(7 of 10)
So, on to the fifth target of the week: Muskie. McGovern had been miffed at Muskie since the Democratic Convention, where he thought Muskie had been unduly eager to stop the McGovern drive, even when Muskie was totally out of contention. McGovern could forgive Humphrey, because Hubert had had some chance to win. Otherwise, Muskie might not have been this far down on the list.
Nevertheless, by now McGovern wanted Muskie badly enough to reverse protocol: instead of summoning the prospective candidate, McGovern, unnoticed by newsmen, drove out to Muskie's Bethesda house. He arrived at 9:30 p.m. He had wanted to come earlier, but Muskie had put him off: his daughter was cooking dinner for him and would be there until about 9. Muskie, wearing a turtleneck sweater and slacks, was listening to a recording of Bernstein's Mass. "It's O.K.," quipped Catholic Muskie to Methodist McGovern. "You don't have to genuflect." Muskie gave him a tour of the house, which McGovern had never seen before. Then they sat for two hours in Muskie's study, Ed behind the massive desk he had used as Governor of Maine. The two had never been socially close, and Muskie did not think to offer George a drink. "Does he drink?" Muskie later asked TIME Correspondent John Austin. (He does, but not often.)
McGovern opened by indicating the type of candidate he wanted: someone who could command wide support among his followers and whom the nation could readily accept as a potential President. He said that he hoped to expand the duties of the Vice President so as to involve him actively in both foreign and domestic policy. Muskie readily agreed that the Vice President must not "just participate by sitting there, but be actually involved" in policymaking.
As the two men puffed on Phillies cigars, Muskie candidly expressed some reservations about the job. "I have to ask myself, 'Can I bring a fresh attitude to the vice-presidential job?'" Muskie explained later. "Can it be sufficiently interesting to run for it again?" He noted that the staffs of the two men "have been in a posture of confrontation all year—rightfully and understandably. But can they be merged? There's still some bitterness on both sides." Muskie mentioned "the attitude of my wife and family. Can they crank themselves up again? They've been through a traumatic experience this year." Finally, he wondered if he and McGovern could work together closely enough. "There must be a relationship of mutual understanding and confidence to override all the little, petty, nitpicking friction points that are bound to develop in any campaign."
As the meeting broke up, both men agreed to talk further after Muskie had had time to consider. "This has been one of the most difficult periods of my life," confided McGovern as he was leaving. "I'm determined to take enough time to make the right decision." Replied Muskie: "So am I, George."