Eugene Joseph McCarthy was an American Democrat politician and poet, who represented Minnesota in the United States Senate and Minnesota's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.
Born March 29th, 1916 in Watkins, Minnesota, McCarthy served as a code breaker for the United States Department of War during World War II. After the war, he was elected as U.S. Congressman from 1949 to 1959. McCarthy then was elected to the U.S. Senate from 1959 to 1971. McCarthy sought the presidency five times (most notably in 1968 with anti-Vietnam War platform), but never won.
As well as his vocal anti-war stance, McCarthy was well known for publishing numerous poetry books in his lifetime.
July 3, 1974 - Eugene McCarthy speaks on Richard Nixon, Watergate, and politics. Following speech is a Q&A with audience.
October 9, 1974 - U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy reacts to speech by President Gerald Ford in his own short speech on office of U.S. presidency and American democracy.
September 1, 1976 - Independent presidential hopeful Eugene McCarthy speaking at National Press Club. Topic of address is presidential race, the debates, and two-party system.
October 13, 1977 - Eugene McCarthy discusses political personalities and issues before a campus audience at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
March 5, 1979 - Highlights from a 10-day symposium on "The Vietnam Experience and America today" held at Macalester College in St. Paul, with talks by anti-war activist Daniel Berrigan and Theodore Sorensen, former special counsel to president John Kennedy. Also comments from Eugene McCarthy, Gloria Emerson, and Minnesotans involved with the anti-war movement.
August 5, 1981 - MPR’s Bob Aronson interviews Eugene McCarthy on the possibility of him running again for Minnesota U.S. Senate seat.
September 5, 1981 - On this Weekend program, MPR host and moderator Lee Axdahl speaks with former U.S. senator Eugene McCarthy, who speaks about his possible candidacy for United States Senate in 1982 and other issues.
December 16, 1981 - Former U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy speaking in Collegeville on "Christian Humanism Relative to Politics"
June 9, 1982 - Audio clip of former Minnesota U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy stating why he is running for U.S. Senate seat again.
November 15, 1983 - Eugene McCarthy, former Minnesota senator speaking at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. McCarthy’s address was titled "Growing Up in Rural Minnesota". McCarthy speaks of experiences in his hometown of Watkins, some of which were expressed in a collection of poems entitled "Gene McCarthy's Minnesota". During the hour, McCarthy reads about a dozen pieces from that book.