Zioncheck for President: A True Story of Idealism and Madness in American Politics

by Phillip Campbell

This offbeat true story is a comedy and a tragedy about politics, from anti-globalist protest to domestic turmoil. It's about idealism, obsession and failure in Seattle, a progressive city on the fringe of America's continent and consciousness.

Grant Cogswell is a poet, a punk rock-fan, an anarchist, a grassroots activist, and one very temperamental character. He loves Seattle so much he has the city logo tattooed on his arm. In the summer of 2001 he decides to run for city council. He's so determined to win that he'll even wear a polar-bear suit to a city hall meeting. Phil Campbell, the author, is a burnt-out recently fired alt-weekly reporter, a manic depressive who sees few reasons to live. Inspired by his friend Grant’s passion, and without anything better to do, he agrees to manage Grant's campaign. For eighteen weeks, Phil devotes himself to Grant’s grassroots challenge—all the while fending an overzealous roommate challenging him for his position as manager of their shared house. Overshadowing the story is the tale of U.S. Rep. Marion Anthony Zioncheck, a legendary boozer and forgotten lefty radical from the 1930s. As Grant's campaign unfolds, so does the story of Zioncheck's tragedy — his rise and fall from an energetic young politico to a madman who is sent to the insane asylum. The Is Zioncheck's tale a lesson already learned, or a prophecy waiting to be repeated?

Genres: Politics, Local History

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this as soon as I discovered it existed, both because I tend to enjoy books on local political history and wanted to learn more backstory on Marion Zioncheck than I already knew. On the latter, I didn't learn too terribly much, since I already had read the usual sources and the book isn't about him so much as how he influenced Grant Cogswell, his campaign, and his life. This was not a let down, however, in that the book painted a simultaneously romantic and rather blunt portrait of Mr. Cogswell and the city he loved. The campaign took place while I was 18, living across the state, and way the hell too mainstream in my thinking to have followed it or been sympathetic to a figure like Mr. Cogswell. However, I had become acquainted with the basic story of what happened in this election before reading so I knew the candidates, their basic positions on the spectrum, and the outcome going in. This didn't detract from the story one iota. Campbell slowly layers the story as the book goes on with background details of events and meetings and it not only makes it easy to follow along with the progress of the campaign but also paints a vivid portrait of the exact sort of time and culture in which it occurred. It also became a point of frustration, as somebody similarly disillusioned by now with the state of political involvement, the electoral system, and society in general to see how this man who ran his campaign at my current age pushed himself to the brink of his own sanity trying to instigate change only to fall short in a city that thinks itself on the cutting edge of progressivism but is in actuality in many ways the same city that was nominally Republican a mere 40 years ago. The part where Mr. Cogswell found himself badgered for having voted for Nader by local Democratic groups underscored this so clearly, as though the party is entitled to the votes of every left-ish voter and voting one's conscience is thought of as a negative. I suppose it is disheartening to know that this man whom I now see as a kind of kindred spirit 15 years ahead of me became further disillusioned with the system and ended up leaving the city eventually, but ultimately I appreciate the portrait of this tortured artist doing what he saw as right to fix what's wrong in society whatever the outcome or consequences as the greater good coming from this book, and that's why I give it five stars and would recommend it to anybody interested in Washington politics or fighting an unjust system. This is the romantic appeal of the story, for me.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captures well the neuroses of campaigning and the subtypes of progressive activists generally.
My favorite paragraph:
P.142
"Oh my God, Where's my pen, where's my fucking pen! I looked in the space between the seats, where I kept some for emergencies, but I had used them already and had not returned them. Deep breaths, but not too many. I reached up to feel the top of my ear. Nothing, I then felt my lips. Bingo. A plastic ballpoint was lodged in my teeth. I put it in my right pants pocket, patting it twice so I would remember where it was."

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction about a journalist who spends a season running his friend's campaign for Seattle city council. I'm very glad a book like this exists; it's refreshing to look at politics from a non-political perspective. It wasn't very critical however, and the author could have done a lot more with the material he had. The historical about Marion Zioncheck could have been better integrated. Too many references to Modest Mouse, also.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a friend of mine about his experience helping his friend run for city counsel in Seattle (neither of them have an iota of experience). Surprisingly good for a first effort...I especially enjoyed the bravery of his self-portrayal.

[JulieK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun glimpse of local politics.

[lara phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tale of a David vs Goliath city council race where David loses. should be required reading before running for public office.

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome read - true story about a political campaign in Seattle. Being made into a movie right now. Funny, poignant and interesting.