I’m delighted to be here.
In 1972 I said, “No Presidential candidate in my lifetime has trusted the American people more than George McGovern...He has no secret plans, only public plans, publicly debated. The American people can trust him because he has already put his faith in them...” Those words spoken in 1972 were true then. They are true now. George McGovern was and is a great American. No one connected to his political life or campaigns has ever been accused, let alone convicted, of any offense against the people or the Government of this nation. None of his friends or associates has ever violated the laws of this nation. Just compare that record, my friends, with the Nixon-Agnew Administration, or with the Reagan-Bush years when we have seen dozens of high government officials go to jail, or pay huge fines, or escape convictions of high crimes and misdemeanors only by technical reversals of criminal verdicts.
May God bless you, George. You were and are a patriotic, loyal, courageous servant of the American people and government. You deserve much more than you ever received. I hope your happiest days are still to come.
George and I, and all of you, we were a huge, happy family -- dedicated and altruistic Americans -- committed to the ideals of the Democratic Party as represented by Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Adlai Stevenson, Jack Kennedy. Speaking of family, in this room is my wife who represents the greatest political family of this Century in America. Take a bow, Eunice Kennedy.
And listen to this good news:
At 7:30 p.m. this very night Eunice and I were overjoyed to learn that our son, Timothy, and his marvelous wife, Linda, became the parents of a new 10 pound baby boy!! I’ll always remember this night, George! July 13th is turning out to be unforgettable for the Shrivers.
Well, instead of listening to me rant on, wouldn’t we all rather listen to and see our daughter, Maria, who is the #1 newscaster for NBC at this Convention. No one on TV is better than Maria -- brains, beauty, and motherhood combined!!
I’m a lucky husband and father. But, as a father-in-law I’m facing new challenges. Our Democratic family has an “in-law” who joined “the other political party” before he met us. We’re Liberals, so we are not going to terminate him. But the American people are going to terminate his leader, George Bush!
I’m proud to be here tonight speaking to the stalwarts of the 1972 campaign. You were an inspiration because you were making our political system work 20 years ago, and today you are still believers. You’re not part of the disillusioned, disaffected Ross Perot minority. You are true believers in Democracy and active participants in its life. We need millions more like you.
Aren’t we lucky to have Al Gore as our Vice Presidential candidate?
He’s experienced, intelligent, literate, a war veteran...with a marvelous wife and children, and a great Father, the former Senator from Tennessee...What a contrast with Dan Quayle!!
Which reminds me, -- I was pretty good myself...compared to Spiro Agnew!!!!
I hear that Spiro is trying to get a Presidential pardon. Let’s hope that nothing happens to George Bush before his term expires. Otherwise Quayle might follow Gerry Ford’s example and pardon Agnew!!! One V.P. helps another V.P. “All In The Family.”
Obviously, I’ve already talked too much and too long. Let me conclude with one final thought: --
In 1972, George McGovern campaigned to improve educational opportunities in our central cities. He campaigned to end the war in Vietnam. He campaigned to create a national policy for families. Long before Dan Quayle our slogan was..."What is good for families is good for nations, what hurts families, hurts nations...” We campaigned for a new foreign economic policy specifically to deal, 20 years ago, with the economic challenges presented by Japan, by the European Common Market, by unemployment in the USA. We campaigned for greater justice for the poor here at home, for more jobs for the poor in our cities, for capital expenditures to strengthen our roads and highways and factories in the USA. We said the war had been won, that communism could not compete successfully against us, that it was time to come home, America, and restore our own land.
Finally, even Republicans talk that way today. They are always 20-25 years behind the times. But, George, you were right then! And you are right now.
Congratulations to you! And to all your followers.
