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Encyclopedia > Harold Washington
Harold Washington


Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 1st district
In office
1981 – 1983
Preceded by Bennett M. Stewart
Succeeded by Charles A. Hayes

In office
1983 – 1987
Preceded by Jane Byrne
Succeeded by David Orr

Born April 15, 1922(1922-04-15)
Chicago, Illinois
Died November 25, 1987 (aged 65)
Chicago, Illinois
Political party Democratic
Spouse Nancy Dorothy Finch (July 22, 1942February 25, 1950)
Mary Ella Smith (engaged)
Residence Chicago, Illinois
Religion Roman Catholic

Harold Washington (April 15, 1922November 25, 1987) was an American lawyer and politician who became the first African American Mayor of Chicago, serving from 1983 until his death. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Type Bicameral Speaker of the House of Representatives House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Steny Hoyer, (D) since January 4, 2007 House Minority Leader John Boehner, (R) since January 4, 2007 Members 435 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... Image:Illinois1st. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Bennett McVey Stewart (August 12, 1912 - April 26, 1988) was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Illinois. ... Charles Arthur Hayes (February 17, 1918 – April 8, 1997) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois. ... Richard M. Daley is the current mayor of Chicago. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Jane Margaret Byrne (born May 24, 1934) was the first female Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. ... // Biography David W. Orr was born in Des Moines, Iowa and was raised in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City 234. ... is the 329th day of the year (330th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City 234. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... is the 203rd day of the year (204th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City 234. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... Catholic Church redirects here. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 329th day of the year (330th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... For the fish called lawyer, see Burbot. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City 234. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ...

Contents

Background and early career

After graduating from DuSable High School, Washington studied at Roosevelt College (now Roosevelt University), graduating in 1949 with a B.A. degree. He was elected class president his senior year. Washington was a member of Phi Beta Sigma. He then studied at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, graduating in 1952. In 1965 he was elected as a Democratic representative to the Illinois House of Representatives, and he became a member of the Illinois Senate in 1976. In 1980 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Illinois' 1st congressional district. DuSable High School is a Bronzeville high school opened in 1934. ... Roosevelt University is a four-year, private institute of higher education with full service campuses in Chicagos Loop and northwest suburban Schaumburg. ... A B.A. issued from the University of Tennessee. ... Phi Beta Sigma (ΦΒΣ) Fraternity was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. ... The Northwestern University School of Law is a private American law school in Chicago, Illinois. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... The Illinois House of Representatives convenes at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. ... The Illinois Senate convenes at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. ... Type Bicameral Speaker of the House of Representatives House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Steny Hoyer, (D) since January 4, 2007 House Minority Leader John Boehner, (R) since January 4, 2007 Members 435 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party... Illinois First Congressional District since 2003 The First Congressional District of Illinois is a congressional district in the state of Illinois that includes part of Cook County. ...


In 1969, the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois suspended Mr. Washington's license to practice law indefinitely. Mr. Washington successfully petitioned the Court for reinstatement after five and a half years.[1] Also: 1969 (number) 1969 (movie) 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... The Supreme Court of Illinois is the highest judicial court of the state of Illinois. ...


Mayor of Chicago (1983–1987)

In the 1983 Democratic mayoral primary, community organizers registered more than 100,000 new African American voters, while the white vote was split between the incumbent mayor Jane Byrne and the other challenger, Richard M. Daley, son of the late Mayor Richard J. Daley. Washington won with 37% of the vote, versus 33% for Byrne and 30% for Daley. Jane Margaret Byrne (born May 24, 1934) was the first female Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. ... Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party and current mayor of Chicago, Illinois. ... Richard Joseph Daley (May 15, 1902 – December 20, 1976) was the longest-serving mayor of Chicago. ...


Although winning the Democratic primary is normally tantamount to election in heavily Democratic Chicago, after his primary victory Washington found that his Republican opponent, former state legislator Bernard Epton (earlier considered a nominal stand-in), was supported by many white Democrats and ward organizations, including the chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, Alderman Edward "Fast Eddie" Vrdolyak. Epton's campaign referred to, among other things, Washington's conviction for failure to file income tax returns. (He had paid the taxes, but had not filed a return.) However, Washington appealed to his constituency in his mayoral political campaign, and stressed such things as reforming the Chicago patronage system and the need for a jobs program in a tight economy. In the spring of 1983, Washington defeated Epton by less than 4% of the vote to become mayor of Chicago. Pre-election opinion polling had showed Washington with a much larger lead, making the final margin a possible example of the so-called "Bradley effect", particularly considering the racially charged nature of the campaign. GOP redirects here. ... Bernard Epton (1921-1987) was a wealthy insurance attorney and Republican Illinois state legislator most notable for opposing Harold Washington for the mayoralty of Chicago in 1983. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Edward Robert Vrdolyak (IPA pronunciation: , born 1937) is a noted Chicago lawyer and politician. ... Tax rates around the world Tax revenue as % of GDP Economic policy Monetary policy Central bank   Money supply Fiscal policy Spending   Deficit   Debt Trade policy Tariff   Trade agreement Finance Financial market Financial market participants Corporate   Personal Public   Banking   Regulation        An income tax is a tax levied on the financial income... Opinion polls are surveys of opinion using sampling. ... The term Bradley effect or Wilder effect refers to a phenomenon which has led to inaccurate voter opinion polls in some American political campaigns between a white candidate and a non-white candidate. ...


