Robert F. Kennedy’s Forgotten Victory: South Dakota 1968
Robert F. Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy made South Dakota a lower priority than other states in 1968. Nonetheless, the local Democrats worked hard for their candidates and Kennedy put on an expensive advertising blitz. In addition, surrogates appeared for the candidates.
March 16 — Kennedy announced for president in Washington, D.C. Supporters of Kennedy, Johnson and McCarthy began making plans to put their respective candidates on the ballot.
March 23 — McCarthy stated his intention to compete in South Dakota.
March 31 — Lyndon Johnson announced he was not running for re-election.
April 4 — Humphrey stated he would not be running in in South Dakota. Nevertheless, his supporters began to circulate petitions and organize for him.
April 16 — Kennedy formally announced that he would be running in South Dakota.
April 16 — Kennedy was in Sioux Falls, the Pine Ridge Reservation, the Wounded Knee Monument and Rapid City. Kennedy held hearings at the Pine Ridge Reservation as part of his official duties as a U.S. senator.
May 10 — Kennedy appeared in Mitchell.
May 11 — Kennedy in Brookings, Watertown, Aberdeen and Huron.
May 11 — Humphrey visited Huron and Sioux Falls as part of his official duties as vice president. He also visited his mother for Mother’s Day.
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May 14 — Mary McCarthy (Gene’s daughter) campaigned in Mitchell, Vermillion and Brookings.
May 15 — Eugene McCarthy campaigned in Rapid City, Aberdeen and Sioux Falls.
May 24 — Humphrey appeared in Watertown and Doland as part of his duties as vice president.
May 28 to 30 — Edward “Ted” Kennedy campaigned in Sioux Falls, Sisseton, Webster, Aberdeen, Mitchell, Winner, Wagner, Yankton, Rapid City, Lead and Deadwood.
May 31 — Ethel Kennedy campaigned with Andy Williams in Sioux Falls.
June 1 — Ethel and Williams went on to Rapid City.
June 1 and 2 — Actress Jill St. John campaigned for McCarthy in Rapid City, Pierre and Sioux Falls.
June 3 — John Glenn campaigned in Sioux Falls for Kennedy.
June 3— Austin McCarthy campaigned for his brother in Sioux Falls.
June 4- Kennedy won with 50% of the vote, compared to 30% for Humphrey and 20% for McCarthy. Kennedy won all 26 delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
Here is the link to the completed article:
https://medium.com/@dennispcrawford/robert-f-kennedy-and-the-1968-south-dakota-primary-9a12c32a072b
