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Obama’s rise in the Chicago Political Machine. Political Science 422: Comparative Urban Politics. Toni Mastropieri , Ryan Satterfield, Craig Anderson, and Paul Howard. the city of Chicago. Founded in 1837 Population of 3 million
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Obama’s rise in the Chicago Political Machine Political Science 422: Comparative Urban Politics Toni Mastropieri, Ryan Satterfield, Craig Anderson, and Paul Howard
the city of Chicago • Founded in 1837 • Population of 3 million • Always a strong ethnic political presence beginning with the city’s founding • Most powerful ethnic groups • Italians • Irish • Poles http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/about.html "It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago. She outgrows his prophecies faster than he can make them." - Mark Twain, 1883
History of the Chicago political machine • 1931: Anton Cermak elected mayor • Unified different ethnic groups • Marked the beginning of the Cook County Democratic Organization (“Chicago Democratic Machine”) • 1940s and 1950s: • Various leaders and power lessened between elections http://darrow.law.umn.edu/photo.php?pid=1290
Mayor Richard J. daley • Elected in 1955 • Brought the Chicago Political Machine to the height of its influence • Responsible for helping elected all Democratic Presidents during his time in office • Allegedly used funding from programs like the Great Society • Allegedly utilized patronage hiring • In office until his death in 1976 http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/chicago7/daley2.html
The demise of the Chicago political machine • 1970s and 1980s: Power was nearly decimated • Racial tension between whites, Latinos, and African Americans • Large disputes over housing, desegregation of schools, and urban renewal http://chuckmancollectionvolume5.blogspot.com/2010/06/postcard-chicago-downtown-lakefront.html
Barack Obama’s Work in Chicago • Community Organizer • Professor at the University of Chicago • Civil Rights Attorney • State Senator http://www.joshuaavram.com/seocontent/community-organizing.html
Barack Obama’s Connections • Michelle Obama • Valerie Jarett • David Axelrod http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/obamas-keeper-valerie-jarrett-1769821.html?action=gallery http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/08/us/politics/08axelrod.html?_r=1
Mayor Richard M. daley • Elected in 1989 • Worked well with Black Chicagoans • Learned how to win the votes of everyone • Worked with Chicago Public Schools • Staff members • In office until 2011 • Longest-serving Chicago Mayor http://www.nfbofillinois.org/braille.htm
The clintons • Connections with now Chicago mayor, Rahm Emanuel • Not connected well with Chicago • Not well connected with Obama http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/05/relationships-alpha-beta-women?newsfeed=true
Working with the Boston political machine • Strong Irish leaders • Didn’t support Hillary Clinton’s campaign • Wanted to appeal to a broad range of voters http://www.cityofboston.gov/
On the path to the Presidency • Assisted by the Chicago Political Machine • Ties with Mayor Daley • Characteristics • Strong supporting groups http://barackobamabiography.org/
Current Relationship in Chicago • Strong Relations with the Mayor of Chicago • Obama’s relationship with Chicago • Monetary relationship • Political support • Holds a relationship at arms length with the overall Chicago machine
Questions • Who was Obama connected with in Chicago? • Which mayor was responsible for the founding of the Chicago Democratic Machine? • Do you think that President Obama was able to strike a good balance between the Chicago Political Machine and those that were not a part of the machine? What evidence supports your claim?
References • “The Ax-man Cometh.” Economist 28 Aug. 2008: n. pag. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://www.economist.com/node/11965249>. • Bellandi, Deanna. “Obama and the Illinois Political Machine.” Washington Post [Washington D.C.] 26 Feb. 2007: n. pag. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/26/AR2007022600720.html>. • “Boston: A City of Neighborhoods.” City of Boston. City of Boston, n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2012. <http://www.cityofboston.gov/neighborhoods/default.asp>. • Butrymowicz, Sarah. “Teachers’ Strike in Chicago Won’t Deter Unions from Pushing Hard for Obama in Election.” Huffington Post. HuffPost Education Group, 12 Sept. 2012. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/12/teachers-strike-in-chicag_n_1877077.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012>. • Chapman, Steve. “For Chicago Mayor, a Race against Race: Understanding the Politics of the Windy City.” Reason. N.p., 14 Feb. 2011. Web. 09 Sept. 2012. <http://reason.com/archives/2011/02/14/for-chicago-mayor-a-race-again/singlepage>. • “Chicago History.” City of Chicago. City of Chicago, n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2012. <http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/about/history.html>. • Cohen, Adam, and Elizabeth Taylor. American Pharaoh : Mayor Richard J. Daley - His Battle for Chicago and the Nation. Boston: Bay Back, 2001. Print. • Foulkes, Toni. “Case Study: Chicago - The Barack Obama Campaign.” Social Policy 34.2 (2003): n. pag. Print. • Harris, John F. “Seeking a Graceful Exit.” Denver Post [Denver] 26 Aug. 2008: n. pag. Web. 12 Sept. 2012. <http://www.denverpost.com/ci_10302512>. • Krebs, Timothy B. “Money and Machine Politics: An Analysis of Corporate and Labor Contributions in Chicago City Council Elections.” Urban Affairs Review 41.1 (2005): 47-64. Print. • Moynihan, Michael. “The Politics of Irish Boston.” Wall Street Journal [New York] 15 Mar. 2012: n. pag. Web. 09 Sept. 2012. <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304537904577277682135331626.html>. • “Obama’s Keeper: Valerie Jarrett.” Independent [Londong] 10 Aug. 2009: n. pag. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/obamas-keeper-valerie-jarrett-1769821.html>. • Remnick, David. The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. Print. • Stirewalt, Chris. “Chicago Teachers Dig In, Increase Pressure on Obama.” Fox News. Fox News Network, 12 Sept. 2012. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. <http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/12/chicago-teachers-dig-in-increase-pressure-on-obama/>.