In my lifetime in politics, I have been fortunate enough to know many honorable men, none more honorable than George McGovern.
He was a great American, a great war hero, a great voice for peace and he changed American politics for a generation. Not only I, who as a 21-year-old became his pollster, but also literally hundreds of future political leaders, among them a future president (Bill Clinton), a future Senator and Secretary of State (Hillary Clinton), and a future presidential candidate (Gary Hart) were also changed through our association with him.
[pullquote]
His changing of the backroom politics of the Democratic Party made the election of Jimmy Carter possible.
What stands out most in my memory of McGovern is the enormous integrity that he brought to poliitics, the idealistic belief that people can make a difference and the humility of understanding the limits of one person.
The devastating loss he suffered in 1972 in the end became, in defeat, ennobling and the man who defeaated him was humiliated.
All my life I have been proud to have said that I stood with George McGovern in 1972. He was a good and decent man and he made a substantial difference until the very end of his long 90 year life.
I was a child of the McGovern campaign.
Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week.