Editing Hubert Humphrey (section)

==Post-vice presidency (1969–1978)==

===Teaching and return to the Senate===
{{See also|United States congressional delegations from Minnesota}}
[[File:CarterandHumphrey.png|thumb|Senator Humphrey with Democratic presidential nominee [[Jimmy Carter]], in 1976. California Governor [[Jerry Brown]] is at right.]]
After leaving the vice presidency, Humphrey taught at [[Macalester College]] and the [[University of Minnesota]], and served as chairman of the board of consultants at the [[Encyclopædia Britannica]] Educational Corporation.

On February 11, 1969, Humphrey met privately with Mayor [[Richard J. Daley]] and denied ever being "at war" with Daley during a press conference later in the day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/02/12/page/10/article/humphrey-visits-hails-daley-in-effort-to-unify-democrats|title=Humphrey Visits, Hails Daley in Effort to Unify Democrats|date=February 12, 1969|first=Edward|last=Schreiber|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 7, 2017|archive-date=August 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814020148/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/02/12/page/10/article/humphrey-visits-hails-daley-in-effort-to-unify-democrats/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In March, Humphrey declined to answer questions on the Johnson administration being either involved or privy to the cessation of bombing of North Vietnam during an interview on ''[[Issues and Answers]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/03/10/page/8/article/hubert-shuns-talk-of-deal-on-bomb-halt|title=Hubert Shuns Talk of Deal On Bomb Halt|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-date=August 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825101922/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/03/10/page/8/article/hubert-shuns-talk-of-deal-on-bomb-halt/|url-status=dead}}</ref> At a press conference on June 2, 1969, Humphrey backed Nixon's peace efforts, dismissing the notion that he was not seeking an end to the war.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/06/03/page/29/article/hubert-backs-nixon-efforts-on-viet-peace|title=Hubert Backs Nixon Efforts on Viet Peace|date=June 2, 1969|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=April 8, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326140111/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/06/03/page/29/article/hubert-backs-nixon-efforts-on-viet-peace/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In early July, Humphrey traveled to Finland for a private visit.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/07/08/page/9/article/humphrey-in-finland-on-his-european-tour|title=Humphrey in Finland on His European Tour|date=July 8, 1969|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=August 18, 2017|archive-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819061913/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/07/08/page/9/article/humphrey-in-finland-on-his-european-tour/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later that month, Humphrey returned to Washington after visiting Europe, a week after McCarthy declared he would not seek reelection, Humphrey declining to comment amid speculation he intended to return to the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/07/27/page/7/article/hubert-wont-comment-on-his-political-future|title=Hubert Won't Comment on His Political Future|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=July 27, 1969|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-date=August 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814020015/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/07/27/page/7/article/hubert-wont-comment-on-his-political-future/|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the fall, Humphrey arranged to meet with President Nixon through [[United States National Security Advisor]] [[Henry Kissinger]], Humphrey saying the day after the meeting that Nixon had "expressed his appreciation on my attitude to his effort on Vietnam."{{sfn|Solberg|1984|p=417}} On August 3, Humphrey said that Russia was buying time to develop ballistic missile warheads to catch up with the United States and that security was the "overriding concern" of the Soviet Union.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/08/04/page/14/article/russ-stalling-arms-talks-humphrey|title=Russ Stalling Arms Talks – Humphrey|date=August 4, 1969|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 7, 2017|archive-date=August 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814055031/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/08/04/page/14/article/russ-stalling-arms-talks-humphrey/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Days later, Humphrey repudiated efforts against Nixon's anti-ballistic missile system: "I have a feeling that they [opponents of the ABM] were off chasing rabbits when a tiger is loose."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/08/08/page/5/article/abm-fight-a-waste-of-time-hubert-says|title=ABM Fight a Waste of Time, Hubert Says|first=Russell|last=Freeburg|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=August 8, 1969|access-date=August 14, 2017|archive-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815174641/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/08/08/page/5/article/abm-fight-a-waste-of-time-hubert-says/|url-status=dead}}</ref> During October, Humphrey spoke before the AFL-CIO convention delegates, charging Nixon's economic policies with "putting Americans out of work without slowing inflation."