The Nation: Daley: One More Time

It has not been the best of Richard J. Daley's 19 years as mayor of Chicago. In May, Daley, 72, suffered a stroke that required an operation and more than three months' convalescence. Then three Pooh-Bahs of the Daley machine—including Hizzoner's right-hand man. Alderman Thomas Keane—were convicted in federal court of charges ranging from mail fraud to income tax evasion, bringing to a total of ten the number of powerful machine men who have been convicted. In a recent series of articles, the Chicago Tribune, in conjunction with the Better Government Association, documented shocking waste in the city government. With mayoralty...