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.
