Edmund Muskie won the New Hampshire Democrat Primary in 1972. Muskie lost the Democrat nomination to George McGovern and the country re-elected President Richard Nixon in one of the biggest landslide election victories in the U.S. garnering over 60% of the popular vote. Nixon carried 49 of the 50 states, losing only in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.

However, William Loeb the newspaper Publisher of the Manchester Union Leader had printed a forged letter that attacked Muskie and Muskie’s wife, Jane. In response Muskie said. “First, to say to Mr. Loeb whose the publisher of this paper that he has lied about me. Second to say to you the people of Manchester whom he has insulted, he has lied to you about me. Thirdly, that by attacking me by attacking my wife he has proved himself to be a gutless coward.”

1972 to 2007, not much has changed with some members of the print media. Most of our papers in Knoxville are reputable but you know the old saying “one bad apple can ruin a whole bushel.”

Here are some additional unrelated quotes made by Muskie.

“Looking at yourself through the media is like looking at one of those rippled mirrors in an amusement park.”

“Too often in the past, members of Congress have won re-election with a two-part strategy: Talk like Scrooge on the campaign trail. Vote like Santa Claus on the Senate floor.”

“You have the God-given right to kick the government around – don’t hesitate to do so.”

“Do not speak unless you can improve the silence.”