Washington's first term in office was characterized by ugly, racially polarized battles dubbed "Council Wars", referring to the then-recent Star Wars films. A 29–21 City Council majority refused to enact Washington's reform legislation and prevented him from appointing reform nominees to boards and commissions. Other first-term items include overall city population loss, increased crime, and a massive decrease in ridership on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). This helped earn the city the nickname "Beirut on the Lake", and many people wondered if Chicago would ever recover or face the more permanent declines of other cities in the U.S. Midwest. Council Wars was a nasty, racially polarized political war in the city of Chicago from 1983-1986. ... This article is about the series. ... Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois. ... This article is about the Lebanese city. ... Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. ... This article is about the Midwestern region in the United States. ...

The twenty-nine, also known as the Vrdolyak Twenty-nine, was led by "the Eddies": Alderman Ed Vrdolyak, Finance Chair Edward Burke and Parks Commissioner Edmund Kelly. The Eddies were supported by State's Attorney Richard M. Daley, U.S. Congressmen Dan Rostenkowski and William Lipinski, and other powerful white Democrats. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,304 × 3,072 pixels, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,304 × 3,072 pixels, file size: 1. ... Harold Washington Cultural Center is a performance facility located in the Grand Boulevard community area of Chicago, Illinois. ... Edward M. Burke (born December 29, 1943) is alderman of the 14th Ward (map) in Chicago. ... Daniel David Dan Rostenkowski served in the U.S. Congress as a U.S. Representative for Illinois from 1959 to 1995. ... Bill Lipinski William Oliver Lipinski (born December 22, 1937), Polish-American politician, was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2005, representing the 3rd District of Illinois (mainly the inner suburbs of Chicago). ...


Washington ruled by veto. The twenty-nine could not get the thirtieth vote they needed to override Washington's veto; African American, Latino and white liberal aldermen supported Washington despite pressure from the Eddies. Meanwhile, in the courts, Washington kept the pressure on to reverse the redistricting of City Council wards that white Democrats had pushed through during the Byrne years. Finally, when special elections were ordered in 1986, victorious Washington-backed candidates gave him the 25–25 split he needed. His vote as chairman of the City Council enabled him to break the deadlock and enact his programs. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For the Brazilian pop singer, see Latino (singer). ...


Washington was reelected in the spring of 1987. During his short second term, the Eddies fell from power: Vrdolyak became a Republican, Kelly was removed from his powerful parks post, and Burke lost his power as finance chair.


Legacy

On November 25, 1987, Washington died of a heart attack in his office at City Hall. It was rumored that doctors at the hospital to which Washington had been brought when he suffered his fatal heart attack had discovered that underneath his suit he was wearing female underwear[2]. is the 329th day of the year (330th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...


Thousands of Chicagoans attended his wake in the lobby of City Hall between November 27 and November 29, 1987. On November 30th Rev. B. Herbert Martin officiated at funeral services in Christ Universal Temple at 119th Street and Ashland Avenue, Chicago.


Washington was buried in Oak Woods Cemetery on the South Side of Chicago. In later years, various city facilities and institutions would be renamed after the late mayor to commemorate his legacy. The new building housing the main branch of the Chicago Public Library, located at 400 South State Street, was named the Harold Washington Library Center (the former main library becoming the Chicago cultural center). According to the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau website, this is the world's largest public library [1]. The former Loop College in downtown Chicago was renamed Harold Washington College. In addition to the downtown facilities, the 40,000 square-foot Harold Washington Cultural Center was opened to the public in August 2004, in the historic South Side neighborhood of Bronzeville, at 4701 S. King Drive. Confederate Mound Oak Woods Cemetery was established in 1854 – five years earlier than Rosehill and Calvary – on an area of 74 ha (183 acres) located at 1035 E. 67th Street in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The first burials took place in 1860 and during the American Civil War, six thousand Confederate... The Chicago Public Library consists of 80 branches (as of March 2006) throughout the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA. History Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago. ... State Street is the name given to one of the major thoroughfares in Chicago, Illinois. ... The Chicago Public Library consists of 80 branches (as of March 2006) throughout the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA. History Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago. ... The mission of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB) is to promote Chicago as the premier sales and marketing organization that promotes Chicago’s world-class assets to global leisure travel and convention business to ensure the economic vitality of the City and its member business community. ... Harold Washington College is a division of the City Colleges of Chicago, located in the Chicago Loop. ... Harold Washington Cultural Center is a performance facility located in the Grand Boulevard community area of Chicago, Illinois. ... Douglas, located on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas. ...


