Get Clean For Gene Trivia Quiz

Answer: He had been a monk

McCarthy was born in 1916, in Watkins, MN, which was near Saint John Abbey. He had received his undergraduate degree from Saint John University (affiliated with the Abbey) and worked as a school teacher from 1935 to 1940. Considering becoming a monk, in 1943 he became a Benedictine novice at the abbey where he remained for nine months before enlisting in the army.

While in the army he worked in military intelligence as a code breaker.

Answer: He served first in the House of Representatives and then in the Senate

McCarthy served five terms in the House of Representatives (1949-1959), representing Minnesota's 4th District (which covers St. Paul, MN and many of its suburbs). He served two terms in the Senate (1959-1971). McCarthy was a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Answer: Hubert Humphrey

Hubert Humphrey (1911-1978) also served Minnesota in the US Senate from 1949 to 1964 and 1971 to 1978. Humphrey also served as Vice President (1965-1969) under Lyndon Johnson. Humphrey was one of the leading authors of the "Civil Rights Act of 1964".

Answer: The war in Vietnam

McCarthy was a strong opponent of the Vietnam War. He called for negotiation with North Vietnam and generally support de-escalation of the war. It was felt that McCarthy's campaign would receive the support of many in the public eye who were also opposed to the war.

Answer: Johnson won the primary by about 8%

The primary took place on March 12, 1968. It can be surprising to find out that Lyndon Johnson actually won the primary with 49.6% of the vote. McCarthy came in second, albeit a strong second, with 41.9% of the vote. Several other candidates split the remainder of the vote.

Although Johnson won the primary, this serious challenge to an incumbent president helped to convince him to announce in a televised speech on March 31, 1968, that he would not seek the Presidency in the 1968 general election.

Answer: Hubert Humphrey

McCarthy won the six state primaries including that for Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Since the majority of states did not have presidential primaries in 1968, Vice President Hubert Humphrey was able to win the nomination for President on the first ballot of the Democratic National Convention.

Although McCarthy received the second largest number of votes at the convention, Humphrey had a large lead (1759.25 to 601). The 1968 Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago, IL, in August of that year.

Answer: He became a book editor

McCarthy became a senior editor at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishing. He also published several books, including a book of poetry, "Cool Reflections: Poetry For The Who, What, When, Where and Especially Why of It All". Although McCarthy did serve as a college professor, this was before his time in Congress.

Answer: Ernesto "Che" Guevara

The two men discussed the possibility of the United States and Cuba normalizing relations, half a century before it happened. The apartment was the home of journalist Lisa Howard. The first part of the 2008 film "Che" shows this meeting.

Answer: Washington, DC

At the time of his death he was living in a retirement home in the Georgetown section of Washington, DC. He and his late wife (she died in 2001), the former Abigail Quigley, had three daughters and two sons. One of his daughters and one of his sons predeceased him.

Answer: baseball

In the mid 1930s, he played semi-pro baseball in the Great Soo League with the Watkins Clippers. McCarthy was a fan of the game and allusions to baseball were sometimes sprinkled in his speeches. He also coached baseball during his time as a school teacher.