I know this isn't a political site, but Missouri's last best Senator Tom Eagleton died last week. He was known nationally as George McGovern's selection for Vice-President in 1972 and then removed him when it was revealed that Eagleton had electric shock treatment for depression some years before.
He served well in the Senate and his assessment of issues and politics was always top notch.
RIP Senator Tom
Subject: Senator Tom EagletonPages: [1] | |
|---|---|
 Monkaton | March 10, 2007 6:06:55 PM |
 Myshkin | March 10, 2007 8:30:02 PM Why would they remove him for having electric shock treatment? |
Monkaton | March 12, 2007 12:33:07 AM Depression and mental health were not understood in the early '70's as it is today. There was a great stigma attached to Eagleton's mental health and treatment. Many people questioned whether he was fit to be president and have his finger on the "button." They thought he could be a madman or resort to unstable behavior and place the world in jeopardy. When the mental health issue first was raised the presidential nominee, George McGovern, said he was behind Eagleton "1000 percent." But when the polls and pundits revealed their skepticism about Eagleton's ability to be president, he left the ticket and was replaced by JFK brother-in-law Sargent Shriver, father of reporter and California's First Lady Maria Shriver. I questioned McGovern's removal of Eagleton from the ticket. It seemed like he caved to pressure, which played right into the hands of the Nixon White House that he was weak and wouldn't stand his ground against the communists. Eagleton's depression and treatment had occurred years before and appeared to be behind him. |
| Pages: [1] |
