Thoughts on Eugene McCarthy

OK, so I'm reading this new political biography of Eugene McCarthy called Eugene McCarthy: The Rise and Fall of Postwar American Liberalism, by Dominic Sandbrook. I may write a more formal review later on, but I just wanted to share one thought on McCarthy's personality.

Eugene McCarthy (not to be confused, as primary voters sometimes did, with "Tailgunner" Joe McCarthy) was a seriously intellectual guy; in fact, as a young man he was kicked out of the novitiate (for the priesthood) because the headmaster thought he liked to read too much. He was not a people person, and he was not a terribly good campaigner. He was an awful stump speaker, even in his 1968 primary run. His issue positions were usually right in line with Democratic liberal positions at any given time; he was not particularly courageous in taking positions (prior to his 1968 primary run), and he could be downright convoluted in explaining his positions when he wanted to be.

McCarthy was in the Senate for quite awhile but did not amass an impressive record of legislative achievement; indeed, observers often suggested that he was bored with life in the Senate.

Does that sound like anyone else you might know?


Hint: This other person also ran for president (and lost).


Hint: This other person's name is John Kerry.


Just a thought.