Excerpt from Simply the Best: Heston's Road to Pennsylvania Avenue by Jeff Shields - released 2002
The 1972 Democratic field was a particularly wide one, especially when seen in comparison to those from 1960 or 1968. The introduction of a primary system was revolutionary, and one that led to its architect, Senator George McGovern, losing vital support from union bosses who had made up a large chunk of the donor base. It transformed the traditional nominating system beyond recognition, and in part contributed to the aforementioned crowded field. Heston consented to the new system, acknowledging that perceived unfair processes led to record violence among the New Left supporters of Gene McCarthy, who was seeking a comeback this year too. He was no fan of McGovern, however, and thought that delegate reforms meant that the new slates would be almost entirely dominated by untested New Left activists. Admitting in a post-presidential interview that he wasn't ideologically different from his friend and mentor Hubert Humphrey (also in the race), Heston said "Yes, I knew that McGovern was, at his core, someone who shared the same beliefs as Hubert. But, I don't think he had his head in the right place when it came to looking abroad. He wanted an immediate withdrawal from Vietnam. Cut-and-run, that sort of nonsense."
Heston's support for the Vietnam war was steadfast, but he was not on the level of others who advocated harsher policies, like General William Westmoreland. Heston lent support to Humphrey's own position on the matter of halting the bombing, but not halting the war. It was a position that set him apart from many other actors, and one that drew ire from anti-war protesters, some of whom labeled him 'El-Cid the Charlie Killer'.
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Briefly, during the 1972 cycle, arose questions about whether Heston would throw his own hat into the proverbial ring. He was not at all interested in doing so, having just been elected senator and already having a satisfactory candidate in Senator Humphrey, and not wanting to strain relations with his apolitical wife Lydia more than they already had been. So no, Heston '72 was little more than a dream from friends like Jolly West. Instead, he lobbied for Humphrey, whose campaign would linger in the doldrums until front runner Ed Muskie's public meltdown prior to the New Hampshire primary (in reaction to letters published in the New Hampshire Union Leader alleging that his wife hated those of Quebecois heritage) and ensuing unraveling. McGovern was the real victor of Muskie's downfall, having secured a far stronger than expected showing in the Granite State, followed up by a crushing victory in Wisconsin. Humphrey snatched up momentum when he claimed victory in the Pennsylvania primary. It appeared that Heston stood alone in Hollywood opposition to 'Acid, Amnesty, and Abortion' McGovern, as others, including Shirley MacLane, furiously campaigned for the South Dakota senator. His wavering on the eventual nominee would lead to him garnering the nickname of 'Nixon's favorite Democrat', a slogan used by his primary challenger Tom Hayden in 1976.
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George Wallace's populist campaign also took the primaries by storm. He had taken Florida and was well on his way to sweeping the southern states. Heston did not like George Wallace, to put it simply. He considered him brash and uncouth, especially in his political opportunism in relation to minority rights. On the campaign trail, however, he felt no need to go after him. This changed when Wallace attacked him personally at a campaign event in his native Alabama, in which he said "We look out there at Ol' Hubert Humphrey, out there campaignin'. Y'gotta look at who he's campaignin' with this guy - you all know 'im - that fella, Chuck Heston. Big ol' Hollywood liberal, a richie, out there tellin' us what we can an' can't do." Heston caught the remarks, having seen them on CBS, and sought to respond. At a Humphrey campaign event, Heston, after getting agreement from Humphrey supporter John Loeb, spoke about Governor Wallace. "I've heard some remarks made about me by a man we are all too familiar with," he said over cheers and boos, "and I thought about them, and a conclusion has been reached. Let it be said that aspersions such as these should not be tolerated on any level. I did not grow up in a mansion, or any form of well-off environment. It was a simple abode, a fine place to live, but not one for those living in extravagance. I spent my childhood exploring the forest, hunting, fishing. I wasn't a resident of a high-flung Ivory Tower, surrounded by jewels and riches. And if George Wallace is willing to label me a Hollywood liberal, I don't think he would mind me labeling him an Alabama jackass." The remarks stung Wallace and genuinely surprised colleagues, who had never heard Heston use strong language such as this. Heston himself regretted the remarks, personally considering it an exercise in 'opportunity Olympics', but never apologized to Wallace over them. However, others, including future president Marion Berry, considered the remarks entirely appropriate.
The Wallace campaign would be granted a shot in the arm, literally, when the Governor was shot by Arthur Bremer on a cool day in Maryland on the 15th of May. Despite concerns from doctors, Wallace escaped un-scatched except on his left arm. Heston issued a statement condemning Bremer's actions and reiterating his opposition to political violence of all stripes. Wallace would go on to carry the next few primaries in Maryland and Michigan, and later on, New Mexico. The 1972 convention would see a great amount of division between Wallace, Humphrey, and McGovern factions.
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Excerpt from Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 by Hunter S. Thompson - released 1973
...so in the California mess, McGovern just about carried the state, meaning that good old Nixon lover Charlton Heston's campaigning for the Hump didn't pay off...
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Excerpt from an interview with Fraser Heston - released 2006
INTERVIEWER: Your father was invested in 72. The convention - how did that play out?
HESTON: We didn't attend it.
INTERVIEWER: Why?
HESTON: No, he was very willing to attend the convention. There was a three way deadlock between McGovern, Humphrey, and Wallace. It looked though that dad's friend Humphrey wouldn't make it, because of McGovern's win in California. The delegates -
INTERVIEWER: How were they proportioned?
HESTON: That was the thing - they weren't. They were all given to McGovern, even though he won the primary by a tiny tiny margin. That annoyed dad to no end. And in fact they were planning to rule on whether or not to give some delegates to Humphrey - there was a big movement in support of that. Dad supported that.
INTERVIEWER: So how did it not work out?
HESTON: Well, dad wanted to go there and appeal in favor of Humphrey. He had all the arguments ready and done. Then, something nasty came down - a week before the convention, I believe. He was out walking and he got hit by a car. It wasn't a serious injury, only really cracked his knee. Still bad enough that he couldn't go, doctor's orders - and there they ruled in favor of McGovern - gave him the all clear.
INTERVIEW: If - say, your father hadn't been hit - would he have gotten Humphrey the nomination?
HESTON: In all certainty, yes.
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Excerpt from Riding the Chariot by Charlton Heston - released 1996
1972 was a race that I would rather leave in the annals of history where it belongs. Not only had my absence at the convention in Miami Beach aided Senator McGovern's rise to the nomination, his campaign did not co-operate with me. Of course, I had to vote for McGovern in the end - party loyalty was a harsh burden to shoulder - but I didn't relish such a decision. Mis-step after mis-step followed on the campaign trail with regards to reaching out to voters, but the bugging of the Watergate complex played a part in the election and signaled to me that perhaps Dick Nixon was not as saintly a figure as I had once imagined. The story bubbled over until the election, but it was clear that something was going on. I still couldn't forgive the mistakes of the McGovern/Ribicoff campaign. Had Humphrey pulled through, no doubt would there have been a closely contested race with Nixon in deep trouble. Instead, we got a Democratic ticket that lost by seventeen points and carried only four states. Congressional results differed - but that didn't matter a trifle if 'we' didn't have someone on 'our' side in the White House. While it would be far flung to say that I had a winning blueprint in California, I thought that Democrats could learn something from my campaign.