Remembering when Robert Redford came to West Palm to promote his movie ‘The Candidate’

Robert Redford died Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the age of 89, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah, “the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved. He will be missed greatly,” his rep Cindi Berger told USA TODAY in a statement Tuesday.

We look back when the Oscar-winning actor spent time in Palm Beach County. To promote his movie, “The Candidate,” Redford came to West Palm Beach in June 1972, speaking from the back of a campaign-style train.

His audience of 600 young men and women — described by The Post as “teenyboppers” — outdrew a recent crowd for a presidential candidate at the time, Sen. Edward Muskie. The liberal movie star said that bothered him: “What matters on Election Day is image,” Redford told the crowd at the city’s train station. “What does it mean when more people turn out for me than a presidential candidate?”

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Remembering when Robert Redford visited West Palm Beach in 1972 to promote his movie ‘The Candidate’

Redford, who played California senatorial candidate Bill McKay in the movie, also discussed what he called the negative aspects of political campaigns, saying theatrics obscured meaningful discussion of policy and platforms. The promotion also was used as a voter registration drive, and 200 signed up.

Redford, flashing a grin and a Nixon-like peace sign, told the crowd during a two-minute speech: “Let me make one thing perfectly clear. I’m not a candidate … Under no circumstances will I run, unless it is for cover.” The “teenyboppers” groaned in disappointment.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Robert Redford movies: Actor was in West Palm to promote The Candidate