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Thomas Eagleton
PoliticianLawyer
United States1929–2007
Thomas Eagleton was an American politician who represented Missouri in the U.S. Senate for three terms after previously serving as the state's attorney general and lieutenant governor. In 1972, he briefly became the Democratic vice-presidential nominee as George McGovern's running mate. [1][2]
Career and work
Eagleton rose through Missouri politics from circuit attorney of St. Louis to state attorney general and lieutenant governor before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968. He served three consecutive Senate terms. [1]
His Senate work included environmental policy and questions surrounding the constitutional division of war powers between Congress and the president.
What has been publicly discussed
- In July 1972, shortly after becoming the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, Eagleton publicly disclosed that he had voluntarily received hospital treatment three times since 1960 for nervous exhaustion and depression and had received electroconvulsive therapy. [2]
- The bipolar diagnosis came later. Subsequent biographical and psychiatric accounts identify Eagleton as having bipolar II disorder. [1]
- Decades after the 1972 campaign, Eagleton wrote publicly about the stigma surrounding depression. In a 2002 letter, he compared an earlier reluctance to speak about cancer with the later reluctance to speak openly about depression. [4]
“I'm not ashamed. There is nothing dirty or corrupt or evil about the fact that I had voluntarily gone into a hospital.”
— Thomas Eagleton [5]
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
Journal of American History“Call Me Tom: The Life of Thomas F. Eagleton” Scholarly review of James N. Giglio's biography supporting Eagleton's political career, bipolar II disorder and history of depression and electroconvulsive therapy.
Time“McGovern's First Crisis: The Eagleton Affair” Contemporary reporting on Eagleton's disclosure of psychiatric hospitalization and electroconvulsive therapy during the vice-presidential campaign.
The Washington Post“Robert Boyd, journalist who shared Pulitzer for Eagleton shock-therapy revelations, dies at 91” Retrospective account reproducing Eagleton's disclosure that his treatment included psychiatric counseling, drug treatment and electroconvulsive therapy.
View all 5 sources
Psychiatric News“With Politics and Mental Illness, The More Things Change…” Discusses Eagleton's later written reflections on depression and stigma.
Time“Eagleton's Own Odyssey” First-person interview containing Eagleton's reflections on his psychiatric hospitalizations and his rejection of shame surrounding them.
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about Thomas Eagleton and their experiences.