A visit by McGovern, 49 years ago

In early 1968, South Dakota Sen. George McGovern came to the La Crosse State campus for a speech about foreign policy.  McGovern was billed as a “liberal critic” of President Johnson’s policies.  The Senator recently had visited Oktoberfest.  He won the Democratic nomination for president in 1972.

A fire at Drake Hall on campus.  Flames were seen in a 4th floor window of Drake, by students living in neighboring Wentz Hall.  It started in a wastebasket and spread to the window, but it was doused quickly.

“Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” rapidly became the hottest show on TV in 1968, making stars out of Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin.  “Laugh-In” replaced “The Man from UNCLE” on the NBC schedule.  Other popular shows which ended in ’68 included “The Monkees,” “Batman,” and “Lost in Space.”  Forty-nine years ago, Yesterday in La Crosse.