#3: Who Shall Live & Who Shall Die đ
In 1933, Richard J. Daley graduated law school after ~7 years of study. He was now 31 years old. Still young, but determined to choose a path and prove himself. In Chicagoâs potent Democratic machine, Daley found the future he craved: Power.
As a South Side Chicago Irishman, Daley knew that growing up in Bridgeport had given him a better real-world education than any case heâd read at DePaulâs College of Law. But he wasnât a natural. Charm, charisma, and polished speechmaking were not his strong suits, as youâll see in future newsletters. And despite the Democratsâ control of state, county, and city offices, there wasnât an opening at Daleyâs level.
In Daleyâs very own 11th Ward, for example, the following politicians were slotted in front of him:
Joseph âBig Joeâ McDonaugh (age 48) - Ward 11 Alderman, representing Bridgeport
World War I hero Tom Doyle (age 45) - US Congressman and then McDonaughâs replacement as Alderman
David Shanahan (age 74) - Illinois House of Representatives and ex-speaker of the House
Within three years of Daleyâs law school graduation, all three would be dead. Big Joe and Doyle were felled by pneumonia. But Rep. Shanahan, a Republican, died only fifteen days before the 1936 elections. With his name already printed on ballots, there was no time to remove it. Instead, 8,600 South Side Irishmen & Irishwomen wrote in Daley's name to secure his seat as a Republican.Â
In fact, when [Daley] got to the [Illinois House of Representatives], he had to spend his first morning on the Republican side of the aisle.
[The Democratic minority leader] ⊠offered the resolution to let Daley come sit among the Democrats. The Republicans, still angered by the Bridgeport opportunism that cheated them of a seat, made Daley suffer for it. Their leader pointed a long finger at Daley and said: âI donât care about the resolution. I want to know where Representative Daley wants to sit. Where do you want to sit, Representative Daley?â
Daley pointed at the Democrats and, in a soft voice, said, âThere.â âThen go on over there,â the Republican leader barked, âbecause we donât want you over here.â (Royko 39).
That Richard J. Daley, the US Democratic Partyâs high priest, was elected to his first job as a write-in Republican candidate is my favorite piece of Chicago political trivia.
Be kind to each other.
Ari
P.S. Next week, I'll focus on the mid to late-1940s alliance between Richard J. Daley and Jacob Arvey, leader of Chicagoâs Jewish West Side. The two worked as Jordan-Pippen in holding Chicago's Democratic Machine together during a perilous time for big city machines.Â
Indeed, Arvey was so powerful that to secure his help for the 1948 election, President Truman vowed to support the creation of a Jewish state.Â
Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party Arvey & President Truman
On May 14, 1948, the provisional Jewish government proclaimed a new State of Israel. That very same day, President Truman delivered on his promise to Arvey by recognizing Israel. Without formally notifying the State Department or the United Nations first. Power.
President Trumanâs letter, dated May 14, 1948, recognizing a Jewish state of Israel.
P.P.S. I put a lot of work into writing this newsletter. If you enjoy reading it, Iâd appreciate if you shared it with one friend, family member, or colleague who you think might enjoy it too.