In the summer of 1972, Missouri Sen. Thomas Eagleton was the Democratic vice presidential nominee for 18 days.
Created by stltoday on Nov 10, 2008
Last updated: 03/12/10 at 04:01 AM
Former vice presidential nominee Thomas Eagleton's face is immortalized on the cover of Time magazine with the headline, "The Eagleton Affair." (Click on the picture to read the 1972 Time story.)
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,879139-1,00.html
This sign appeared on a fence at Franklin Avenue and Hadley Street after vice presidential candidate Thomas Eagleton resigned from the Democratic ticket as candidate for vice president. The sign says "The Democratic party died last night. Eagleton lives."
Thomas Eagleton is surrounded by a crowd of about 1,000 on his first return to his hometown of St. Louis since he withdrew from the Democratic ticket as the vice presidential nominee. "This is my hometown and nothing could mean more to me than have you people to greet me," Eagleton said.
Sen. Thomas Eagleton pauses at his desk at the Capitol after signing a letter to the Democratic National Committee to officially resign from the ticket as candidate for vice president. After 18 days as the party's nominee, he said he chose to step down for the sake of "party unity." Time reported that after announcing his resignation from the campaign, Eagleton stopped to shake hands with onlookers, telling them "Vote for McGovern."
Eagleton announces he will withdraw from the Democratic ticket.
A New York Times editorial urges Thomas Eagleton to withdraw from the Democratic ticket. The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun and Los Angeles Times had already editorials two days earlier urging Eagleton to quit.
Thomas Eagleton talks to the press and crowd that turned out to greet him in Oakland, Calif., upon his arrival from Honolulu. The Democratic vice presidential candidate reaffirmed his determination to remain in the race, calling stories about a drunk driving arrest "a damnable lie."
In response to press inquiries, a memo sent to FBI Deputy Associate Director Mark Felt, who was later ID'd as Watergate scandal whistleblower "Deep Throat," said "the FBI does not routinely investigate vice presidential nominees and that Senator Eagleton has not been investigated by the FBI."
Thomas Eagleton shields his eyes from lights at a news conference in Honolulu. Washington columnist Jack Anderson said Eagleton had "half a dozen arrests" for reckless and drunken driving, and that he had proof. Eagleton denied the allegations at the news conference, calling them "a damnable lie." The press asked to see documentation that Anderson was referencing, but the columnist was not able to provide it. Anderson apologized to Eagleton on CBS's "Face the Nation" on July 30, 1972. The two met again at Eagleton's Senate office on Aug. 1, 1972; Anderson retracted the allegation and apologized again before a group of reporters. The Missouri Department of Revenue showed two entries on Eagleton's driving record: A speeding conviction in 1962 and an accident report in 1963.
Presidential candidate George McGovern issues a statement: "I'm 1,000 percent for Tom Eagleton, and I have no intention of dropping him from the ticket."
At a press conference in Sylvan Lake, S.D., Thomas Eagleton discloses he had been treated for depression and exhaustion three times between 1960 and 1966 in St. Louis and at the Mayo Clinic. Eagleton said treatment included psychiatric counseling and electric shocks.
Thomas Eagleton, left, leaves Washington, D.C., for a campaign strategy conference with George McGovern in Custer, S.D.
Thomas Eagleton delivers his opening speech of the campaign in Kansas City, calling for the restoration of confidence in government.
George McGovern offers the Democratic vice presidential nomination to U.S. Sen. Thomas Eagleton after several others turn him down. The 42-year-old senator from St. Louis accepts. McGovern and Eaglton faced Republican incumbents Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew.
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