Muskie was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in the 1968 presidential election. Muskie later ran for President in the 1972 presidential election. After announcing that Muskie had lost, Muskie chocked with anger and began to cry. Afterwards, Muskie refused the fact that he cried at simply said that "melted snow flakes" in eyes and not tears. Muskie later said the reason he cried was that because newspapers insulted his wife.