Bill Cohen's 1972 Campaign for Congress: An Oral History of the Walk that Changed Maine Politics

1972 was a true watershed in Maine politics. Following a hundred years of Republican dominance, Democrats led by Senator Ed Muskie had achieved a string of victories that threatened to sweep Republicans from the board of congressional and gubernatorial offices. On election day only the win by first time Republican congressional candidate Bill Cohen would stop the Democrat shut out.

Cohen won by determination and perseverance, charisma, and grit, and by his campaign 650-mile walk across Main...