George McGovern, in 1972, lost his bid to be elected president in a landslide. But four years earlier, he led a commission that totally changed how presidential party nominees are chosen. That system remains in place to day and is, perhaps, one of McGovern's most enduring legacies. He died this weekend, at age 90....

Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer said McGovern played a key role in changing the rules of politics conventions.

"After 1968, the Democrats setup a commission to reform the nomination process. And McGovern is a key figure heading up that commission," he said....