as direct action — the assembly of a mass of unemployed workers who would boldly march on Washington, DC to demand immediate satisfaction of their needs by Congress. This plan began to take shape early in the spring of 1894, to the point that by March the managing editor of the Chicago Record would assign young reporter Ray Stannard Baker to cover the "queer chap down there in Massillon" who was "getting up an army of the unemployed to march on Washington." Many members of Coxey's family were opposed to his involvement in Coxey's Army. His father refused to talk to reporters and called his son "stiff necked", "cranky", and "pig-headed". One of Coxey's sisters called him an embarrassment. He was a member of the Socialist Party circa 1912. Death and legacy Coxey lived to be 97 years old. When asked his secret to longevity, he told reporters an array of reasons from elixirs to not resisting temptation. Timeline 1885: Ran as the nominee of the Greenback Party for a seat in the Ohio State Senate but lost in his first attempt at public office. 1894: Led Coxey's Army, a march that started in Ohio, and passed through Pittsburgh in April. Interest in the march dwindled in mid May. Coxey was concerned with the lack of meaningful work, and thus demanded that the federal government provide such for the unemployed. Coxey, his wife, and his son, Legal Tender Coxey, rode in a carriage ahead of some 400 protesters towards Washington D.C. He was arrested for walking on the grass and his army peacefully dispersed. Although it didn't seem to have much effect, the march on Washington and the growing threat of populism at this time struck fear into the hearts of many. 1894: Nominated by the People's Party for the 18th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. 1895: Nominated by People's Party for Governor of Ohio. 1897: Nominated by People's Party for Governor of Ohio. 1916: Unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the United States Senate. 1922: Ran as an independent for the U.S. House in the 18th District against incumbent Republican B. Franklin Murphy and lost. 1924: Ran as an independent for the U.S. House against Democratic incumbent John McSweeney in the 16th District, losing again. 1926: Ran for the Republican Party's nomination for the 16th District seat and lost in the primary election. 1928: Again tried