Actually, the last Republican mayor was Big Bill Thompson (1915-23, 1927-31), but he was nothing to write home about. He was too busy taking money from Al Capone to do much else, good or bad. Then he was succeeded by “Ten-Percent Tony” Cermak, so-called because that was his cut of every city contract. Cermak’s corrupt police detail tried unsuccessfully to kill Frank Nitti, then Nitti had Cermak hit while Cermak was in Miami at a rally with FDR.
Chicago politics is a blood sport.
Actually, the last Republican mayor was Big Bill Thompson (1915-23, 1927-31), but he was nothing to write home about. He was too busy taking money from Al Capone to do much else, good or bad. Then he was succeeded by “Ten-Percent Tony” Cermak, so-called because that was his cut of every city contract. Cermak’s corrupt police detail tried unsuccessfully to kill Frank Nitti, then Nitti had Cermak hit while Cermak was in Miami at a rally with FDR.
Chicago politics is a blood sport.