Word: aldermanic
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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When Harold Washington was elected mayor of Chicago last spring, he boldly vowed to break the "ancient, decrepit and creaking machine" that has controlled the city for decades. In turn, the machine forces, led by Alderman Edward Vrdolyak, chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, declared war on Washington...
Does Chicago need an official song? Former Alderman Louis Farina has long thought so. Embarrassed by the peppy, toe-tapping rhythms of Chicago and My Kind of Town at official ceremonies, Farina pushed for and got a city-sponsored contest to pick a more dignified ditty. Jane Byrne, then Chicago mayor, offered $5,000 from her campaign funds as a prize...
...threatened to make good on his inaugural promise-"Business as usual will not be accepted by the people"-the city's Democratic political Establishment came together in a new, sometimes unseemly vigor, determined to outmaneuver and outbellow the antimachine mayor. To paraphrase the 1955 words of the late alderman Paddy Bauler, it seemed that Chicago was not quite ready for reform yet-not Harold Washington's brand, for sure...
Typical was the scene last Wednesday at a meeting of the 50-member, all-Democratic city council. Frequent howls of "Point of order!" rose from the chamber floor as spectators catcalled back. At one point in the heated 2½-hour session, Alderman Edward Vrdolyak, Cook County Democratic chairman and boss of the Chicago Democratic machine, shouted at the presiding mayor: "Government by chaos, Mr. President. Rule or ruin! Are you a dictator?" When Washington threatened summarily to clear the chamber, Vrdolyak, 45, known as "Fast Eddie" for his slick political skills, leaped to his feet, held out his arms...
...after the traumatic campaign. "It's been declining for ten years," said Chicago Political Consultant Don Rose, "but this is the most devastating blow." Eight of its 50 ward leaders actually endorsed Republican Epton. Many others who remained officially neutral ended up working against the party nominee, including Alderman Edward Burke, a ward leader on the Southwest Side. He spoke of the feelings of his white ethnic constituents: "They're afraid of what might happen, and that fear is not unrealistic...