Title: Wisconsin Friends of Senator Muskie for President (Cudahy, Wis.): Records
Inclusive Dates: 1970-1972

Creator:

• Wisconsin Friends of Senator Muskie for President (Cudahy, Wis.)

Call Number: Milwaukee Mss 19

Quantity: 0.2 c.f. (1 archives box)

Repository:

Housed at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries’ Archives Department / Milwaukee Area Research Center; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Fragmentary records of a Cudahy, Wisconsin group formed to support the presidential campaign of Senator Edmund S. Muskie of Maine, coordinated by Cudahy optometrist Edward J. Tomasik. The collection includes organizational records, correspondence and memoranda, lists of poll watchers and election workers, campaign brochures and general campaign papers, office files, photographs, and notes of a telephone campaign to enlist the support of Wisconsin's Polish American Catholic clergy.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00019

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In mid-May 1971, a statewide committee was formed in support of the candidacy of Senator Edmund S. Muskie of Maine for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 1972. Several smaller groups were later organized to act for Senator Muskie on the local level; one of these was the Wisconsin Friends of Senator Muskie for President. Under the coordination of Cudahy optometrist Dr. Edward J. Tomasik, the Wisconsin Friends came into existence during the fall of 1971 to organize Muskie's support in the South Milwaukee area. Apparently, the group also functioned as the Friends of Muskie committee for all Polish Americans in the state.

The Friends maintained an office in Cudahy (at times in Dr. Tomasik's office or home) and entertained Senator Muskie's son, Stephen, when he visited Milwaukee in March 1972. The group also participated with the Muskie for President Committee of Wisconsin in sponsoring a dinner with Senator Muskie, and other campaign events. Despite these efforts on his behalf, Muskie finished a distant fourth in the Wisconsin primary in April. Shortly thereafter, Muskie was forced to curtail his campaign, and the 1972 Democratic nomination eventually went to Senator George McGovern.

The collection consists of fragmentary records, many of them handwritten and undated notes, of the Friends' formation, its efforts in support of Senator Muskie's campaign, and its cooperation with the Muskie for President Committee of Wisconsin. Included are correspondence and memoranda, with a few letters of support of Muskie by Tomasik in his role of national vice-president of the Polish American Congress and as chairman of the “Wisconsin Plan” committee. Many of the letters are purely routine in nature, but a few give details of the group's fund-raising efforts and membership. An interesting letter dated March 22, 1972 from Jo Piegzik to Dr. Tomasik outlines Piegzik's views about the campaign strategies and perceived failures of the Chicago area Muskie support group. Also noteworthy is the letter written by Mrs. Angeline Marinich and Mrs. Katherine Shultz (Jankowski), who enclosed a contribution for the Friends group even though they were elderly residents of a nursing home. With the letter are English translations and correspondence regarding its use as publicity.

Other records include office files consisting of memoranda and handwritten notes regarding “things to do,” the hiring of office staff, and lists of volunteers; Muskie campaign brochures and publicity items; papers regarding the arrangements for the dinner with Senator Muskie, held in Milwaukee on March 26, 1972; the selection of 4th District Democratic caucus delegates; and notes and responses from a telephone campaign to Polish American priests throughout the state requesting their support of Muskie and assistance in promoting his campaign among their parishioners. There are also several photographs of local Muskie supporters with Stephen Muskie, taken during his visit to the Milwaukee area, and a photograph of the Senator with his mother. Also included are several photocopied newspaper clippings regarding Muskie's campaign and his opponents, mostly taken from Wisconsin newspapers.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Edward J. Tomasik, Cudahy, Wisconsin, 1980. Accession Number: M81-46

Processing Information

Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt, January 1981.

Box   1 Folder   1	Correspondence and Memoranda, 1971-1972, undated
Box   1 Folder   2	Dinner with Senator Muskie, 1972
Box   1 Folder   3	4th District Democratic Caucus Delegate Selection, 1972
Box   1 Folder   4	Lists of Poll Watchers and Election Workers; Maps of District, 1971, undated
Box   1 Folder   5	Marinich and Schultz Letter and Related Materials, 1972
	Muskie Campaign Brochures and Other Materials
Box   1 Folder   6	Cudahy Committee, 1972, undated
Box   1 Folder   7	General, 1971-1972, undated
Box   1 Folder   8	Newspaper Clippings, 1970-1972
Box   1 Folder   9	Office Files, Notes, 1971-1972
Box   1 Folder   10	Photographs, 1972, undated
Box   1 Folder   11	Telephone Campaign to Polish American Priests, undated