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/10/07/page/40/article/hubert-rips-nixon-tight-money-policy|title=Hubert Rips Nixon, Tight Money Policy|date=October 7, 1969|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-date=August 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814020334/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/10/07/page/40/article/hubert-rips-nixon-tight-money-policy/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On October 10, Humphrey stated his support for Nixon's policies in Vietnam and that he believed "the worst thing that we can do is to try to undermine the efforts of the President."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/10/11/page/19/article/hubert-backs-nixon-policies-on-viet-nam|title=Hubert Backs Nixon Policies on Viet Nam|date=October 11, 1969|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=August 14, 2017|archive-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815101637/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/10/11/page/19/article/hubert-backs-nixon-policies-on-viet-nam/|url-status=dead}}</ref> At a December 21 press conference, Humphrey said Nixon was a participant in the "politics of polarization" and could not seek unity on one hand but have divisive agents on the other.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/12/22/page/1/article/nixon-is-polarizing-people-hubert-says|title=Nixon is Polarizing People, Hubert Says|date=December 22, 1969|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 8, 2017|archive-date=August 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814054711/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/12/22/page/1/article/nixon-is-polarizing-people-hubert-says/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On December 26, Humphrey responded to a claim from former President Johnson that Humphrey had been cost the election by his own call for a stop to the bombing in North Vietnam, saying he did what he "thought was right and responsible at Salt Lake City."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/12/27/page/2/article/hubert-answers-lbj-criticism|title=Hubert Answers LBJ Criticism|date=December 26, 1969|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=April 8, 2017|archive-date=April 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409112408/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/12/27/page/2/article/hubert-answers-lbj-criticism/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On January 4, 1970, Humphrey said the United States should cease tests of nuclear weapons during the continued conversations for potential strategic arms limitations between the United States and the Soviet Union while speaking to the National Retail Furniture Association.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/01/05/page/8/article/halt-nuclear-arms-tests-hubert-says|title=Halt Nuclear Arms Talks, Hubert Says|first=Stephen|last=Crews|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=January 5, 1970|access-date=May 15, 2017|archive-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819143953/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/01/05/page/8/article/halt-nuclear-arms-tests-hubert-says/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In February, Humphrey predicted Nixon would withdraw 75,000 or more troops prior to the year's midterm elections and the main issue would be the economy during an interview: "The issue of 1970 is the economy. Some of my fellow Democrats don't believe this. But this is a fact."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/02/10/page/2/article/hubert-sees-economy-as-key-election-issue-next-autumn|title=Hubert Sees Economy as Key Election Issue Next Autumn|date=February 10, 1970|first=Russell|last=Freeburg|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=September 4, 2017|archive-date=September 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905051505/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/02/10/page/2/article/hubert-sees-economy-as-key-election-issue-next-autumn/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On February 23, Humphrey disclosed his recommendation that [[Larry O'Brien]] return as Chair of the [[Democratic National Committee]], a Humphrey spokesman reporting that he wanted the issue of the DNC chairmanship settled quickly.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/02/24/page/20/article/hubert-asks-obrien-to-be-chief-of-dems|title=Hubert Asks O'Brien To Be Chief of Dems|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=February 24, 1970|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918064824/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/02/24/page/20/article/hubert-asks-obrien-to-be-chief-of-dems/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Solberg wrote that Nixon's April 1970 [[Cambodian Campaign]] quashed Humphrey's hopes that the war be taken out of political context.