Former U.S. Presidential Candidate George McGovern Dies

1972 U.S. presidential candidate George McGovern (1922-2012)

Former U.S. Senator and Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 1972 election George McGovern has died.

He was 90 years of age.

McGovern's family broke the news saying he died "peacefully" at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls surrounded by family and life-long friends.

McGovern served in World War II and flew 35 missions over Nazi-occupied France.

He was elected to the Senate in 1962.

He became a critic of the Vietnam War and ran against President Richard Nixon in 1972, losing the election by a wide margin.

He continued to serve as a senator until 1980 and later served as U.S. ambassador to UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP