Winner, 2006 Illinois State Historical Society Book Award
Recipient, 2007 The Hyde Park Historical Society Paul Cornell Award
Political war stories from a thorn in the side of Chicago's famous Boss
In 1955, south-sider Leon Despres was elected to the Chicago City Council-the same year that Paddy Bauler famously uttered that "Chicago ain't ready for reform." Ready or not, Chicago got twenty years of reform efforts from Despres, one of the few independents in the council and the most liberal alderman in the city. His demand to cut out the corrupt sale of city driveway permits made...