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FRIDAY. When Muskie awoke at 7 a.m. and stepped outside to get his morning newspaper, he recalled, "there were the goddam reporters waiting outside." Instead of going to his Senate office, Muskie summoned his top staff men to his house. For nearly four hours he huddled with them, making calls to Senator Hart, Iowa Senator Harold Hughes and Arizona Congressman Morris Udall. He had already called his wife Jane in Kennebunk Beach, Me., and she urged him not to accept.
Muskie then surprised newsmen by grabbing an overnight bag and catching a plane to Maine to discuss the matter with Jane. On the flight, he talked further to TIME'S Austin. He differed with McGovern on some issues, and he wondered "just how far the Vice President can disagree in public with the President." He thought, on the other hand, the public might like a Veep who "is not a carbon copy of the President." Was he irked at being McGovern's fifth choice this week? "No, I'm not egotistical enough to think I'm the only option open to George McGovern."
Muskie opened a newspaper, read his horoscope for the day, and laughed heartily. It said: "Being calm and affectionate fills a great need in your family circle. There is little to gain in rushing around in unfamiliar places." He talked solemnly of how his wife has "taken our declining fortunes this year much harder than I have. She can't seem to forget that at one point she became an issue.* I'm tough. I've got a hide six layers thick by now. But she is more sensitive to it all, especially to what the press said about me being indecisive, wishy-washy and what not. I'm going to talk to Jane. I can tell you this. If she says no, I won't do it." Interrupted by callers offering advice, Ed and Jane found themselves still discussing the matter past midnight. He finally went to bed, still undecided.
SATURDAY. Muskie awoke at 6:30 a.m. and concentrated on the problem. By 7 a.m. his mind was made up. "I could have called George then, but I wanted to give him a chance for a decent night's rest," he related. He placed the call at 8:30 a.m., explained to McGovern that he had to turn the offer down. It was, he told a press conference, "a family decision, not a political decision." Looking relieved, he later told Austin, referring to the vice presidency: "Well, that should kill the snake. The goddam thing keeps popping up, but that should finally finish it."
Within a few hours after learning of Muskie's rejection, McGovern put through the call to Shriver. Since the acceptance was already assured, the conversation was brief. Said McGovern: "Senator Muskie has reached a decision that, principally for family reasons, he feels it would be inappropriate for him to be on the ticket. I'm calling you now, Sarge. You remember our conversation of yesterday. I want to know if you still feel the same way, and if you're still willing to make the race with me." Said Shriver: "Yes." Later Shriver told TIME Correspondent Dean Fischer that he "never really thought I'd be the first person asked. My brother-in-law would have been a wonderful candidate. I figured when Senator Muskie was asked, I didn't really expect to be asked. I'm just happy the others were unable to accept."