South Bend, Friday, July 14, 1972
The Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach
This week the delegates of the Democratic Party assembled in Miami Beach to nominate their candidate for the presidential election. After George McGovern had won the important California primary, he advanced to the position of favorite candidate who has dominated this National Convention. As it was declared an “open convention,” delegates of minorities and various ethnic groups could be admitted. Rarely has a National Convention shown such a wide range of diverse interest groups. By his idealism McGovern attracted the young, students from high schools and colleges, who support his campaign as volunteers. The Convention has been completely under the directives of these youthful volunteers so that it resembled at times a Scouts jamboree. The Democratic Party has shown a new face. As Arthur Miller remarked: “This is not the Democratic Party anymore, this is a third party under the disguise of the former Democratic Party.” At the conclusion of the Convention, George McGovern was nominated the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party by a large majority. He proposed Senator Thomas F. Eagleton of Missouri as his running mate. The proposal was accepted without objection. The question remains whether McGovern will be able to hold these manifold divergent interests together until the election in November.
[George S. McGovern, born 1922; professor of history and political science; U.S. Senator from South Dakota, 1963-81; presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, 1972.]