Millennium City: Richard M. Daley & Global ChicagoMain MenuChicago in 1989Richard M. DaleyA Livable CityDiversity and NeighborhoodsGlobal ChicagoInto the MillenniumAboutComplete Interviews and TranscriptsBiographies of and links to each full-lenth interview and corresponding transcript.David Greensteinc7fc3212990439fbd3c1dd961272d52f1519d8e6Dan Harpereff3db32ed95b3efe91d381826e2c10c145cd452Larissa Mukundwa0c6cb03c337751b5774fa39d09352cf04aec006eUniversity of Illinois at Chicago Library
img: [Cover page of a report about Harold Washington's accomplishments during his first term as Chicago's mayor, circa 1985. Burton Natarus papers, University of Illinois at Chicago Library Nata07_0030_0192_016a.]
The “council wars” were the frequent, bitter disputes between Chicago’s first African American mayor, Harold Washington (1983-1987), and a bloc of aldermen who opposed most of his policies. The conflicting sides coalesced largely along racial lines, and Washington’s opponents made what struck many observers as explicitly racist appeals.
img: [A memo from Chicago's Council Wars. This page from a "fact sheet" issued by Mayor Harold Washington's press office answers criticisms from one of his opponents in city council, Alderman Ed Vrdolyak.]
When Mayor Washington passed away unexpectedly in 1987, the council wars ended.
David Axelrod, a political consultant to Washington and, later, to Mayor Richard M. Daley, discusses the Council Wars and Washington's career:
Reflections on the council wars
Mailryn Katz, public relations consultant to Mayor Daley: Helen Shiller, 46th ward alderman (1987-2011):
