News In Brief

McGovern endorses Mondale for president

George McGovern, the Democratic Party's 1972 standard-bearer, endorsed Walter Mondale for president Wednesday and urged his more than 20 convention delegates to vote for Mr. Mondale.

''I have decided to endorse Walter Mondale for president because I believe he is not only the likely nominee of the Democratic Party, but also because I believe he will be a successful president,'' Mr. McGovern said.

McGovern said he was convinced that Mr. Mondale ''will reverse the dangerous deterioration of Soviet-American relations and the drift toward war in Central America.''