{{sfn|Solberg|1984|p=417}} In May, Humphrey pledged to do all he could to provide additional war planes to Israel and stress the issue to American leaders.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/05/08/archives/humphrey-assures-israelis.html|title=Humphrey Assures Israeli|date=May 8, 1970|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Amid an August 11 address to an American Bar Association luncheon meeting, Humphrey called for liberals to cease defending campus radicals and militants and align with law and order.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/08/12/page/3/article/support-law-and-order-humphrey-tells-liberals|title=Support Law and Order, Humphrey Tells Liberals|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=August 12, 1970|access-date=August 19, 2017|archive-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819103904/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/08/12/page/3/article/support-law-and-order-humphrey-tells-liberals/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Humphrey had not planned to return to political life, but an unexpected opportunity changed his mind. McCarthy, who was up for reelection in [[1970 United States Senate election in Minnesota|1970]], realized that he had only a slim chance of winning even re-nomination for the Minnesota seat because he had angered his party by opposing Johnson and Humphrey for the 1968 presidential nomination, and declined to run. Humphrey won the nomination, defeated Republican Congressman [[Clark MacGregor]], and returned to the U.S. Senate on January 3, 1971. Ahead of resuming his duties, Humphrey had a November 16, 1970, White House meeting with Nixon as part of a group of newly elected senators.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/11/17/page/3/article/humphrey-pays-nixon-a-visit|title=Humphrey Pays Nixon a Visit|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=November 17, 1970|access-date=May 5, 2017|archive-date=June 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604014103/https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was reelected in [[1976 U.S. Senate election|1976]], and remained in office until his death. In a rarity in politics, Humphrey held both Senate seats from his state (Class I and Class II) at different times. During his return to the Senate he served in the [[92nd United States Congress|92nd]], [[93rd United States Congress|93rd]], [[94th United States Congress|94th]], and a portion of the [[95th United States Congress|95th Congress]]. He served as chairman of the [[United States Congress Joint Economic Committee|Joint Economic Committee]] in the 94th Congress.

=== Fourth Senate term ===
L. Edward Purcell wrote that upon returning to the Senate, Humphrey found himself "again a lowly junior senator with no seniority" and that he resolved to create credibility in the eyes of liberals.<ref>{{cite book|title=Vice Presidents: A Biographical Dictionary|pages=[https://archive.org/details/vicepresidents00ledw/page/370 370–372]|publisher=Facts on File|year=2001|isbn=978-0816046157|url=https://archive.org/details/vicepresidents00ledw/page/370}}</ref> On May 3, 1971, after the [[Americans for Democratic Action]] adopted a resolution demanding Nixon's impeachment, Humphrey said they were acting "more out of emotion and passion than reason and prudent judgment" and that the request was irresponsible.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/04/archives/humphrey-assails-ada-on-impeachment-of-nixon.html|title=Humphrey Assails A.D.A. On Impeachment of Nixon|date=May 4, 1971|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> On May 21, Humphrey said ending hunger and malnutrition in the U.S. was "a moral obligation" during a speech to International Food Service Manufacturers Association members.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1971/05/22/page/9/article/mcgovern-humphrey-assail-hunger-malnutrition-in-u-s|title=McGovern, Humphrey Assail Hunger, Malnutrition in U.S.|first=Donna|last=Gill|date=May 22, 1971|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=June 19, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918064548/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1971/05/22/page/9/article/mcgovern-humphrey-assail-hunger-malnutrition-in-u-s/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In June, Humphrey delivered the commencement address at the [[University of Bridgeport]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mobile.nytimes.com/1971/05/19/archives/humphrey-to-address-class.html|title=Humphrey to Address Class|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 19, 1971}}</ref> and days later said that he believed Nixon was interested in seeing a peaceful end to the Vietnam War "as badly as any senator or anybody else."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1971/06/10/page/38/article/hubert-raps-kennedys-charge-nixon-plays-politics-with-war|title=Hubert Raps Kennedy's Charge Nixon Plays Politics with War|date=June 10, 1971|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 8, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918064811/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1971/06/10/page/38/article/hubert-raps-kennedys-charge-nixon-plays-politics-with-war/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On July 14, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Arms Control, Humphrey proposed amending the defense procurement bill to place in escrow all funds for creation and usage of multiple‐missile warheads in the midst of continued arms limitations talks. Humphrey said members of the Nixon administration needed to remember "when they talk of a tough negotiating position, they are going to get a tough response."