Originally, he was recruited by national Democrats who wanted to replace Congressman Martin L. Sweeney (D-OH), who had for eleven years held the seat representing the west side of Cleveland.
Izvorno su ga unovačili nacionalni Demokrati koji su željeli zamijeniti kongresnika Sweeneya (D-OH), koji je jedanaest godina držao zastupničko mjesto predstavljajući zapadnu stranu Clevelanda.