Democrat

Revisiting Eugene McCarthy’s 1968 Presidential Bid

Bill Thompson

The 2024 Democratic National Convention is taking place this week in Chicago.

Back in 1968, Democrats also held their convention in Chicago. That year, the incumbent president had decided not to seek reelection.

With Lyndon Johnson out of the picture, one of the leading contenders for the nomination that year was Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy. His anti-Vietnam War position resonated with a large segment of Americans.

Ultimately, of course, the nomination went to vice President Hubert Humphrey, who lost to Richard Nixon in the November election.

McCarthy remained in the Senate until 1970, and ran for president three more times, but never again held public office.

Get your copy of Eugene McCarthy’s book

In 1987 McCarthy wrote a political memoir called Up ‘Til Now. When I met him that spring to talk about it, it was the first of several conversations he and I would have.

For context, in 1987 the Reagan administration was involved in the war in Nicaragua which at the time some were comparing to the quagmire of Vietnam. McCarthy talks about that, and the 1988 presidential race that would ultimately pit Vice President George H.W. Bush against Democrat Mike Dukakis.

So here now, from 1987, Eugene McCarthy.

Eugene McCarthy died in 2005 at age 89.

Andrew Breitbart: From High School Humorist to Digital Media Pioneer

Bill Thompson
Photo by Mark Taylor

When the history of digital media is written, one name will figure prominently: Los Angeles-born and raised would-be comedian Andrew Breitbart.

He got his start in journalism in the mid 1980s, with a comedic article in his high school newspaper.

A few years later, Breitbart was instrumental in developing the Drudge Report and the Huffington Post, and ultimately Breitbart News.

ttps://amzn.to/46jZfbRGet your copy of Andrew Breitbart’s book

Along the way, he was frequently criticized, even vilified, by mainstream media for his contrarian, often combative,opinions.

In 2011 Breitbart wrote a book called Righteous Indignation – and that’s when I had a few minutes with him.

So here now, from 2011, Andrew Breitbart.

Andrew Breitfbart died in 2012 at age 43 from heart failure.

Pat Schroeder

Bill Thompson

In 1972, Colorado was a very conservative state that today we would call a “red” state. But in ’72, voters elected their first ever female member of Congress, the young Democrat Pat Schroeder.

She won re-election in each of the next 11 elections, eventually serving 24 years in the US House of Representatives, becoming one of its most influential members.

She even considered joining the 1988 race for president, but ultimately decided against it. And the way she exited the race became a point of controversy in and of itself.

I met her in 1998 when she wrote a memoir which she called 24 Years of Housework and the Place is Still a Mess.

So here now, from 1998, Pat Schroeder.

Pat Schroeder died this past March, she was 82.

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Andrew Cuomo

Bill Thompson

New York governor, or more precisely, soon-to-be ex governor, Andrew Cuomo has certainly had a rough few weeks.

In the face of a scathing report accusing him of sexual misconduct, Cuomo last week announced his resignation. It was a breathtaking fall from his Emmy award-winning performance during the pandemic in 2020.

And now the political future looks very murky for a man once considered the future of the Democratic Party.

I met Andrew Cuomo in 2003, when he was promoting a book, an anthology of essays by Democrats and Republicans on politics in America.

And Cuomo’s comments from 18 years ago still sounds very current.

So here now, from 2003, Andrew Cuomo.

Andrew Cuomo is 63. He’ll leave office nexxt week.

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