Eagleton, Thomas Francis

Eagleton, Thomas Francis, 1929–2007, U.S. senator (1968–87), b. St. Louis, Mo. Admitted to the bar in 1953, he entered Democratic politics in Missouri and served as circuit attorney for St. Louis (1957–60), state attorney general (1961–65), and lieutenant governor (1965–68). He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968, and was subsequently appointed to the body in Dec., 1968, prior to the start of his first term. Eagleton was nominated (July 13, 1972) for the vice presidency on the ticket with Senator George McGovern. Shortly thereafter he admitted that he had been three times hospitalized for nervous exhaustion and twice received electric shock therapy. After days of indecision and mounting pressure from the press and party leaders, Eagleton, at first supported by McGovern, withdrew (July 31, 1972) from the ticket at McGovern's request and was replaced by Sargent Shriver. After leaving the Senate in 1987 he practiced law.