Just as Cook seemed to be gaining ground in his attempt to have his
claim
given an official hearing in Congress, he suddenly went off in another
direction,
abandoning his congressional fight. Perhaps Cook realized
that his
claim would never stand such scrutiny. Besides, world events
were quickly
moving the United States toward involvement in the European war, and
people
had lost interest in the question of who first reached the North Pole.
Cook could see his career as a lecturer coming to an end and began
looking
for a new line of work.
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