Don't Make No Waves- Don't Back No Losers: An Insider's Analysis of the Daley Machine

by Univ Pr Indiana, Milton L. Rakove

Tis is simply the best book that has been written about politics in Chicago. In the words of Andrew M. Greeley, "It is a very astute and dispassionate analysis of Chicago political lifeâ far and away the best I have ever seen. Rakove is without illusions about either the right or the left." Rakove brings to his study an intimate knowledge of Chicago and the Daley machine, a practitioner's understanding of street-level politics, and a scholar's background in political theory. Blending anecdote with theory and description in a lively style, Rakove has bridged the gap between scholar and layman in a work that will appeal to both.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction

296 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rakove's Don't Make No Waves… reads like an elongated piece from a poli sci journal. The book has its moments but it drags throughout, repeating the same ideas over and over again. As a 40-page journal article, it might have been an interesting read; as a 250 page book, less so.

Most disappointing was that, aside from a handful of anecdotes, the book spends almost no time describing Rakove's own experience as a precinct captain in Chicago. To me, reading an insider's perspective of the Daley machine was the most promising aspect of the book. Instead, Rakove focuses on political theorizing and rationalizing, and the end result falls flat. Rakove is also a bit of a Daley apologist and his take on Daley's persona and political career are tinted with rose-colored glasses.

If you have read other books about the elder Daley's Chicago, (e.g., American Pharaoh, Boss), you can safely skip this one.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milton Rakove wrote this book after having served as a figure in the Chicago political machine. An academic, he used the participant-observation methodology to examine Richard Daley's machine. He served in a number of positions in the machine and used that experience as the basis for this volume. As such, it is a sound analysis of the heyday of Richard Daley (father of the current mayor of Chicago). His conclusion? (Page 284) "'Don't make no waves' and 'Don't back no losers' will still be watchwords for some time to come in Chicago's political future."

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enugh to have Mr. Rakove as a guest at one of my undergraduate classes at Loyola University Chicago back in the early-80s. I read his book and was drawn into the world of the political machine of Mayor Richard J. Daley. Mr. Rakove lays out the bravado of the mayor and his crew of loyalists. He pulls back the layers of the political maneuvering and games used by Richard J. Daley as he built his political machine. It is a fascinating study of American urban politics. I still wished I had kept my copy of the book. Ah, the folly of youth.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating sympathetic analysis of the "Chicago Machine" from 1975. Dated, of course, but interesting for both its prescience and its errors. Worth reading for anybody who wants to learn about Chicago politics, or anyone who wants to know why the machine was successful for so long and why people supported it.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully insightful book about how The Machine really operated in Chicago politics when it was at its peak. Although written in 1975, it is still very relevant to the city's politics today.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT a book. I got this used because it's referenced admiringly in the original Fire on the Prairie. I can't imagine this would be interesting to most people since it's a very of its time, EXTREMELY detailed overview of Chicago/Cook County politics in 1976, and the things this guy says about "blacks", "Jews", WASPs, and ethnic whites could curl your hair!!! We're getting granular. We're discussing the political formation of Lithuanians. But EYE had a great time cackling when I recognized stories my dad told me, thinking about the machine politics vs Dick M vs Obama vs everything about our current federal politics, and so on. If you're interested in the absolute nitty gritty of how power actually works in politics I think this is a good book, but you do have to let your eyes glaze over some long lists of names that are absolutely irrelevant to the modern day. However, by the same token, you cannot let your eyes glaze over any mention of Vito Marzullo, who is everywhere, all at once.

[Jrs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rakove had some astute observations but he was blind to one overarching principle; the machine would rather die than integrate. Blacks have never controlled the machine and when they were elected to high positions their authority was undermined by other forces within the party.

The machine lives but only because of residual loyalty, and by embracing communities that fear “outsiders”. It is this 21st century chauvinism (along with reduced patronage) that gives the organization its remaining power.

[Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uses the word "buttress" a lot. Probably more wordy than it needs to be but is an interesting read.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read enough of this to get the point. Good history, but poorly written and somewhat repetitive.

[Tom Skelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great too! One of the most striking features of the book is how relevant it is to today's Chicago and Illinois politics. Governors still dream of the statewide machine. Cook County Democrats are still skeptical of Dupage County Republicans. There is less patronage now. Perhaps the one negative to the book is Rakovie's constant comparison of the machine to the politburo. It really distracts from some of the efficiencies of the Illinois system. Arguably, our election laws and slating process meets the public's needs and desires better than more "democratic" systems. There is nothing communist about that though. Rakovie's predictions of the black machine were ephemeral. It may explain the Washington era, but no one today would speak of a black machine dominating Chicago politics. No one really dominates Chicago politics now, actually. More of the good parts of the machine- loyalty and focusing on people's needs- than the bad parts of the machine- nepotism- exist today. The book's title still rings true.

[Paulatics · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book because it explained many childhood years as a precinct captain's daughter. Most of the names, if not the actual people, are known to me.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and insightful, but dated at this point.