Dahle Communication

McGovern's 1972 Acceptance Speech

If you have read my blog at all, you know that I am a big fan of John F. Kennedy's speech writer Ted Sorensen. I always felt that his writing paired with Kennedy's speaking ability is the greatest we have seen. However, while reading up on some memories of the late Senator George McGovern, I (and apparently most of the known universe) have missed out on a great speech - McGovern's 1972 acceptance speech.

The reason a lot of people missed it is that it was given at 2:00 a.m. after a contentious convention. Unfortunately for McGovern, most people didn't see the speech or hear it. What I find interesting is how much more powerful those words are today, and how they can still be used today.

Take this passage: Let the opposition collect their $10 million in secret money from the privileged few and let us find one million ordinary Americans who will contribute $25 each to this campaign, a Million Member Club with members who will not expect special favors for themselves but a better land for us all.

Isn't that something that can be said today? However, I think his closing paragraph is the most powerful and something that hits home to a lot of us. I even think President Obama could echo these words:

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. Come home to the belief that we can seek a newer world, and let us be joyful in that homecoming, for this "is your land, this land is my land — from California to New York island, from the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters — this land was made for you and me." So let us close on this note: May God grant each one of us the wisdom to cherish this good land and to meet the great challenge that beckons us home.

I think regardless of party affiliation, this is something we can all believe in.

 

Senator McGovern and Debate

Being from South Dakota, a state of only about 800,000 people, we have had our share of nationally prominent people. One of the greatest of those passed away this weekend, former Senator George McGovern.

Most people know McGovern as the candidate who was defeated easily by Nixon in the 1972 presidential election. However, he was much more than this.

I had the honor of meeting Senator McGovern three times in my life. The first time I met him was at a high school debate tournament in Mitchell, SD that is named in his honor - the Mitchell McGovern. At the tournament, McGovern spoke briefly to the students about the importance of debate and the impact that it had on his life.

Most recently, I got a chance to speak with him briefly at his 90th birthday party in Sioux Falls and he once again talked to me about how valuable his experience in debate was and how it impacted him. I always felt honored to be advocating something that such a great man valued and clearly took to heart.

Senator McGovern was much more than a politician; he was a statesman. He was a soft spoken man who stood up for what he believed was right: protecting the weak from the strong and advocating the end of hunger throughout the world.

McGovern proved with his work and his life that you don't need to be the greatest most powerful public speaker to make a difference. All you need is the willingness to speak and the courage to do so.

If you have a child, or nieces and nephews or grandchildren - try to encourage them to get involved in an activity that will challenge them and maybe push them towards something great. Maybe they too can make a difference and make the world a better place.

Here's to you Senator McGovern - thank you for your service and your contribution to the world.