The Nation: Thoughts of Chairman Rizzo

Philadelphia's tough-talking Democratic mayor, Frank Rizzo, has long been as hard on syntax as he is on the "vermin" he blames for his city's problems with crime and decline. During his campaign for a second four-year term in 1975, for instance, the blustery former police chief offered Philadelphians a typically unpunctuated promise: "Just wait after November you'll have a front row seat because I'm going to make Attila the Hun look like a faggot."

A coalition of the Americans for Democratic Action and Rizzo foes failed to oust "hizzoner" by means of a recall...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!