Edmund Muskie

Edmund Sixtus Muskie (Edmund Marciszewski) (March 28, 1914–March 26, 1996) was a Polish-American politician from Maine. He served as Governor of Maine, as a U.S. Senator, as U.S. Secretary of State, and as a candidate for Vice President of the United States.

National Career

In 1958 Governor Muskie defeated incumbent Republican Senator Frederick G. Payne by 60 percent of the vote to 39 percent. Senator Muskie was reelected in 1964, 1970 and 1976 by solid margins over 60%.

Related Topics:
1958 - Republican - Frederick G. Payne - 1964 - 1970 - 1976

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Muskie became one of the first environmentalists to enter the U.S. Senate and was a leading campaigner for new and stronger measures to curb pollution and provide a cleaner environment.

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In 1968, Muskie was nominated for Vice President on the Democratic ticket with sitting Vice President Hubert Humphrey. The Humphrey-Muskie campaign narrowly lost the election to Richard Nixon by a narrow margin, winning 42.72% of the vote, 13 states and 191 electoral votes to Nixon-Agnew's 43.42%, 32 states and 301 electoral votes. Third party candidate George Wallace had taken 13.53%, won 5 states in the Deep South and carried their 46 votes in the electoral college.

Related Topics:
1968 - Hubert Humphrey - Richard Nixon - George Wallace - Deep South - Electoral college

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Continuing his career in the Senate, Muskie served as Chairman of the Committee on the Budget through the Ninety-third United States Congress to the Ninety-sixth United States Congress in 1973-1980.

Related Topics:
Committee on the Budget - Ninety-third United States Congress - Ninety-sixth United States Congress - 1973 - 1980

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In 1970, the Maine senator had been chose to articulate the Democratic party's message to congressional voters before the midterm elections. Muskie's broadcast was seen as thoughtful and definitive in comparison to the message of President Nixon, who appearing in black and white, seemed harsh and paranoid over unrest in the nation over Vietnam and the economy. Considering the obvious parallells drawn between the two men, Muskie's national stature was raised as a major candidate for the Democratic Presidential Nomination in 1972.

Related Topics:
1970 - 1972

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