Eleanor McGovern

Eleanor Fay McGovern (née Stegeberg; November 25, 1921 – January 25, 2007) was the wife of George McGovern, who served as a U.S. Senator from South Dakota from 1963 to 1981, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1972.

Early life and education Born in Woonsocket, South Dakota, she grew up on her family's farm. Her mother died when Eleanor was only 12, leaving her and her twin sister, Ila (1921–1996), responsible for the upkeep of the household and the raising of their younger sister, Phyllis (1928–2018). However, they chose to marry earlier, on October 31, 1943, while on three-day leave, in a ceremony at a small Methodist church in Woonsocket, with George's father, a Methodist minister, presiding.

Career Financial difficulties forced her to withdraw from college. As campaigner

McGovern was an active political wife; she campaigned for her ailing husband in his 1962 United States Senate race. Eleanor took active roles in her husband's campaigns, which included his elections to the US House of Representatives, the US Senate and significantly when he won the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972. With some assistance from Eleanor's campaigning, George won 11 state primaries including South Dakota and the two largest states, New York and California.

Robert G. Duffet, President of Dakota Wesleyan University, noted that "Eleanor was the first spouse to campaign for her husband alone. They had such confidence in her ability to articulate an issue they just sent her out campaigning. That was huge in '72. It was unprecedented." Duffet also commented on what an important impact she had on her husband's political journey. "Eleanor McGovern, it seemed, was a greater influence on her husband's politics than he was on hers. She came from a family of Democrats; he was initially a Republican.

Personal life Together, the McGoverns had five children: daughters Ann, Susan, Mary, Teresa, and son Steven.

In a 2005 interview, Eleanor said, "I was determined to help with George's career, not only by taking responsibility for the family, but by contributing ideas, in fact I never considered it George's career--it was ours".