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/07/15/archives/humphrey-muskie-ask-missile-curb-freeze-by-us-and-soviet-proposed.html|title=HUMPHREY, MUSKIE ASK MISSILE CURB|first=John W.|last=Finney|date=July 15, 1971|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> On September 6, Humphrey rebuked the Nixon administration's wage price freeze, saying it was based on trickle-down policies and advocating "percolate up" as a replacement, while speaking at a [[United Rubber Workers]] gathering.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1971/09/07/page/5/article/new-fair-deal-urged-by-humphrey|date=September 7, 1971|title=New 'Fair Deal' Urged by Humphrey|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=June 19, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918154335/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1971/09/07/page/5/article/new-fair-deal-urged-by-humphrey/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On October 26, Humphrey stated his support for removing barriers to voting registration and authorizing students to establish voting residences in their college communities, rebuking the refusal of [[United States Attorney General]] [[John N. Mitchell]] the previous month to take a role in shaping voter registration laws as applicable to new voters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=DS19711026.2.5|title=Humphrey Urges Student Vote|newspaper=Desert Sun|date=October 26, 1971}}</ref> On December 24, 1971, Humphrey accused the Nixon administration of turning its back on the impoverished in the rural U.S., citing few implementations of the relief recommendations of the 1967 National Advisory Commission; in another statement he said only three of the 150 recommendations had been implemented.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/12/25/archives/humphrey-asserts-nixon-turns-back-on-rural-poor.html|title=Humphrey Asserts Nixon Turns Back on Rural Poor|date=December 24, 1971|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> On December 27, responding to antiwar protesters in [[Philadelphia]], Humphrey said the Nixon administration was responsible for an escalation of the Southeast Asia war and requested complete cessation of North Vietnam bombing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/12/28/archives/humphrey-urges-halt-in-bombing-says-nixon-escalates-war-hecklers.html|title=HUMPHREY URGES HALT IN BOMBING|date=December 28, 1971|newspaper=The New York Times|first=John Noble|last=Wilford}}</ref>

In January 1972, Humphrey said the U.S. would have been out of Vietnam by that point had he been elected president, saying Nixon was taking longer to withdraw American troops from the country than it took to defeat [[Adolf Hitler]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hubert-humphrey-criticizes-president-nixon|title=Hubert Humphrey criticizes President Nixon|publisher=History.com|date=January 10, 1973|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918021435/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hubert-humphrey-criticizes-president-nixon|archive-date=September 18, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> On May 20, Humphrey said Nixon's proposal to limit schoolchildren busing was "insufficient in the amount of aid needed for our children, deceptive to the American people, and insensitive to the laws and the Constitution of this nation", in a reversal of his prior stance, while in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/03/21/archives/humphrey-shifts-now-disapproves-nixon-busing-plan-backs-away-from.html|title=HUMPHREY SHIFTS, NOW DISAPPROVES NIXON BUSING PLAN|date=March 21, 1972|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Walter|last=Rugarer}}</ref> During a May 30 appearance in [[Burbank, California]], Humphrey stated his support for an immediate withdrawal of American forces from South Vietnam despite an invasion by North Vietnam.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1972/05/31/page/3/article/2d-debate-with-mcgovern|title=Humphrey Wants U.S. to Quit S. Viet Now|date=May 31, 1972|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=June 15, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918154336/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1972/05/31/page/3/article/2d-debate-with-mcgovern/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 1973, Humphrey said the Nixon administration was plotting to eliminate a school milk program in the upcoming fiscal year budget during a telephone interview.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1973/01/02/page/21/article/humphrey-sees-school-milk-subsidy-as-next-nixon-target|title=Humphrey sees school milk subsidy as next Nixon target|date=January 2, 1973|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=June 8, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918064700/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1973/01/02/page/21/article/humphrey-sees-school-milk-subsidy-as-next-nixon-target/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On February 18, 1973, Humphrey said the Middle East could possibly usher in peace following the Vietnam War ending along with American troops withdrawing from [[Indochina]] during an appearance at the New York Hilton.