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Eagleton started to plead his cause. "I want you to know," he said to McGovern, "what I've been hearing. I know you have been hearing from other people differently, but this is what I've got." He opened a manila envelope, in which he carried polls and other documents to bolster his arguments; he spoke earnestly but unemotionally, and presented his case in 15 minutes. McGovern listened, offered his counterarguments on the danger of sidetracking the campaign for too long on the secondary issue of the vice-presidential candidate. He wanted to be made certain that Eagleton's health was no longer a problem. Eagleton called the Mayo Clinic, told one of his doctors: "Now I'm going to put George McGovern on the line." Eagleton withdrew to chat with Nelson, while McGovern talked with the doctor for 15 minutes. Eagleton placed a similar call to St. Louis Psychiatrist Frank Shobe, handed the phone to McGovern and withdrew again.
McGovern was satisfied with the doctors' opinion that Eagleton had fully recovered. But he still contended that the Eagleton controversy would linger too long. Reluctantly, Eagleton yielded to McGovern's view that his candidacy would handicap the ticket. As Eagleton explained later: "This was a judgment on which reasonable men could differ." The 100-minute meeting was low-key, despite the high stakes for both men. Said Nelson: "There was not a single hint of harshness from either of them. What the hell, they like each other."
Stepping into a jammed and klieg-lighted Senate Caucus Room, McGovern and Eagleton faced the press. McGovern praised Eagleton as "a talented, able United States Senator whose ability will make him a prominent figure in American politics for many, many years." He termed Eagleton's health "excellent," but said that any continued debate "will serve to further divide the party and the nation. Therefore we have agreed that the best course is for Senator Eagleton to step aside."
Perspiring heavily and trembling slightly, Eagleton acknowledged the "thousands and thousands of people" who had urged him "to press on," but continued: "My personal feelings are secondary to the necessity to unify the Democratic Party and elect George McGovern as the next President of the United States." Interrupted by warm applause at one point, he smiled wanly and joked: "Wait, the best is yet to come." Added Eagleton gamely: "Senator McGovern is an eminently reasonable man. He has been fair to me. I haven't been bamboozled or intimidated or any such thing." Thus did Eagleton bow out, admirably hiding any feelings of torment or tragedy (see page 20). Yet despite all of the trappings of gentility, this was a cold political execution.
TUESDAY. Now the search for a replacement could begin in earnest and publicly—all too publicly, many would argue. McGovern asked for 15 minutes of prime television time on the grounds that his detailed explanation of the vice-presidential quandary was of national concern. The networks turned him down when they learned he would not announce a new candidate. The effect was to make McGovern appear even more indecisive; in fact he still wanted: Ted Kennedy.