Eugene McCarthy

You may be looking for information about another U.S. senator, Joseph McCarthy.

The 1968 Campaign

In 1968, McCarthy ran against incumbent President Lyndon Johnson in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, with the intention of influencing the federal government—then controlled by Democrats—to curtail its involvement in the Vietnam War. A number of antiwar college students and other activists from around the county traveled to New Hampshire to support McCarthy's campaign. Some antiwar students who had the long-haired appearance of hippies chose to cut their long hair and shave off their beards, in order to campaign for McCarthy door-to-door, a phenomenon that led to the informal slogan "Get clean for Gene."

Related Topics:
1968 - Lyndon Johnson - New Hampshire Democratic primary - Democrats - Vietnam War - New Hampshire - Hippies - Slogan

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When McCarthy scored 42% to Johnson's 49% on March 12, 1968, it was clear that deep division existed among Democrats on the war issue. By this time, Johnson had become inextricably defined by Vietnam, and this demonstration of divided support within his party meant his reelection (only four years after winning the highest percentage of the popular vote in modern history) was unlikely. On March 31, 1968, Johnson announced he would not again seek the presidency.

Related Topics:
March 12 - Winning the highest percentage of the popular vote in modern history - March 31

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Despite strong showings in several primaries, McCarthy garnered only 23% of the delegates at that year's Democratic convention, largely due to the control of state party organizations over the delegate selection process. Other factors that contributed to the attrition of delegates for McCarthy included the entrance into the contest of Robert Kennedy as an (at least potentially) antiwar candidate a few days after McCarthy's strong showing in New Hampshire.

Related Topics:
Delegate - That year's Democratic convention - Robert Kennedy

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Kennedy was assassinated after his victory speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968, the evening following his victory in the California Democratic primary. After the assassination, many delegates for Kennedy chose to support George McGovern rather than McCarthy. Moreover, although the eventual nominee, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, was not a clearly antiwar candidate, there was hope among some antiwar Democrats that Humphrey as President might succeed where Johnson had failed—in extricating the United States from Vietnam.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles - June 5 - Primary - George McGovern - Hubert H. Humphrey

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