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/02/19/archives/humphrey-sees-new-chance-for-peace-in-mideast.html|title=Humphrey Sees New Chance for Peace in Mideast|first=Irving|last=Spiegel|work=The New York Times |date=February 19, 1973 }}</ref> In August 1973, Humphrey called on Nixon to schedule a meeting with nations exporting and importing foods as part of an effort to both create a worldwide policy on food and do away with food hoarding.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1973/08/10/page/5/article/humphrey-and-ford-discuss-nixon-agnew-and-watergate|title=Humphrey and Ford discuss, Nixon, Agnew and Watergate|date=August 10, 1973|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 8, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918154154/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1973/08/10/page/5/article/humphrey-and-ford-discuss-nixon-agnew-and-watergate/|url-status=dead}}</ref> After Nixon's dismissal of [[Archibald Cox]], Humphrey said he found "the whole situation entirely depressing."{{sfn|Solberg|1984|p=449}} Three days after Cox's dismissal, during a speech to the AFL-CIO convention on October 23, Humphrey declined to say whether he believed Nixon should be impeached, saying that his congressional position would likely cause him to play a role in determining Nixon's fate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1973/10/24/page/2/article/hubert-wont-take-impeachment-stand|title=Hubert won't take impeachment stand|first=James|last=Strong|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 24, 1973|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918064243/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1973/10/24/page/2/article/hubert-wont-take-impeachment-stand/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On December 21, Humphrey disclosed his request of federal tax deductions of $199,153 for the donation of his vice-presidential papers to the Minnesota State Historical Society.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19731222&id=o6tVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3274,5893856|title=Humphrey releases tax data|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|date=December 22, 1973}}</ref>

In early January 1974, Humphrey checked into the [[Bethesda Naval Hospital]] for tests regarding a minute tumor of the bladder. His physician Edgar Berman said the next day that Humphrey "looks fine and feels fine" and was expected to leave early the following week.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1974/01/06/page/3/article/tested-after-x-ray-treatments|title=Humphrey hospitalized for tumor|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=January 6, 1974|access-date=September 4, 2017|archive-date=September 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905050717/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1974/01/06/page/3/article/tested-after-x-ray-treatments/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In an interview conducted on March 29, 1974, Humphrey concurred with Senator [[Mike Mansfield]]'s assessment from the prior day that the House of Representatives had enough votes to impeach Nixon.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/30/archives/humphrey-believes-impeachment-likely.html|title=Humphrey believes impeachment likely |date=March 30, 1974|newspaper=The New York Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408191507/https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/30/archives/humphrey-believes-impeachment-likely.html |archive-date= Apr 8, 2022 }}</ref> Humphrey was reportedly pleased by Nixon's resignation.{{sfn|Solberg|1984|p=449}}

In an April 1975 news conference at the spring education conference of the United Federation of Teachers, Humphrey cited the need for a national department of education, a national education trust fund, and a federal government provision for a third of America's educational expenses. He said the Ford administration had no educational policy and noted the United States was the only industrialized country without a separate national education department.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/20/archives/separate-us-unit-on-schools-urged-humphrey-proposes-a-split-of.html|title=Separate U.S. Unit on Schools Urged |first=C. Gerald|last=Fraser|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 20, 1975 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820144300/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/20/archives/separate-us-unit-on-schools-urged-humphrey-proposes-a-split-of.html |archive-date= Aug 20, 2020 }}</ref> In May, Humphrey testified at the trial of his former campaign manager Jack L. Chestnut, admitting that as a candidate he sought the support of Associated Milk Producers, Inc., but saying he was not privy to the illegal contributions Chestnut was accused of taking from the organization.