Customer Reviews

Chicago Politics Ward by Ward (A Midland Book)

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This book provided a solid primer in the ward politics of the City of Chicago. It was originally published during the 1980s, so some of the profiles of the leading members of the Chicago City Council may be somewhat dated. The late David K. Fremon was a local newspaper reporter and he did a fairly good amount of leg work in compiling this book. The ward boundaries have been redistricted since that time and many of the aldermen have left office (due to death, imprisonment, retirement or election to higher office as the case may be), but a handful of the familiar politicians whose biographies are included here still remain in residence at City Hall. It would be interesting to see this book revised and updated.

CHICAGO POLITICS by David Fremon is 372 pages long, printed on off-white paper, and contains one map showing all of Chicago's wards (page 22) and 50 maps of each of the 50 wards, and about 10 photographs of various notable aldermen. The book contains 50 little chapters, each about 6 pages long, one for each of Chicago's 50 wards (each ward has only one alderman). Also, two additional chapters are devoted to mayoral elections. Each chapter contains a methodical table on demographics, redistricting of the ward, percent blacks, whites, Hispanics, and names of alderman, committeemen, and voting records for mayoral races.

SAVVY WRITING. While the book is scholarly and fact-driven, the author is versatile enough to step back and provide savvy-sounding narratives. Referring to Chicago's most impoverished community in the 3rd ward, he writes, "Is it any wonder that this area is a worldwide capitol of the blues? The legendary Checkerboard Lounge at 423 E.43rd Street is located in the 3rd ward." (page 35) Referring to the 22nd ward, which is 79% Hispanic, he writes, "Heart of the ward is 26th Street, a colorful strip of carcincerias, taquerias, panderias, Mexican night clubs . . . and bars with huge satellite dishes to pick up soccer and boxing aired from Mexico City." (page 147).

WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. For those who have read AMERICAN PHARAOH:MAYOR RICHARD J. DALEY by Cohen and Taylor, this book is a logical next choice. In fact, CHICAGO POLITICS would be largely incomprehensible without first reading AMERICAN PHARAOH. For example, to understand commentary on patronage jobs (pages 30, 55, 121, 180, 247 of CHICAGO POLITICS), you first need to read AMERICAN PHARAOH. To understand commentary on panic peddling (pages 65, 157, 195 of CHICAGO POLITICS), you first need to read AMERICAN PHARAOH. CHICAGO POLITICS will also likely be of interest to those having had a college course in city politics, since many of the terms used in this book are technical terms that are not likely to be clearly understood by an ordinary American citizen. These terms are "redistricting" (page 26, 48, 109, 126, 150, 160, 171, etc., of CHICAGO POLITICS), "the machine" (pages 40, 46, 48, 120, 148, 160, 164, of CHICAGO POLITICS), "precinct captain," "ward," and "alderman." Even after reading CHICAGO POLITICS, I really have little understanding of what is a "ward" or what is an "alderman." But the interested reader can easily consult an on-line encyclopedia.

This book will also be of interest to residents of Chicago, or to persons who find Chicago to be a fine vacation spot. My motivation to read CHICAGO POLITICS stems from the fact that I lived in Wisconsin for several years, and traveled to Chicago for vacations, or whenever I wanted to see a building higher than a church steeple.

ALDERMEN. The heart of each of the 50 chapters on wards is the "alderman." Typically, we are provided with short biographies from aldermen from the past 50 years or so, for example, Mr. Kenna, Mr. D'Arca, Mr. Parrillo, and Mr. Roti, of the 1st ward (page 25), or Mr. Smith, Mr. Jambrone, Mr. Washington, and Mr. Carothers, of the 28th ward (page 189). Typically, the book discloses only their election strategies and scandals, but fails to disclose any accomplishments of the aldermen. For example, this sort of lop-sided biography is provided for aldermen Mr. Kenner (page 27), Mr. Hagopian (page 200), Mr. Forst (page 226), Mr. Bauler (page 284), Mr. Swinarski (page 90), Mr. Kelley (page 137), Mr. Stewart (page 142), Mr. Kuta (page 153), and Mr. Davis (page 181). In this sense, CHICAGO POLITICS is strangely deficient.

On the other hand, we do learn of some actual accomplishments of some aldermen, for example, organizing bond issues and establishing transit lines (page 153), bringing money and services into the ward and keeping businesses in the ward (pages 189, 200), drafting ordinances for anti-panic peddling (page 109), and drafting ordinances requiring written estimates for repairs by T.V. shops (age 154). However, aside from these few details of actual accomplishment, the reader is left TOTALLY CLUELESS as to the proper function of an "alderman." As mentioned above, the reader is left with the general impression that the activities of an "alderman" are limited to: (1) Getting elected or delivering votes to high-level candidates; and (2) Being enveloped in scandals.

ETHNIC GROUPS. Particularly delightful are narratives of life cycles of various ethnic or religious groups over the course of the past 100 years. For example, we learn that the 31st ward was first German and Scandinavian, then Jewish and Polish, and eventually black and latino (characterized by gangs and school drop-outs) (page 208). We learn that the 25th ward was originally Irish and German, with later influx of bohemians, Lithuanians, and Poles, and eventual influx of Mexicans. Regarding Mexicans, the author lovingly informs us of street vendors providing "corn on the cob spiced with lemon and hot pepper," "Lively music which jumps out of Spanish record stores," portraits of Mexican Revolution heroes in a barbershop at 18th Street and Bishop Street, and a Mexican Fine art Center at 19th Street and Damen Street (page 164). We learn that the 32nd ward, the most strangely shaped ward in Chicago, is likely the best ward for ethnicity-hunters, with its Ukranian Village and Polish National Museum (page 211).

CONCLUSION. This book is a quick read. It is best appreciated by readers with an elementary understanding of city politics who have also read AMERICAN PHARAOH:MAYOR RICHARD J. DALEY (or a reasonable facsimile thereof). For tourists of Eastern European or Italian heritage, interested in seeking their roots, CHICAGO POLITICS makes an inspiring tour guide.