“City of Scoundrels” by Gary Krist, published by Crown Publishers.

Category – History

What can one say about Chicago? A city that has been plagued by political scandal since the 1900’s, but has maintained its image of a modern and vibrant city.

“City of Scoundrels” is a story of just twelve days in 1919 that shows both the rotten and good side of this teeming metropolis. The story begins with the crash of the blimp, “Wingfoot Express”, continues through the search for a missing child, continues through a transit strike, and ends with a race riot that put the city under martial law.
During all of this two political rivals, Big Bill Thompson (Mayor of Chicago) and Frank O. Lowden (Governor of Chicago) lock horns in a battle to forward their own agendas.

The book leaves no doubt that the oil that keeps Chicago running, then and now, is political favoritism doled out in both jobs and money.
The book also leaves no doubt that many problems that came out of these twelve days was largely due to misinformation that came not only from people on the street but by the many Chicago newspapers.

The riot, that was due to racial unrest, was fueled by the number of people reported murdered and the ghastly stories (all untrue) of the mayhem in the streets.

A very concise and well written history of 1900’s Chicago, stories that not too many people are aware of, including native Chicagoans. A history book that is not only easy to read but very informative.