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/06/archives/humphrey-denies-he-knew-of-gift-says-at-trial-he-sought-aid-of.html|title=Humphrey Denies He Knew of Gift|first=Ronald|last=Smothers|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 6, 1975}}</ref> Later that month, Humphrey was one of 19 senators to originate a letter stating the expectation of 75 senators that Ford would submit a foreign aid request to Congress meeting the "urgent military and economic needs" of Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/22/archives/75-senators-back-israels-aid-bids-they-sign-letter-to-ford-urging.html|title=75 Senators Back Israel's Aid Bids|date=May 22, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> In August, after the United States Court of Appeals ruled that Ford had no authority to continue levying fees of $2 a barrel on imported oil, Humphrey hailed the decision as "the best news we've heard on the inflation front in a long time" and urged Ford to accept the decision because the price reduction on oil and oil‐related products would benefit the national economy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/12/archives/court-rebuffs-ford-on-oil-import-fee-court-in-rebuff-to-ford.html|title=Court Rebuffs Ford On Oil. Import Fee|date=August 12, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> In October, after [[Sara Jane Moore]] attempted to assassinate Ford, Humphrey joined former presidential candidates Barry Goldwater, Edmund Muskie, and George McGovern in urging Ford and other presidential candidates to restrain their campaigning the following year to prevent future attempts on their lives.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/01/archives/miss-moore-tried-to-call-ford-guards-five-times-miss-moore-tried-to.html|title=Miss Moore Tried to Call Ford Guards Five Times|first=Richard D.|last=Lyons|date=October 1, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In October 1976, Humphrey was admitted to a hospital for the removal of a cancerous bladder,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/10/11/archives/humphrey-doing-very-very-well.html|title=Humphrey Doing 'Very, Very Well'|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 11, 1976}}</ref> predicted his victory in his reelection bid, and advocated for members of his party to launch efforts to increase voter turnout upon his release.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/10/31/archives/humphrey-gets-out-of-the-hospital.html|title=Humphrey Gets Out of the Hospital|date=October 31, 1976|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

=== 1972 presidential campaign ===
[[File:Humphrey1972.gif|thumb|1972 campaign logo]]
On November 4, 1970, shortly after being reelected to the Senate, Humphrey stated his intention to take on the role of a "harmonizer" within the Democratic Party to minimize the possibility of potential presidential candidates within the party lambasting each other prior to deciding to run in the then-upcoming election, dismissing that he was an active candidate at that time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/05/archives/humphrey-adopts-harmonizers-role.html|title=Humphrey Adopts Harmonizer's Role|first=Seth S.|last=King|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 5, 1970}}</ref> In December 1971, Humphrey made his second trip to New Jersey in under a month, talking with a plurality of county leaders at the [[Robert Treat Hotel]]: "I told them I wanted their support. I said I'd rather work with them than against them."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/12/18/archives/humphrey-talks-to-jersey-chiefs-tells-them-announcement-is-coming.html|title=HUMPHREY TALKS TO JERSEY CHIEFS|first=Joseph|last=Sullivan|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 18, 1971}}</ref>

In 1972, Humphrey once again ran for the Democratic nomination for president, announcing his candidacy on January 10, 1972, during a twenty-minute speech in Philadelphia. At the time of the announcement, Humphrey said he was running on a platform of the removal of troops from Vietnam and a revitalization of the United States economy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1972/01/11/page/7/article/humphrey-enters-presidential-race-raps-nixons-policies|title=Humphrey Enters Presidential Race, Raps Nixon's Policies|date=January 11, 1972|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 6, 2017|archive-date=June 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604014032/https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He drew upon continuing support from organized labor and the African-American and Jewish communities, but remained unpopular with college students because of his association with the Vietnam War, even though he had altered his position in the years since his 1968 defeat. Humphrey initially planned to skip the primaries, as he had in 1968. Even after he revised this strategy he still stayed out of New Hampshire, a decision that allowed McGovern to emerge as the leading challenger to Muskie in that state. Humphrey did win some primaries, including those in Ohio,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1972/11/02/page/3/article/mcgovern-gets-big-crowd-for-n-y-appearance|title=McGovern Gets Big Crowd for N.Y. Appearance|date=November 2, 1972|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 6, 2017|archive-date=May 