"We have lost to the white racist press and to the racist reactionary Jewish misleaders." That concession speech alone might be enough to convince southside Chicago voters that they had done the right thing by ousting Gus Savage after six terms in the House of Representatives. Savage, 66, was beaten by fellow Democrat Melvin Reynolds, a 40-year-old black educator and Rhodes scholar, who won 63% of the vote. Unsuccessful in two previous challenges, Reynolds benefited this time from suburban additions to the remapped district and growing voter disgust with Savage's incendiary provocations. The race turned sinister as Election Day neared when...
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