Eugene McCarthy: 1916-2005

In 1968, he challenged the sitting president of the United States – a member of his own party – for the presidency. It took a lot of chutzpah. And it paid off – almost. Lyndon Johnson came so close to losing the New Hampshire primary that he withdrew from the race. And while Hubert Humphrey would eventually receive the nomination, history had been changed forever.

The man was Eugene McCarthy and he died today at the age of 89.

It is a sad day for America and the veritable end of a great era in American politics. Though quiet of late – having last sought the presidency in 1992 – Mr. McCarthy was one of the great giants of his time. He dared to speak out against the Vietnam War when it seemed ill-advised, and by the time Chicago police were battling rioters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, it was clear that Mr. McCarthy had brought to the forefront of the nation a topic that would not soon go away. He reportedly quipped, “I can still smell the tear gas in the Hilton Hotel.”

Mr. McCarthy's obituary is sadly being put on the back burner by the 24-hour news networks, which are also reporting the death of Richard Pryor, another ground-breaking American who paved the way for black comedians from Chris Rock to Eddie Murphy. And while I might quarrel with the priorities lent these two stories by news directors, it seems all too clear that this is a very sad day for America.