Frank Denholm – Cameraman Bruce Remembers

1. Election night 1970, I was nine years old, but I remember it quite well with a smile on my face to this day. Coming from a stanch Democratic family we watched the returns coming in (loyal to KELO a course) with both great happiness and quite frankly astonishment. My “40 Something” mother that night did summersaults to my further astonishment across the living room floor in celebration each time the returns started rolling in and a major South Dakota Democrat’s victory was projected on the tv screen.

   Dick, Frank, and Jim all won and we did quite well as Democrats that night with constitutional offices as well as I remember. We already had McGovern in the Senate. Mundt, who was still in the Senate at the time and had yet to suffer his stoke (1971), I think it is safe to say, in hindsight, was in the estimation of most politicos and Democrats back then in his final years as a politician and most thought that Karl would not run or win a fifth term (1972) even if his health had held up. So as Democrats we were quite happy back then with much promise and hope.

   George, Dick, Frank, and Jim were the foundation which later gave us Daschle and Johnson…. Those were the good old days before a Janklow or a Thune would come on the scene to change and destroy all the hopes and promises which the fall of 1970 once offered… Hopes and promises which Frank Denholm in time and place was a part of…. and as Democrats we can all be thankful for….Along with a special thankfulness by all regardless of party for Frank Denholm’s service to not only to his party, but to his nation….

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