 Though conservative in many respects, Cook wrote a number of articles for "The Nation" magazine, together with his longtime "World-Telegram" collaborator, Gene Gleason, and took positions usually identified with the left.For instance, he opposed the death penalty, taking the position that it was cruel and didn't deter crime.He was also highly critical of the FBI, the CIA, and the Alger Hiss perjury conviction, as well as oil companies and defense contractors.