George Mcgovern

A president governs in prose, but every now and then some poetry slips through. Speaking in West Virginia after an explosion killed 29 coal miners, President Obama talked about the victims: "Most days they would emerge from the dark mine, squinting at the light. Most days, they would emerge, sweaty, dirty, dusted with coal. Most days, they would come home. Most days, but not that day. " The words came from Adam Frankel, a young White House speechwriter. Over the last 20 months he has developed a niche in death and disaster, a specialist in language that assuages grief.

George McGovern writes (Commentary, July 19) " . . . I'd have to say that he (Nixon) did more damage than good as President." Baloney. History will ultimately regard Richard Nixon as one of our greatest presidents. If nothing else, the people of the United States will be eternally grateful to Nixon for keeping George McGovern out of the White House. LANNY R. MIDDINGS San Ramon

"I think it's better to come in second than be impeached." --Former South Dakota Sen. George McGovern, reflecting on his losing 1972 race for the presidency against Richard Nixon, at a party in McGovern's honor this week at the Democratic Convention.

Former U.S. Sen. George McGovern said he regrets dropping Missouri Sen. Thomas F. Eagleton as his initial running mate for the 1972 presidential race because Eagleton had been treated for mental illness. If the situation came up again, "I probably would have gone the other way," McGovern, 75, said at a forum about mental illness. McGovern dropped Eagleton after news reports of his treatment, including electroshock therapy, for manic depression. R. Sargent Shriver Jr.

Former Sen. George McGovern said the Bush administration has been misleading the public about the dangers Iraq poses. McGovern, speaking at a Wyoming university, said the administration has not shown a link between Iraq and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and has overstated Iraq's arsenal. Noting that Saddam Hussein has "not so much as stuck his big toe beyond the borders of Iraq" since 1991, McGovern said President Bush should have given weapons inspectors more time.

Richard Nixon lied, cheated and finagled his way through an election race against George McGovern that it was nearly impossible for him to lose, no matter what he did or didn't do. Reagan, it appears, is trying hard to follow in his predecessor's path, in this instance lying to the electorate with his promise not to touch Social Security payments to connive a few votes he didn't need. Our age has the terrible habit of believing venal men, and Reagan has demonstrated that he belongs to that filthy company.

Reaction to the death of former Sen. George McGovern focused Sunday on his work promoting peace and bringing attention to world hunger. “George McGovern once said that after he had passed away, he wanted people to say, 'He did the best he could to end hunger in this country and the world.'  Indeed, he did,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement. “He was a humanitarian with a tactical touch, and he saved the lives of many at home and abroad.” The White House, praising McGovern for his service in World War II and Washington, called him “a statesman of great conscience and conviction,” and a “hero of war” who became “a champion for peace.” And former President Bill Clinton, who coordinated McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign in Texas, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton released a join statement about the passing of their longtime friend.