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522092028/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1972/11/02/page/3/article/mcgovern-gets-big-crowd-for-n-y-appearance/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Indiana and Pennsylvania, but was defeated by McGovern in several others, including the crucial California primary. Humphrey also was out-organized by McGovern in caucus states and was trailing in delegates at the [[1972 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Miami Beach, Florida]]. His hopes rested on challenges to the credentials of some of the McGovern delegates. For example, the Humphrey forces argued that the winner-take-all rule for the California primary violated procedural reforms intended to produce a better reflection of the popular vote, the reason that the Illinois delegation was bounced. The effort failed, as several votes on delegate credentials went McGovern's way, guaranteeing his victory. After his primary win, McGovern asked Humphrey to be his running mate, but Humphrey declined.<ref name="Nixonland"/> After the election, Humphrey called Nixon and the two had an amicable conversation in which Humphrey implied that he preferred Nixon to McGovern, and had tried to keep McGovern from winning.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Perlstein |first1=Rick |title=Nixonland |date=29 July 2010 |publisher=Scribner |isbn=9780743243032 |page=745 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dM_enWzoghoC |access-date=22 June 2022 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== 1976 presidential election activities ===
[[File:Humphrey and Carter.jpg|thumb|Senator Hubert Humphrey with President [[Jimmy Carter]] aboard [[Air Force One]] in 1977]]
On April 22, 1974, Humphrey said that he would not enter the upcoming Democratic presidential primary for the 1976 presidential election. Humphrey said at the time that he was urging fellow Senator and Minnesotan [[Walter Mondale]] to run, despite believing that [[Ted Kennedy]] would enter the race as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1974/04/23/page/5/article/humphrey-wont-run-for-president-in-1976|title=Humphrey won't run for President in 1976|first=Neil|last=Mehler|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=April 23, 1974|access-date=June 8, 2017|archive-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819061625/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1974/04/23/page/5/article/humphrey-wont-run-for-president-in-1976/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Leading up to the election cycle, Humphrey also said, "Here's a time in my life when I appear to have more support than at any other time in my life. But it's too financially, politically, and physically debilitating – and I'm just not going to do it."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1975/10/20/page/15/article/humphreys-resisting-the-call-of-the-presidential-primaries|title=Humphrey's resisting the call of the presidential primaries|first=Harry|last=Kelly|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=June 8, 2017|archive-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819060409/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1975/10/20/page/15/article/humphreys-resisting-the-call-of-the-presidential-primaries/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 1975, a Gallup poll was released showing Humphrey and [[Ronald Reagan]] as the leading Democratic and Republican candidates for the following year's presidential election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/28/archives/humphrey-vs-reagan.html|first=Tom|last=Wicker|title=Humphrey Vs. Reagan|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 28, 1975}}</ref>

On April 12, 1976, Chairman of the [[New Jersey Democratic Party]] State Senator James P. Dugan said the selection of a majority of uncommitted delegates could be interpreted as a victory for Humphrey, who had indicated his availability as a presidential candidate for the convention.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/04/13/archives/humphrey-called-victor-in-jersey-uncommitted-state-to-vie-with-4.html|title=HUMPHREY CALLED VICTOR IN JERSEY|first=Ronald|last=Sullivan|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 13, 1976}}</ref> Humphrey announced his choice to not enter the New Jersey primary nor authorize any committees to work to support him during an April 29, 1976, appearance in the Senate Caucus Room.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1976/04/30/page/1/article/tearful-humphrey-out-of-race|title=Tearful Humphrey out of race|date=April 30, 1976|first=Jon|last=Margolis|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 6, 2017|archive-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819020357/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1976/04/30/page/1/article/tearful-humphrey-out-of-race/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Even after [[Jimmy Carter]] had won enough delegates to clinch the nomination, many still wanted Humphrey to announce his availability for a [[draft (politics)|draft]]. However, he did not do so, and Carter easily secured the nomination on the first round of balloting. Humphrey had learned that he had terminal cancer, prompting him to sit the race out.

