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Cronkite as VP? It Nearly Happened

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 25, 2009 10:08 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A lot of things would have been better in America if Walter Cronkite had been elected vice president in 1972, writes Frank Mankiewicz in the Washington Post, and it could have happened. Mankiewicz was the political director for George McGovern’s campaign, and, “armed with a poll showing Walter Cronkite to be the most trusted man in America, I proposed that the senator put forward Walter Cronkite for vice president.”

“My idea met with instant, and unanimous, disapproval,” Mankiewicz writes. Staffers, figuring that Cronkite would never agree and that it would make the campaign look desperate, opted instead for the disastrous choice of Thomas Eagleton. Years later, McGovern told Cronkite of the possibility. “I'd have accepted in a minute,” the newsman responded. “Anything to help end that dreadful war.” If Cronkite had run, Mankiewicz writes, “McGovern might well have won that 1972 election.”

With the pictures of former democratic presidents Kennedy and Johnson behind him, Sen. George McGovern introduces Sargent Shriver as his new vice presidential running mate in 1972.
With the pictures of former democratic presidents Kennedy and Johnson behind him, Sen. George McGovern introduces Sargent Shriver as his new vice presidential running mate in 1972.   (AP Photo)
Walter Cronkite.
Walter Cronkite.   (AP Photo)
Walter Cronkite in 2007.
Walter Cronkite in 2007.   (AP Photo)
Walter Cronkite testifies before a Senate sub-committee on freedom of the press in 1971.
Walter Cronkite testifies before a Senate sub-committee on freedom of the press in 1971.   (AP Photo)
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Walter Cronkite could have been vice president of the United States, and that would have both ended the war in Vietnam with some dignity and prevented Watergate from becoming "our long national nightmare." - Frank Mankiewicz

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
kokuaguy
Jul 26, 2009 5:51 AM CDT
McGovern's chances were not that good but when he chose a fool who did not disclose a history of electro-schock therapy for depression (and at first pledged to stand by Eagleton only to cave and dump him for Shriver) it made McGovern look like a total lightweight and a flake. Of course if the media had done its job and revealed the truth about the Watergate break-in before the election the war may have ended years sooner and 20,000-30,000 less names might appear on that Wall of National Shame in D.C. (Don't get me wrong, the names on the wall identify heroes, for the most part, but the wall itself is black and unobtrusive for a reason.)
kokuaguy
Jul 26, 2009 5:45 AM CDT
There's a new book out that looks at what the coulda/shoulda/woulda looked like if JFK had not been assassinated. I saw the review by Oliver Stone on Huffpo and read it. I'm goiing to sign up for it at the library. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/... /jfk-and-the-unspeakable_b_243924.html
Doctor-Zaius
Jul 25, 2009 9:02 AM CDT
Because the person doesn't want them to come out.
Politics • US

 
presidential campaign • Richard Nixon • vice president • Vietnam War • George McGovern • Walter Cronkite • vice presidential candidate • Frank Mankiewicz • 1972 • Thomas Eagleton

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