They examined the numerous pieces of campaign memorabilia that are on display and checked the facility for sound and light. It's an offbeat way of looking at presidential history."Ī five-person C-SPAN crew worked at the McGovern Library on Thursday to prepare for the live show. "It's been interesting, it's illuminating and it's been fun," he said.
"It's very interesting, the line from McGovern to today," he said.įarkas said he has enjoyed working on the series. He said President Obama may owe some of his 2008 victory to McGovern's 1972 campaign. "I opened the doors of the Democratic Party - and 20 million people walked out," McGovern famously said later.īut Farkas said McGovern's reform efforts may have planted a seed for future success for the party. However, in 1972, McGovern was soundly defeated by President Richard Nixon and only received 37.5 percent of the popular vote. He said McGovern, who served as chairman of a Democratic Party reform committee that examined how to change the party in the wake of its defeat in the 1968 presidential election, helped bring women, minorities, young voters and activists to the party. Clips of McGovern's speeches and events in his life and career will also be shown.įarkas said McGovern's political legacy will be examined during the two-hour program. In addition to a live interview with McGovern, author Scott Farris, who wrote "Almost President: The Men Who Lost the Race but Changed the Nation," will be interviewed on the program. Farkas said C-SPAN may offer an online poll for people to make their choice.
He wonders how people would vote now if offered a choice between McGovern and Nixon. "They changed politics and history, and that's why they're in the series." "There are those who might have been better presidents," Farkas said.
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