Letters: George McGovern’s vision

Re “Nixon opponent was a liberal titan,” Obituary, Oct. 22

The passing of George McGovern serves as a reminder that there once was decency in national politics and that being called a liberal was not an insult.

Suffering a staggering 49-state loss in the 1972 presidential election, McGovern conceded defeat with grace and characteristic good humor. Within two years both members of the opposition Republican ticket that defeated McGovern had resigned in disgrace.

McGovern was one of the first senators to call for U.S. withdrawal fromVietnam. Consider the tens of thousands of U.S. military deaths that would have been avoided, not to mention untold numbers of Vietnamese lost, had the nation heeded his call.

McGovern will long represent the finest qualities of all who selflessly dedicate their lives to public service.

Jerome S. Kleinsasser

Bakersfield

Not much has changed since McGovern’s acceptance speech at the 1972 Democratic National Convention:

“From secrecy and deception in high places; come home, America.

“From military spending so wasteful that it weakens our nation; come home, America.

“From the entrenchment of special privileges in tax favoritism; from the waste of idle lands to the joy of useful labor; from the prejudice based on race and sex; from the loneliness of the aging poor and the despair of the neglected sick — come home, America.

“Come home to the affirmation that we have a dream. Come home to the conviction that we can move our country forward.”

God bless George McGovern.

George Saade

Downey

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