Chicago’s Modern Mayors: From Harold Washington to Lori Lightfoot

by Dick Simpson (Editor), Betty O'Shaughnessy (Editor), Xolela Mangeu (Contributor)

Political profiles of five mayors and their lasting impact on the city Chicago’s transformation into a global city began at City Hall. Dick Simpson and Betty O’Shaughnessy edit in-depth analyses of the five mayors that guided the city through this transition beginning with Harold Washington’s 1983 Washington, Eugene Sawyer, Richard M. Daley, Rahm Emmanuel, and Lori Lightfoot. Though the respected political science, sociologist, and journalist contributors approach their subjects from distinct perspectives, each essay addresses three essential how and why each mayor won the office; whether the City Council of their time acted as a rubber stamp or independent body; and the ways the unique qualities of each mayor’s administration and accomplishments influenced their legacy. Filled with expert analysis and valuable insights, Chicago’s Modern Mayors illuminates a time of transition and change and considers the politicians who--for better and worse--shaped the Chicago of today.

262 pages, Paperback

Published January 23, 2024

Reviews

[Patrick Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a great overview of the different terms for these mayors. I would’ve liked more detail as some of the events that occurred during these mayor’s terms were kind of huge (like Covid and the LM shooting). I appreciated the focus though on all of the accomplishments and the general feel for how the different mayors used their time in office. I also still don’t have a good understanding of what the Chicago “Machine” is and I would’ve liked to learn more about that. Overall, a very solid book.

[Katherine Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative on the politics of mayoral elections but a little dry. Each chapter was devoted to a specific mayor and written by different writers so there was some overlap. I did learn some about the Chicago governing machine but I felt there was more they could have included. There was so much more to Emmanuel and Lightfoot’s personalities that they could have touched on but didn’t.