Muskie, Edmund Sixtus
Muskie, Edmund Sixtus,
1914–96, U.S. Senator (1959–80), b. Rumford, Maine. A lawyer, he sat (1947–51) in the Maine legislature after serving in the navy in World War II. He later became (1955) Maine's first Democratic governor in 20 years and (1958) its first popularly elected U.S. Senator. He was reelected in 1964, 1970, and 1976. During his career in the Senate, Muskie was a strong advocate of environmental protection and also served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. In 1968, Muskie was the Democratic candidate for Vice President, sharing the ticket with Hubert HumphreyHumphrey, Hubert Horatio,1911–78, U.S. Vice President (1965–69), b. Wallace, S.Dak. After practicing pharmacy for several years, Humphrey taught political science and became involved in state politics.
..... Click the link for more information. . The Democrats lost the election, but Muskie emerged as a leading contender for the 1972 Democratic nomination for President, to run against the incumbent, Richard M. Nixon. He ran in a number of primaries, but his candidacy foundered and he lost the nomination to George McGovernMcGovern, George Stanley
, 1922–2012, U.S. senator from South Dakota (1963–81), b. Avon, S.Dak. He was a decorated B-24 bomber pilot during World War II. He later obtained degrees from Dakota Wesleyan Univ. (B.A., 1946) and Northwestern (Ph.D.
..... Click the link for more information. . At the 1973 Senate hearings on the Watergate affairWatergate affair,
in U.S. history, series of scandals involving the administration of President Richard M. Nixon; more specifically, the burglarizing of the Democratic party national headquarters in the Watergate apartment complex in Washington, D.C.
..... Click the link for more information. , evidence was offered that his campaign had been sabotaged by the Republican Committee to Reelect the President. Muskie later served as Secretary of State under President Carter (1980–81).
Bibliography
See study by D. Nevin (1972).