Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Remembering Senator George McGovern

Details

  • Description

    Alan remembers his final interview with former Senator George McGovern.

  • Duration 10:23
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

-- -- -- I was quite saddened to hear of the passing of senator George McGovern former South Dakota senator.

Who inspired a generation of politicians.

On both sides actually when he ran for president 1972.

Certainly had the support of the counterculture in the anti establishment folks but really inspired a whole array of politicians from Bill Clinton to Gary Hart.

To a number of people a superb and a glowing tribute to.

And the -- written by one of his erstwhile opponents Bob Dole.

Because that it what a decent man George McGovern was we had a chance to number time to speak with senator McGovern less time was about eleven months ago.

When we spoke -- them about a new book he had just written he had a book out called what it means to be a Democrat his last book.

And he talked about the government.

The role of government -- background at a lot more we began by talking about his belief about why America needs universal health care.

It was nice to see the United States dealing only had -- industrial nations of the world who had.

Comprehensive health insurance for years.

And establish an -- assistant in the United States.

Medical care costs a lot of money these days.

The hospital care costs a lot of money we probably have that that's -- is.

Hospitals in the world.

But it's a lot of people can't afford them -- middle class people had to forward.

The -- costs -- healthcare so they could seriously stand.

These Medicare system which now includes this people -- over sixty.

So all of since.

I think it's a wonderful I if there.

Over fifty years forty years.

And I'd like to see my kids who are no longer -- that I'd like to see them eligible for it and my grandchildren.

That's what we -- to do.

-- -- -- replacing 906 page Affordable Care Act.

With seven words congress hereby extend Medicare to all Americans.

That's exactly.

I think K you know Hillary Clinton is a boon to small pension -- it's hard.

-- -- Clinton administration's first came to power this kind today.

At medical care system that would pass.

But the thing that happens I remembered -- thirteen hundred pages.

Hope nobody read it bill.

Wrong.

Including mania has -- yeah yeah they're that you have to take it should do it.

But it I think just for the simple says news conference here -- extends many here.

So all Americans that means from the -- they're going.

Until they dated.

And if we did that it would take a lot of the economic pressures the middle it's.

And so poor people.

And enable them to have the same good indicator that wealthy people here.

How do you combat -- Republicans who are now on the stairs there's a libertarian streak for the Republican Party.

Anti government government can't do anything right when we talk about health care they can accuse Democrats want to take over.

16 of the economy.

And the government -- -- enemy and that is what Democrats are fighting in fact many Democrats.

Too many of them it seems probably have that same view today.

Well I don't do I am proud -- the United States government I have had the privilege.

-- -- that -- the world over the last fifty years I've never seen any country.

Anywhere on this serious.

This has is that -- government has the United States of America.

I'm proud that this country.

I'm proud of this there's there's -- government.

I'm proud.

The people -- at home secretary government.

That's includes George Washington Ben Franklin -- Adams Thomas Jefferson Alexander Hamilton.

It's a strain of the most brilliant.

Then with their their head they're the ones that fit based I was trying to irritate.

-- system of government and we ought to be proud of that statement knocking it is there and -- I think that's one difference between.

Democrats and Republicans and Democrats believe in the -- They believe it's our partners.

And have made too many Republicans.

Want to.

Take -- label these important programs.

And had been anymore I mean if they had definitely AA if we have no Social Security.

We can't know Medicare -- had no clue.

Electrification.

We -- have no guarantee bank deposits.

We could have known national prior treatment.

-- they've had no interstate highway system incidentally.

Yes it's his -- system is built.

During the Eisenhower.

Administration.

Is one of the great things that president Eisenhower did I get -- -- creditors.

Having the -- to do that.

A lot of these Republicans would never make -- in today's Republican Party George McGovern is our guest he has written -- new book is what it means.

The -- a Democrat I'm fascinated we can go down I mean there's so many items you talk about in the book and so many issues which people get when they read the book.

But I'm also interested in your evolution you thanked your wife -- -- For turning you from Republican to Democrat and I didn't realize that you ever Republican.

Oh yes -- barn.

Celtics it.

To be as strong Republican parents.

-- and as Republicans but the interesting thing you know and is that.

The Republicans they admired the people -- -- it would be prepared -- -- -- -- -- talking about Jorge Linares said Nebraska.

Booked solid through Wisconsin's.

Peter -- -- -- base if south -- All the says that they roses.

Republicans.

Less so today -- -- -- and the strange land that they wanted him.

To that meeting and Republican strategist is that -- You talk in the book about as a young boy he having a family friend named -- Kendall.

Yeah and how that crystallize your views at a very young -- My dad and I used to go hunting sentences with him he was an incredible show as a double -- -- And -- confesses says what he'd done them both.

People -- you realize it was time -- -- effectively came out there one days -- having this thing is sitting on his bag of course -- he says -- fan since.

-- -- -- -- He has been crying.

You could see through that -- station bullets that tears coming down.

And my dances.

Twelve and he says look here and he handed night the statements which -- Does it cost him more dictated trucker.

That took -- year's crop that takes.

So the market that he gets through the type that.

It was a net cost to produce.

Fiftieth pick it takes and sell -- in that nineteen.

And 1932.

So.

I remembered.

And that led me to it relates to -- commitment.

They do everything I could to help the farmers.

In this country.

I think our firm and true under the absolutely.

Crucial producer it's his his they've made -- but -- -- and social.

Producers in the world it provided the base is very good.

Good nutrition.

And I am glad that the Democratic Party is so -- stood behind the family.

This -- this country.

One item in the book.

Owners as human as you talk about.

Reinstating the draft in war time -- during the Vietnam War you were against the draft.

You called repeatedly -- ended but there was that was wartime so I'm gonna stand your your philosophy.

Yeah I think it who they change me on that -- Ted Kennedy he always voted in favor of the draft.

And he explained it to me one day at least that quite a bit of time together.

He argued that most since the -- who is flawed.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Spanish speaking or poorer people.

Very few.

Will these youngsters went to they have.

Very few that they up middle class or even in the middle class -- and he says you know what it's dressed every Thursday.

-- have to participate in the war.

May even keep this out of wars because it that being in that their kids.

Had to participate.

In the war in my net basic quick to send an army and that's some conflicting areas of the world so.

And I give him credit very convincing me that in -- time.

They have the draft that affects everybody.

Senator so glad -- of this book it's more important now than ever.

Although by the phrase now more than ever reminds me Richard Nixon's own interim public health effects and -- And I thank you very much -- coming on the program tonight sir it's always a delight to talk to you.

Thank you -- and it's.

That was George McGovern -- -- -- over the weekend now more than ever was Richard Nixon's.

Reelection campaign phrase when he ran against McGovern in the 1972 by the way.

There was the effort against McGovern and the attempt to win that election which was what led to Watergate.

And so then that is George McGovern's role in Watergate.

Former senator McGovern did at the age of ninety that was our last talk with them from November 10 2011.

Load More