George McGovern from the Biographical Directory of the United States of America. (Flickr/ silbigread)

His daughter, Ann McGovern told The Associated Press that her father is "coming to the end of his life." McGovern declined to comment further, but confided that her father had been suffering health problems for a few years.

"The family of Sen. McGovern wishes to extend their gratitude and appreciation for the many prayers and well wishes and requests complete privacy at this time," Lindsey Meyers, spokeswoman for Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center told CNN.

McGovern is most remembered by his unsuccessful presidential run in 1972 against incumbent President Richard Nixon. He was also an outspoken critic of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war.  Following his political career, McGovern was appointed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome.

For the last two decades, he and former senator Bob Dole, R-Kansas, pushed for U.S.-funded school lunch programs around the globe.

 
Reach Executive Producers Chima Simone and Francesca Martens.