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[[Image:1972election.jpg|thumb|300px]]

[[Image:1972election.jpg|thumb|300px]]

The [[Democratic]] nominee after a bitter battle was [[George McGovern]], and initially his running mate was [[Thomas Eagleton]], who accepted the nomination despite viciously tearing McGovern's policies apart in an anonymous interview earlier in the year. Eagleton had a secret history of mental instability--with electric shock treatment. Although McGovern said he was "1000% behind Eagleton," the insanity issue threatened to destroy the credibility of McGovern's crusade and Eagleton was forced off the ticket. Numerous leading Democrats publicly rejected the VP nomination until finally a Daley-supporter and Kennedy in-law, [[Sargent Shriver]], accepted. Polls showed Nixon winning a huge landslide, as indeed happened.  

The Democratic party was deeply split after 1968 and in 1972 the leftwing faction won out, then self-destructed. The nominee after a nasty primary battle was South Dakota Senator [[George McGovern]], and initially his running mate was [[Thomas Eagleton]]. Eagleton had a secret history of mental illness (complete with electric shock treatments to his brain) that was revealed after he accepted the nimination. Although McGovern said he was "1000% behind Eagleton," the insanity issue threatened to destroy the credibility of McGovern's crusade and Eagleton was forced off the ticket. Numerous leading Democrats publicly rejected the VP nomination until finally a Daley-supporter and Kennedy in-law, [[Sargent Shriver]], accepted. Polls showed Nixon winning a huge landslide, as indeed happened.  

The McGovern camp counted on the vote of young people disaffected by the [[Vietnam War]] to boost their support as the voting age was dropped from 21 down to 18.  Their turnout stayed low.

The McGovern camp counted on the vote of young people disaffected by the [[Vietnam War]] to boost their support as the voting age was dropped from 21 down to 18.  Their turnout stayed low.

{{DEFAULTSORT:1972, United States presidential election,}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1972, United States presidential election,}}

[[Category:United States Presidential Elections]]

[[Category:United States Presidential Elections]]

[[Category:1970s]]

[[Category:1960s]]

[[Category:Cold War]]

[[Category:Cold War]]