 Max R. Smith told the Philadelphia Inquirer of Thomas Crooks, it makes me wonder why he would carry out an assassination attempt on the conservative candidate. Smith shared an American history class with Crooks and remembered a mock debate where their teacher made students stand on one side of the classroom or another to signal their allegiance. The majority of the class were on the liberal side, but Tom, no matter what, always stood his ground on the conservative side. That's still the picture I have of him. Yes, and what did he say that made you think he was a conservative? What view did he espouse?