A mock presidential election at local colleges, 49 years ago

In 1968, the voting age was still 21, so many people attending college were not old enough to vote in the real presidential race.  But Time magazine set up a national primary called “Choice ’68,” to be held on campuses around the U.S. that April.  As part of that program, a pediatrician from Columbia University, Dr. Benjamin Hubby, came to La Crosse to campaign for Senator Eugene McCarthy.  Hubby spoke at Viterbo, and at the Newman Center on the La Crosse State campus. 

Paul Newman came to La Crosse and Prairie du Chien just before the 1968 Wisconsin primary to promote the McCarthy campaign.  Newman had just starred in “Cool Hand Luke,” and was greeted on Main Street in La Crosse by a crowd described as “screaming” fans.  The future “Butch Cassidy” said in La Crosse that he was not campaigning because he was a movie star.  He said “I am doing this because I have six children.”

Country singer Eddy Arnold could be seen on TV twice in one night that March, on the Red Skelton Show and a Carol Channing special.  And on Carol Burnett’s new CBS show, she was hosting singer Jack Jones and future Burnett cast member Tim Conway…49 years ago, Yesterday in La Crosse.