George McGovern lived his public life with an integrity that, in these rancid political times, all of us might envy. He unfortunately is remembered most for his overwhelming defeat at the hands of Richard Nixon in the presidential election of 1972, but it is worth noting that Nixon resigned in disgrace, the only president to ever abandon his office. McGovern was a historian, undoubtedly with profound respect for the presidency; it is difficult to imagine his obstructing justice or abusing his power in the Nixon manner.
(Stanley Kutler, a UW-Madison professor emeritus, is the author of the “The Wars of Watergate” (Norton), and with Harry Shearer has written the forthcoming television series, “Nixon’s the One.” This column first appeared on Salon.com.)