Trying to win them over

The Chicago Democratic Party didn’t care about candidates for President of the United States. Those folks were not likely to be able to do much that could benefit local organizations.

The top of the ticket only mattered if it could draw support for the more important offices on the ballot, like Clerk of the Circuit Court. So, very little was done for Presidential candidates in any election.

But, in some parts of the 49th ward in 1972, many first-time, young voters were enthusiastic about Presidential candidate George McGovern.

So, Democratic precinct captains in those areas said to voters, “We wants youse to vote for George McGovern for President.” They thought that would earn the loyalty of those new voters and get them to cast a straight party vote.

Well, it didn’t. Those young people did vote for McGovern but they also voted for Republicans for Cook County State’s Attorney and for some other offices.

The new voters followed the recommendations of Independent political organizations, not of the Democratic Machine.