Emil Hurja, the man who pioneered political polling, was a close associate of FDR and later an associate of Herbert Hoover, the former President who worked on behalf of Finland during WW II.

Born on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the son of Finnish immigrants, Emil Hurja lived a story-book life that took him from the iron ore ranges of the UP to the gold fields of Alaska, from the oil fields of Texas to Wall Street in the Roaring 20s, and far beyond. Hurja made the cover of Time in 1935 for his pioneering work as pollster for FDR and was knighted by the government of Finland for his work with Herbert Hoover raising support for Finland during the Winter War. Hurja’s pride in his Finnish heritage was boundless.

PRESENTER

Nephew and godson of Hurja, born in Cleveland, Ohio, baptised by Raymond Wargelin, and presently a resident of Tacoma, Washington, Ojala holds a B.A. from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma and an M.A. and Ph.D. in European history from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Author/co-author of a dozen books and hundreds of online articles about history (including Hurja), rock-’n’-roll, photography, the sport of rowing, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and much more, Ojala is currently working on a spec script based on his twin brother George’s experience in Vietnam as a member of the legendary Air Force “Jolly Greens” who rescued thousands of downed flyers during the war in South East Asia.