George McGovern won the nomination for the Democratic party in the 1972 presidential election. "McGovern did not get to deliver his acceptance speech-- perhaps the best speech of his career--until 2:48 a.m., when most television viewers were already in bed."6 Senator McGovern had a difficult campaign ahead of him. His opposition, President Richard Nixon, already had the upper hand on him because he had been elected President four years before. President Nixon was the Republican candidate. "President Richard Nixon told a reporter that "the election was over the day he (Sen. George McGovern) was nominated." "1 McGovern campaigned very hard. "Between September 3 and September 15, the South Dakotan barnstormed through 29 cities and towns in 18 states covering some 14,000 miles and being seen by more than 175,000 people." (U.S. News and World Report, "Can Democrats Close the Gap, Sept. 25, 1972, Vol. LXXXIII, No.13, pg.17-22)3 McGovern knew, if he wanted to win, he had to focus on the important issues of 1972. There were four very important issues. These were the war in Vietnam, the economy, foreign policy, and defense. The two major ones were the war in Vietnam, and the economy. McGovern was sure that if he was elected president, he would be able to end the war. "We will be able to end the war by a simple plan that need not be kept secret: The immediate total withdrawal of all Americans from Southeast Asia." (Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, "1972 Conventions", Third ed., 1994 pg..127-132.)4 McGovern goes on to say in another interview that "I ...
