Dave Kranz and I had a deal. He would do a taped interview with me about his memories of George McGovern and I would hold the audio until after George McGovern died.
At the beginning of the interview Dave jokes that McGovern would probably outlive us both.
It was always fun for me to watch Dave Kranz work. I was always in awe of him and his ability to know everyone and everything. He could walk through a line of people and tell you story after story of everyone he recognized and how they're connected to certain politicians.
The audio clips here are of Dave Kranz from our interview May 2, 2005. He tells about the early days of McGovern campaigning with his longtime aid George Cunningham; what the farm vote meant to McGovern; McGovern's idea to have an organization American's for Common Sense; the 1984 presidential campaign and what it took for McGovern to get out of the race; what it meant to McGovern to be an elder statesman; and how (before the George and Eleanor McGovern Library was built) to honor McGovern.
It's been seven years since I sat and talked with Dave Kranz. He's retired now and I have kept my end of the bargain.
I will pull more stories and add to this as the week progresses. I wanted to get this on line.
Cara Hetland