Eugene McCarthy was an American politician who served as the United States Senator from Minnesota for several years. He is best remembered for being the first candidate to challenge incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 1968 presidential election which eventually led to Johnson's decision to withdraw from the race. Even though his presidential run was unsuccessful, his entry into the 1968 presidential race played an important role in shaping American politics. Born in Watkins, Minnesota, to a cattle buyer, McCarthy did not have any political links within his family. He embarked on a career as a school teacher while still studying at the university and ultimately became a professor of economics and education at St. John's. He joined politics as a young man and won election to the U.S. Senate after a few years. As a senator, he was strongly opposed to the Vietnam War, and was thus recruited by Democratic politician Allard K. Lowenstein and his anti-Vietnam War Dump Johnson movement to run against incumbent President Lyndon Johnson. McCarthy took a courageous decision in challenging the powerful Johnson and this brave step of his led Johnson to unexpectedly withdraw from the race. However in spite of all his popularity and numerous bids, McCarthy was unable to achieve his dream of becoming the president.