During his tenure as mayor, Washington lived at the Hampton House apartments in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. After his death, the park across from his residence was renamed Harold Washington Park. During his residence there, he carefully protected a colony of feral Monk Parakeets living in the park across from his apartment, and many locals took to calling the birds "Harold's Parakeets". Hampton House - 22Oct2006 The Hampton House is a Chicago, Illinois residential condominium located in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the property that once housed the Hyde Park House, a hotel built by Hyde Park founder Paul Cornell in the 1850s. ... This article is about the Chicago community area. ... // 22Oct2006 Harold Washington Park is a small (10 acre)[1] park in the Chicago Park District located in the Hyde Park community area on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was recently named for lawyer, state legislator, U.S. congressman, Hyde Park resident, and the first Chicago Mayor... Binomial name (Boddaert, 1783) The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), also known as the Quaker Parrot, is a species of parrot that originated in the temperate areas of Argentina and Brazil in South America. ...


Despite the bickering in City Council, Washington seemed to relish his role as Chicago's ambassador to the world. He once said to a group of supporters, "In the old days, when you told people in other countries that you were from Chicago, they would say, 'Boom-boom! Rat-a-tat-tat!' Nowadays, they say [crowd joins with him], 'How's Harold?'!"


"Mirth and Girth"

"Mirth & Girth" by David Nelson, 1988

In 1988, a student painting of Harold Washington was torn down shortly after Washington's death by the city's aldermen based on its content. The painting, "Mirth & Girth" by David Nelson, was of Washington clad only in women's underwear holding a pencil. Image File history File links MirthGirth. ... Image File history File links MirthGirth. ... An alderman is a member of a municipal legislative body in a town or city with many jurisdictions. ...


The city council discussed the matter to great length, claiming that the author was mentally unstable and the work was a "disgrace" to the city. The aldermen then met with the school's director, and with Chicago police officers present, had the painting "arrested" for its inflammatory content.


The painting was returned after a lengthy lawsuit involving the ACLU. The ACLU claimed the removal violated Nelson's First, Fourth, and Fourteenth amendment rights. Nelson received payment for damage to the painting which occurred during its confiscation. [3] The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is an American organization consisting of two separate entities. ...


Notes

  1. ^ "A Correction on Chicago", The New York Times, 1983-04-07., <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E7DA1E39F934A35757C0A965948260>
  2. ^ http://www.ncac.org/art-law/op-nel.cfm NELSON v. STREETER, 16 F.3d 145 (7th Cir. 1994)
  3. ^ Dubin, Steven (1992). Arresting Images, Impolitic Art and Uncivil Actions. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-90893-0. 

The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... Routledge is an imprint for books in the humanities part of the Taylor & Francis Group, which also has Brunner-Routledge, RoutledgeCurzon and RoutledgeFalmer divisions. ...

Further reading

  • Rivlin, Gary. Fire on the Prairie: Chicago’s Harold Washington and the Politics of Race. New York: H. Holt, 1992. ISBN 0805014683.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Bennett M. Stewart
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 1st congressional district

1981–1983
Succeeded by
Charles A. Hayes
Preceded by
Jane Byrne
Mayor of Chicago
1983–1987
Succeeded by
David D. Orr

  Results from FactBites:
 
African American Registry: Remembering Chicago's Harold Washington. . . (287 words)
Harold Washington was born in Chicago and was raised by his father.
Washington began his political career when he succeeded his deceased father in 1953 as a Democratic Party precinct captain.
Washington increased racial diversity in city administration, assuring equal opportunities for women and minorities seeking employment and ended city patronage.
Harold Washington - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (653 words)
Harold Lee Washington (April 15, 1922 – November 25, 1987) was a lawyer, legislator and the first African-American Mayor of Chicago, Illinois serving from 1983 until his death in 1987.
Washington was reelected in the spring of 1987.
Washington was buried in Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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