George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign
| Campaign | 1972 Democratic primaries 1972 U.S. presidential election |
|---|---|
| Candidate | George McGovern U.S. Senator from South Dakota (1963–1981) Sargent Shriver U.S. Ambassador to France (1968–1970) |
| Affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Status | Announced: January 18, 1971 Official nominee: July 13, 1972 Lost election: November 7, 1972 |
| Slogan(s) | Come Home, America McGovern. Democrat. For the People |
| Theme song | "Bridge over Troubled Water" by Paul Simon |
The George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign began when United States Senator George McGovern from South Dakota launched his second candidacy for the Presidency of the United States in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to win the 1972 presidential election against incumbent president Richard Nixon, winning only in the District of Columbia and the state of Massachusetts. If elected, McGovern vied to become the first South Dakota native to become president. McGovern's running mate, former U.S. ambassador to France Sargent Shriver (who replaced Senator Thomas Eagleton), would become the second vice president from Maryland, after the incumbent vice president at that time, Spiro Agnew, and the first Roman Catholic vice president; this feat would be eventually accomplished 36 years later by Joe Biden, who would become the first Catholic vice president.