Eleanor McGovern
Encyclopedia
Eleanor Stegeberg McGovern, born Eleanor Fay Stegeberg (November 25, 1921 – January 25, 2007), was the wife of George McGovern
, a prominent United States
politician
, who served as a U.S. Senator from South Dakota
(1963–1981) and as the defeated Democratic
presidential
nominee in 1972.
Born in Woonsocket, South Dakota
, she grew up on her family's farm. Her mother died when she was only 12, leaving her and her twin sister Ila responsible for the upkeep of the household and the raising of their younger sister. This instilled within her a longstanding sense of compassion for the hardships of others. As a teenager, Eleanor was interested in political and social issues and joined debate teams, first at Woonsocket High School and later during her one year at Dakota Wesleyan University
.
During one high school debate, in her native Woonsocket, she first met George McGovern after she and Ila defeated McGovern and his partner. They met again and fell in love while both were at Dakota Wesleyan, and became engaged, but decided not to marry until World War II
was over. However, then they decided to get married, on October 31, 1943, while on three-day leave in a ceremony at a small Methodist church in Woonsocket with George's father presiding. Financial difficulties would force her to withdraw from college, but she soon found work as a legal secretary. Eleanor McGovern followed him to number of training stops, before he was sent into combat overseas as a B-24 bomber pilot stationed in Italy
. George named his plane the Dakota Queen
after her.
Together, the McGoverns would have five children: daughters Ann, Susan, Mary, and Teresa, and son Steven. Eleanor began to suffer from bouts of depression, but continued to assume the large share of household and child-rearing duties as her husband's political career rose.
Eleanor was an active political wife; she campaigned for her ailing husband in his 1962 United States Senate
race and may well have saved his chances of winning. During the 1972 presidential election
, when her husband won the Democratic nomination, she was featured on the cover of Time
magazine along with First Lady
Pat Nixon
, wife of incumbent Republican
President Richard Nixon
. During the campaign, The Eleanor McGovern Cookbook: a Collection of South Dakota Family Favorites was published. George McGovern was defeated by Richard Nixon in 1972.
She published her own memoir, Uphill: A Personal Story, in 1974.
After her husband's defeat for the presidency, and later defeat for a fourth Senate term in 1980, Eleanor remained active, particularly in combating world hunger. She was also greatly concerned with issues related to child development, and with the fight against alcoholism, which was a contributing factor in the death of her daughter, Teresa, in 1994.
Eleanor McGovern died on January 25, 2007.
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
, a prominent United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who served as a U.S. Senator from South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
(1963–1981) and as the defeated Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
presidential
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
nominee in 1972.
Born in Woonsocket, South Dakota
Woonsocket, South Dakota
Woonsocket is a city in Sanborn County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 655 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Sanborn County...
, she grew up on her family's farm. Her mother died when she was only 12, leaving her and her twin sister Ila responsible for the upkeep of the household and the raising of their younger sister. This instilled within her a longstanding sense of compassion for the hardships of others. As a teenager, Eleanor was interested in political and social issues and joined debate teams, first at Woonsocket High School and later during her one year at Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University is a four-year university located in Mitchell, South Dakota, founded in 1885, that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The student body averages slightly less than 800 students...
.
During one high school debate, in her native Woonsocket, she first met George McGovern after she and Ila defeated McGovern and his partner. They met again and fell in love while both were at Dakota Wesleyan, and became engaged, but decided not to marry until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was over. However, then they decided to get married, on October 31, 1943, while on three-day leave in a ceremony at a small Methodist church in Woonsocket with George's father presiding. Financial difficulties would force her to withdraw from college, but she soon found work as a legal secretary. Eleanor McGovern followed him to number of training stops, before he was sent into combat overseas as a B-24 bomber pilot stationed in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. George named his plane the Dakota Queen
Dakota queen
The Dakota Queen was an aircraft based in Italy that conducted strategic bombing during World War II in the European Theater of Operations, particularly missions of the Oil Campaign...
after her.
Together, the McGoverns would have five children: daughters Ann, Susan, Mary, and Teresa, and son Steven. Eleanor began to suffer from bouts of depression, but continued to assume the large share of household and child-rearing duties as her husband's political career rose.
Eleanor was an active political wife; she campaigned for her ailing husband in his 1962 United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
race and may well have saved his chances of winning. During the 1972 presidential election
United States presidential election, 1972
The United States presidential election of 1972 was the 47th quadrennial United States presidential election. It was held on November 7, 1972. The Democratic Party's nomination was eventually won by Senator George McGovern, who ran an anti-war campaign against incumbent Republican President Richard...
, when her husband won the Democratic nomination, she was featured on the cover of Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine along with First Lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Pat Nixon
Pat Nixon
Thelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon was the wife of Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, and was First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. She was commonly known as Patricia or Pat Nixon.Born in Nevada, Pat Ryan grew up in Los Angeles, California...
, wife of incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. During the campaign, The Eleanor McGovern Cookbook: a Collection of South Dakota Family Favorites was published. George McGovern was defeated by Richard Nixon in 1972.
She published her own memoir, Uphill: A Personal Story, in 1974.
After her husband's defeat for the presidency, and later defeat for a fourth Senate term in 1980, Eleanor remained active, particularly in combating world hunger. She was also greatly concerned with issues related to child development, and with the fight against alcoholism, which was a contributing factor in the death of her daughter, Teresa, in 1994.
Eleanor McGovern died on January 25, 2007.