While he was running for Vice President on the McGovern ticket in 1972, Sargent Shriver gave an interview with KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, PA. In this short clip, the interviewer notes that the McGovern campaign had been very welcoming to “women and minorities,” and he asks Shriver about women and Black candidates being on the Presidential ticket and running in other elections. Shriver’s responses show both his optimism and his enthusiasm for inclusion. Read the transcript below.
KDKA: Your ticket has gone out as championing minority groups and women. If you are such champions, how come there wasn’t a woman Vice Presidential candidate? Did you think that you couldn’t win with a woman?
RSS: No, I don’t think anybody ever had the thought that they couldn’t win with a woman. I’ve never even heard that phrase before. I think George McGovern obviously looked over the field very carefully and he and his advisors made those decisions. I don’t know of any woman who was specifically proposed and rejected. I think perhaps it is a fact that we haven’t yet gotten a woman to the point where she would get the recognition of being a candidate for Vice President –
KDKA: So you do think that with a woman for Mr. McGovern’s running mate, he wouldn’t have won.
RSS: No, not at all. I think a woman on the ticket would be excellent. And I think the day will come, not too far distant, when a woman will not only run for VP but for President, like Shirley Chisholm ran for President. Margaret Chase Smith ran the last time for President. It’s not surprising that you have a country like India, with a population much larger than ours and a woman is the President. Israel has a woman Prime Minister. I don’t think it’s at all unlikely. Matter of fact I think it would be likely that in the next three or four elections perhaps, a woman would run for President and certainly for Vice President. And I’m sure if they do, they’ll run on the Democratic ticket.
KDKA: On the subject of minority groups, I want to ask the same question about “Black”. [sic]
RSS: I feel the same thing. Twenty years ago when I was on the Board of Education in Chicago, I used to enjoy going to the high schools where the population was predominantly Black and saying that I hoped that I was speaking, right at that moment, before an audience in which the future mayor of Chicago was sitting. I’m sure there will be a Black mayor of Chicago. I think there will be Black governors and I think it’s perfectly possible there will be a Black President of the United States.
KDKA: Was a Black considered as a running mate for Mr. McGovern?
RSS: I’m not sure, I was not a part of the consideration. Don’t you remember? I was just the last man.
KDKA: Did it bother you that you were the last man?
RSS: No, I’m very pleased that the other people turned the opportunity down, because I think it gives me a chance to speak out on issues that are very important to the American people. I’m very proud to be with George McGovern, I have a great deal of admiration for him as a man and a political leader.
KDKA: It has been said you were a choice because of your affiliation with the Kennedys.
RSS: Well, I hope that’s true. I would hope that’s not the only reason, but I’m very proud of being connected with the Kennedy family.
