Vote Your Conscience: The Last Campaign of George McGovern

(Hardback)

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Description

One of the great ironies of American politics is that George McGovern, one of the most misinterpreted and misunderstood men ever to seek the presidency, was also perhaps one of the most intelligent and far-sighted. Sadly, he is generally remembered for his landslide defeat to Richard Nixon in the 1972 presidential contest. The stigma of that defeat has often overshadowed McGovern's otherwise influential and respectable career in politics. Richard Michael Marano shows that despite his infamous defeat, McGovernvery much a man of high principlesstood tall and spoke his conscience when he decided in 1983 that he would again run for the presidency. While his candidacy was at first seen by many as a pathetic attempt by a political has-been to relive past glories, McGovern quickly proved his critics wrong by running a solid, admirable campaign. In an era of conservatism, McGovern offered the American voter a clear alternative to the politics of Ronald Reagan, and his campaign helped guide the Democratic candidates onto a platform based on substantive issues and common sense ideas. Marano, a McGovern activist in the Connecticut campaign, provides an inside, yet detailed and documented, account of McGovern's last play on the national stage and all that went into it. This book is an in-depth analysis of the 1984 Democratic campaign, as well as a detailed discussion of George McGovern's common sense program for America.

Reviews

"A trip down memory lane with a view of what might have been. Marano's reconstruction of the 1984 Democratic primary contest reminds us that there's more to politics than winning. McGovern's strength of character and his ideas stand the test of time."-Eleanor Clift Newsweek contributing editor
"George McGovern personifies Dakota Wesleyan University's motto 'Sacrifice or Service.' From World War II bomber pilot to college professor, from politician to United Nations ambassador, McGovern has dedicated his life to making the world a better place. Vote Your Conscience is a thoughtful, important analysis of the political chapters in the life of this remarkable man who should have been president."-Laurie Langland Archivist, Senator George McGovern Collection, Dakota Wesleyan University
"In this appealing account of a significant leader's last campaign, Richard M. Marano makes a solid and worthy contribution to the political history of our time."-Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian
"Richard Michael Marano has eloquently captured the understated strength of one of America's most unique public figures. George McGovern is that rare statesman who has been as much a humanitarian as a politician. His moral courage and unparalleled integrity remain powerful influences in our public life. Kudos to Marano for producing a compelling narrative about an extraordinary man."-Terence R. McAuliffe Chairman, Democratic National Committee
"This excellent new book reminds us all why George McGovern is such a vivid and inspiring symbol of America at its best. In so many ways in his long and outstanding career in public life, he has been a profile in courage for our time, and I wish we had more like him."-Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)
[A] welcome addition to the McGovern bookshelf.-South Dakota Magazine
[A]n excellent new book....In addition to its usefulness to historians, Marano's book also reveals a hidden secret waiting for the Democratic Party to exploit to its advantage nationwide.-American Politics Journal
[M]arano provides a useful account of an episode in the career of one of the twentieth century'd most important politicians, whose success in his own state of South Dakota was as remarkable in its own way as was his failure in the field of presidential politics.-Great Plains Quarterly
Admirers of McGovern will regard this book as a vindication of his unrepentant New Dealism. McGovern was a decent man, who was one of the first vicitms of the then-emerging indecency of what we now call the politics of personal destruction....To many, McGovern's conduct in his last campaign is a reminder of what politics once was--before campaigns were driven by attacks and counterattacks.-Political Science Quarterly
Marano's book offers an honest appraisal of a decent man trapped by the indecency of the modern political process.-The Advocate
Marano's testament to McGovern's tenacity is a welcome addition to the plethora of books on politics today, if only to remind us that there are some real honest-to-god heroes among the imposters at play.-The Bloomsbury Review
[A] welcome addition to the McGovern bookshelf.South Dakota Magazine
"A welcome addition to the McGovern bookshelf."-South Dakota Magazine
"An excellent new book....In addition to its usefulness to historians, Marano's book also reveals a hidden secret waiting for the Democratic Party to exploit to its advantage nationwide."-American Politics Journal
"Marano provides a useful account of an episode in the career of one of the twentieth century'd most important politicians, whose success in his own state of South Dakota was as remarkable in its own way as was his failure in the field of presidential politics."-Great Plains Quarterly
"Marano's testament to McGovern's tenacity is a welcome addition to the plethora of books on politics today, if only to remind us that there are some real honest-to-god heroes among the imposters at play."-The Bloomsbury Review
"[A] welcome addition to the McGovern bookshelf."-South Dakota Magazine
"[A]n excellent new book....In addition to its usefulness to historians, Marano's book also reveals a hidden secret waiting for the Democratic Party to exploit to its advantage nationwide."-American Politics Journal
"[M]arano provides a useful account of an episode in the career of one of the twentieth century'd most important politicians, whose success in his own state of South Dakota was as remarkable in its own way as was his failure in the field of presidential politics."-Great Plains Quarterly
"Marano's book offers an honest appraisal of a decent man trapped by the indecency of the modern political process."-The Advocate
"Admirers of McGovern will regard this book as a vindication of his unrepentant New Dealism. McGovern was a decent man, who was one of the first vicitms of the then-emerging indecency of what we now call the politics of personal destruction....To many, McGovern's conduct in his last campaign is a reminder of what politics once was--before campaigns were driven by attacks and counterattacks."-Political Science Quarterly

Author Bio

RICHARD MICHAEL MARANO is a judge of the Superior Court in Connecticut. Among his earlier publications are Connecticut Criminal Legal Forms and Growing Up Italian and American in Waterbury with Sando Bologna.