Youth Coalition for Muskie

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Edmund Muskie was a U.S. Representative, the 64th governor, and a U.S. Senator for the state of Maine, spanning from 1946 to 1980. With his support for environmental movements and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Muskie’s legislative work embodied “modern liberalism.” 

Muskie was seen as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination for the 1972 United States presidential election. Despite polling better than future President Richard Nixon, Muskie’s campaign for the Democratic nomination took a hit after what is referred to as the "Canuck Letter", which intimated that Muskie held negative sentiments towards French-Canadian people. Though the letter—sent to the editor of the Manchester [New Hampshire] Union Leader—was ultimately deemed a forgery orchestrated by the Nixon campaign, its impact on the campaign was significant. During the 1976 election, Muskie was considered for President Jimmy Carter’s vice president but was passed over for Walter Mondale. After the resignation of Cyrus Vance, Muskie became the 58th Secretary of State in 1980. President Carter awarded Muskie the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981 for his leadership during the Iran hostage crisis. The state of Maine has honored Muskie with a public holiday since 1987. Muskie died on March 26, 1996, from heart failure at the age of 81.