Word: vrdolyak
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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...
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...
...April 12 with 51.8% of the vote: "It appears that some members of the city council are apparently experiencing a nervous reaction to the prospect of reform." Shortly after the election, at what was supposed to be a "unity" breakfast, Washington had confided some of his reform notions to Vrdolyak. As might have been predicted, the city's craftiest politician did not respond eagerly to the news that he would be stripped of his job as chairman of the powerful building and zoning committee and of his ceremonial post as president pro tern of the council. "That...
...tinge of racism that clung to the primary battle has raised nervous speculation about the city's chances. The weekend before the election, Cook County Democratic Chairman Edward R. Vrdolyak allegedly announced to white precinct leaders on the city's Northwest side that the primary had become "a racial thing" and contended that it was a battle between Byrne and Washington. "I'm calling on you to save your city, to save your precinct," he was quoted as saying. Nor had the Democratic organization rallied around Washington, mainly because of opposition in many of the city's white neighborhoods...
...Byrne in the campaign's final days, the issue of race, always an undercurrent, appeared for all to see. Byrne's campaign workers told voters that a vote for Daley was a vote for Washington. Exploiting fears of a black victory, Democratic Committee Chairman Edward Vrdolyak warned party members that the election was "a racial thing...