No matter the era or the time, politics have captured the heart of Americans from the dawning days of our young nation to the present day with its ever-widening culture gap. Reviewers of history have commented on the acidic political times surrounding the Corrupt Bargain, the Teapot Dome scandal, and the Monica Lewinsky scandal. These scandals have caused increasing apathy in the electorate and an attitude of "nothing will change around here ever." However, and there is always a "however," fresh winds arrive with new persons, new ideas, and a new paradigm for a political change. Groundswell: An American Political Movement documents the arrival of that fresh breeze that the American public embraces with enthusiasm. Samuel Harrison is not a typical political candidate. In fact, he really isn't a political candidate at all, save his extraordinary run for the presidency. The political establishment reacts predictably with first dismissal, then derisiveness, and, finally, mild panic at the entry of Samuel into presidential politics. Even with his political naiveté, Samuel maneuvers the mine-filled waters of the Democrats and the Republicans with relative ease. As readers, we are afforded a front row seat for this narrative on the Harrison presidential train through rough terrain to unexpected outcomes.