Humphrey attended the November 17, 1976, meeting between President-elect Carter and Democratic congressional leaders in which Carter sought out support for a proposal to have the president's power to reorganize the government reinstated with potential to be vetoed by Congress.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/11/18/archives/carter-asks-leaders-of-congress-to-help-in-a-reorganization-he-is.html|title=CARTER ASKS LEADERS OF CONGRESS TO HELP IN A REORGANIZATION|first=Warren Jr.|last=Weaver|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 18, 1976}}</ref>

=== Fifth Senate term ===
Humphrey attended the May 3, 1977, White House meeting on legislative priorities. Humphrey told President Carter that the U.S. would enter a period of high unemployment without an economic stimulus and noted that in "every period in our history, a rise in unemployment has been accompanied by a rise in inflation". Humphrey stated a preventative health care program would be the only way for the Carter administration to not have to fund soaring health costs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/04/archives/democrats-criticize-carter-on-priorities-congressional-leaders.html|title=DEMOCRATS CRITICIZE CARTER ON PRIORITIES|first=Martin|last=Tolchin|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 4, 1977}}</ref> In July 1977, after the Senate began debating approval for funding of the [[neutron bomb]], Humphrey stated that the White House had agreed to release the impact statement, a requirement for congressional funding of a new weapon.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/07/14/archives/senate-votes-funds-for-neutron-bombs-heeding-carter-plea-cutoff.html|title=SENATE VOTES FUNDS FOR NEUTRON BOMBS, HEEDING CARTER PLEA|date=July 14, 1977|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

===Deputy President pro tempore of the Senate (1977–1978)===
In 1974, along with [[Augustus F. Hawkins|Rep. Augustus Hawkins]] of California, Humphrey authored the [[Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act]], the first attempt at full employment legislation. The original bill proposed to guarantee full employment to all citizens over 16 and set up a permanent system of public jobs to meet that goal. A watered-down version called the ''Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act'' passed the House and Senate in 1978. It set the goal of 4 percent unemployment and 3 percent inflation and instructed the [[Federal Reserve Board]] to try to produce those goals when making policy decisions.

Humphrey ran for [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Majority Leader]] after the 1976 election but lost to [[Robert Byrd]] of [[West Virginia]]. The Senate honored Humphrey by creating the post of [[Deputy President pro tempore of the United States Senate|Deputy President pro tempore]] of the Senate for him. On August 16, 1977, Humphrey revealed he was suffering from terminal [[bladder cancer]]. On October 25 of that year, he addressed the Senate, and on November 3, Humphrey became the first person other than a member of the House or the President of the United States to address the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] in session.<ref>Cohen, pp. 478–479.</ref> President Carter honored him by giving him command of [[Air Force One]] for his final trip to Washington on October 23. One of Humphrey's final speeches contained the lines "It was once said that the moral test of Government is how that Government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped",<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-03-vw-2284-story.html | title=Quotable Congress Gets Ideas from Single Source | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=September 3, 1989 }}</ref> which is sometimes described as the "liberals' mantra".