Clinton said. “Senator, the fires you lit then still burn in countless hearts.”

Clinton was the keynote speaker for the dedication, which fulfilled years of planning by Dakota Wesleyan University officials. The library cost $8.5 million to build and includes a coffeehouse, museum and historical archives.

Spectators at the outdoor dedication filled the 3,000 seats that were spread out in front of the main entrance on the library’s south side, and hundreds more stood or brought their own chairs. Some left with one-sided sunburns, having arrived as early as 7 a.m. to claim the spots they would occupy during the ceremony, which began at about 11:30 a.m. and lasted until around 1 p.m. The temperature during the festivities was unseasonably warm and ranged from 80 to 84 degrees, and a 20-30 mph wind whipped the giant American flag that served as the backdrop onstage.

Clinton, who was slightly hoarse-voiced and spoke for 15 minutes, recalled the many like him who used McGovern’s 1972 campaign as a launching pad for their careers. Clinton managed McGovern’s Texas campaign, working with staffers such as his then-girlfriend Hillary Rodham and future Pulitzer Prize-winning author Taylor Branch.

McGovern’s staff also included Gary Hart, who went on to become a senator and presidential candidate; Eli Siegel, who became the director of AmeriCorps; Rick Stearns, whom Clinton appointed to a federal judgeship; and Sandy Berger, who served as Clinton’s national security adviser.

“We were all there, and we still are,” Clinton said. “One of George McGovern’s most important legacies is the lasting impact he left on those, who in those long-ago reaching years, longed to see our country redeem its fundamental promise.”

McGovern, who introduced Clinton and delivered the ceremony’s closing comments, said Clinton’s appearance meant a lot.

“I don’t think there’s a person in the world more in demand these days than President Clinton,” McGovern said, “and for him to come to Mitchell, South Dakota, and Dakota Wesleyan is something I’ll never forget the rest of my days.”

The celebratory occasion was made a bit sad by McGovern’s announcement that his wife, Eleanor, was “critically” ill and could not attend. She reportedly was listening to an audio broadcast of the ceremony with family at the couple’s Montana cabin. Mrs. McGovern had bypass surgery earlier this year, and Mr. McGovern said Saturday that “medical science has done everything humanly possible” for her.

“As the old song says, ‘He’s got the whole world in His hands,’ ” McGovern said. “That’s my prayer for Eleanor, and for dear Terry who is smiling on us from above.”

Terry was one of the McGoverns’ five children. She died in 1994 after a long battle with alcoholism.

George, from Mitchell, and Eleanor, from Woonsocket, began dating while both were students at DWU. Mr. McGovern went on to become a World War II bomber pilot, U.S. representative, U.S. senator, Democratic presidential nominee and United Nations delegate and ambassador.

The dedication Saturday included speeches by 13 dignitaries, including Clinton and McGovern. Many of the speakers shared a personal story about the McGoverns and praised the couple as examples for others to follow.

Al Neuharth, an Alpena native, McGovern contemporary and founder of USA Today, was especially bold in his praise and drew some of the loudest applause of the afternoon.

“This historical note, about which future historians will have no argument, is especially noteworthy today,” Neuharth said. “The U.S.A. and the world would’ve been far better off if Richard and Pat Nixon had been replaced in the White House in 1973 by George and Eleanor McGovern.”

The other speakers included a who’s who of South Dakota politics. Democratic speakers were former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, gubernatorial candidate Jack Billion, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth and U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson. Republican speakers were U.S. Sen. John Thune and Gov. Mike Rounds.

Partisanship was largely set aside. Billion, who spoke because of his leadership of a DWU fundraising group, did not mention his candidacy for governor. Rounds also refrained from mentioning the race, even though McGovern slipped in a plug for Billion.

“And Gov. Rounds let me just add that we have no malice at all towards you, but we as Democrats have come up with a first-rate candidate for governor, Jack Billion,” McGovern said to applause from Billion supporters in the crowd. “That’s the only partisan thing I’m going to say today.”

Daschle did not mention his potential presidential candidacy, although some in the crowd may have been thinking about it. Instead, Daschle spoke of his admiration for McGovern.

“I only hope that when young people walk into this building,” Daschle said, “that they’re as inspired in what they see and what they learn as all of us have been inspired by the two people whose names are on its side.”

Many audience members also had praise to share about the McGoverns. Judy Harrington of Hill City, who was a McGovern staffer for 10 years, seemed to be as thrilled by the day’s happenings as George McGovern himself.

“It was very nostalgic,” she said. “George has been such a leader to us and such an inspiration to us. I hope we’ve all been in good works the last 35 years since we were first involved with him.”

Clinton summarized the sentiment of the day with his final thought about the McGoverns.

“We thank you, we honor you and we love you,” he said.