[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 25058]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING ELEANOR McGOVERN

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I wish to publicly honor and 
recognize one of South Dakota's favorite daughters, Eleanor McGovern, 
who died on January 25, 2007, at the age of 85. A memorial service is 
being held today for Eleanor, and I know my colleagues all join with me 
in expressing our sympathies to the McGovern family. While we do mourn 
her passing, we also celebrate her extraordinarily successful life 
working to better the lives of the people of South Dakota and people 
around the world.
  Born in Woonsocket, SD, in 1921, Eleanor grew up on a farm during the 
Dust Bowl years of the 1930s. Her strong work ethic and her lifelong 
concern and compassion for others were instilled in her by her 
childhood experiences. When her mother died when she was 12 years old, 
Eleanor and her twin sister, Ila, took over all household 
responsibilities, helping their father raise their younger sister. 
Eleanor attended high school in Woonsocket and met her future husband, 
former Senator George McGovern, while attending Dakota Wesleyan 
University. After graduation she worked as a legal secretary before 
marrying Senator McGovern on October 31, 1943.
  Throughout her life, Eleanor achieved many impressive 
accomplishments. She was a board member of Dakota Wesleyan University, 
the Psychiatric Institute, the Child Study Association, the Erickson 
Institute of Chicago, and Odyssey House of New York. Eleanor also 
volunteered for the Child Development Center. She was named an 
Outstanding Citizen in 1975 by Dakota Wesleyan University and awarded 
an honorary doctorate in humane letters in 1997.
  In addition to all these accomplishments she was a devoted mother of 
five. Throughout the years, she provided a stable and loving home 
environment for her children and helped facilitate her husband's 
service to the Nation. During Senator McGovern's Presidential campaign, 
he described her as his most helpful critic and most trusted adviser.
  Eleanor also authored her memoir, ``Uphill: A Personal Story,'' which 
was published in 1973. Following the death of her daughter Terry in 
1994, she showed remarkable courage by speaking publicly about the 
tragedy of alcoholism and how it impacted her family. In addition, she 
helped establish the McGovern Family Foundation for researching 
alcoholism.
  Thoughout her life she worked tirelessly to improve the lives of 
others, especially the lives of women and children; she published 
articles on child development while also traveling the Nation to 
address the problems facing American families. There are few people who 
have done as much to better the lives of the women and children of 
South Dakota.
  Eleanor is survived by her husband Senator McGovern; 4 children--Ann 
McGovern, Susan McGovern, Mary McGovern-McKinnon, and Steve McGovern--
10 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.
  It is with great honor that I speak of the accomplishments of Eleanor 
McGovern and with great sadness that I mark her passing.

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