| Date | June 14, 1972 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Madison Square Garden |
| Location | New York City |
| Also known as |
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| Type | Benefit concert, fundraiser |
| Cause | George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign |
| Organised by |
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| Participants |
Together for McGovern was a political benefit concert held on June 14, 1972, produced by actor Warren Beatty to assist the 1972 presidential campaign of George McGovern, running as the anti-war candidate, against the Vietnam War. Also known as Together with McGovern and Stars for McGovern, the concert drew a crowd of 18,000 to 20,000 attendees at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[1][2] For the concert, Beatty reunited the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, the comedy team of Nichols and May, and the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary. Appearing solo was R&B and pop singer Dionne Warwick. A number of celebrities served as ushers, and McGovern gave a speech. The event reportedly raised $400,000.[1]
This one-off reunion of Simon & Garfunkel came as a surprise to the public, as both artists had been promoting their solo careers. The album Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits was released literally on the same day as the benefit by Columbia Records to capitalize on the publicity.[3][4] The album rose to number 5 on the Billboard 200 in late July.[5]
McGovern was not significantly helped by the concert; after winning the Democratic Party nomination in July, he was soundly defeated in November by incumbent President Richard Nixon.[6]
- ^ a b Phillips, McCandlish (June 15, 1972). "Rock 'n' Rhetoric Rally in the Garden Aids McGovern". The New York Times.
- ^ "McGovern update". People. June 26, 1972.
- ^ Filcman, Debra (June 14, 2017). "45 Years Ago: Simon and Garfunkel Reunite for George McGovern". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Simon & Garfunkel – Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ "Chart History: Simon & Garfunkel – Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ Hertzberg, Hendrik (October 22, 2012). "What McGovern Won". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 8, 2020.