This Day In 1970's History: Tuesday July 11, 1972
- George McGovern won a big victory on the California delegate challenge, and his two principal rivals have dropped out of the race, assuring McGovern a first-ballot nomination. Hubert Humphrey said that he will not permit his name to be entered in nomination at the convention, and he released his delegates but stated that his battle for social justice in America will continue. Humphrey campaign manager Jack Chestnut reported that Humphrey and his staff will remain active throughout the convention.
Edmund Muskie said that it's apparent McGovern is the convention's choice as the presidential nominee of the party. Muskie believes that continuing his own candidacy would benefit no one, and therefore has withdrawn from the race and announced his support of McGovern; Muskie may consider another run in the future. CBS news estimates that McGovern now has well over the 1,509 delegates that are needed for the nomination. [CBS]
- Hopeless as the odds now look, George Wallace, Henry Jackson, Shirley Chisholm and Terry Sanford still remain in the race for the Democrat presidential nomination. AFL-CIO leaders, who are bitterly opposed to McGovern, are supporting Senator Jackson.
Governor Wallace took an afternoon boat ride today, and he will appear on the convention floor to advocate the adoption of the minority plank of the party platform. Jackson said that he feels obligated to continue his candidacy to the end, and Chisholm also plans to fight to the finish. [CBS]
- George McGovern is working on his acceptance speech. He will assure the families of POWs that he would keep a residual force in southeast Asia until all American prisoners are free. McGovern is considering who his running mate will be; he prefers Senator Edward Kennedy, but UAW president Leonard Woodcock is another possibility. Woodcock says he's not a candidate for vice president, but the decision is up to the nominee. Woodcock's articulation of economic issues could benefit McGovern. [CBS]
- The McGovern victory in the California delegate challenge started events turning his way. Kansas state Senator Harold Herd gave a pep talk to the McGovern faction of the Kansas delegation before the vote on California. Representatives of both McGovern and Muskie visited the Kansas delegation to discuss the California question with them. Karlin Lawing, the McGovern whip from Kansas, called on Julian Bond to convince a young black female Kansas delegate to vote with McGovern on the California challenge. California delegate chairman Willie Brown called on the convention to give McGovern back his delegation. Kansas voted 18 to 17 for McGovern on the California issue; New York put him over the top. [CBS]
- Florida Governor Reubin Askew will deliver the convention's keynote address tonight. Approval of the party platform is also on the agenda. The platform calls for the abolition of Congress' seniority system, national health insurance, breaking up industrial monopolies, ending the Vietnam war, amnesty for draft dodgers, and busing to assure quality education. George Wallace will lead the fight against the platform, but McGovern forces are expected to beat the challenge. [CBS]
|
