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Clout: Mayor Daley and His City
Book by Len O'Connor
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 5, 2017
A really good book about Chicago politics 1950-1980.
August 19, 2023
A solid biography of Mayor Richard Daley, the second one I read. This one is much more detailed than Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago, really delving into factional warfare within (and against) the Chicago machine. Sometimes you get lost in all the names mentioned, but I appreciated O'Connor's analysis of electoral results over the years.
May 1, 2021
No surprises here.
October 31, 2014
Having grown up in a Chicago suburb I well remember Len O'Connor's uber-nasal, slow manner of speaking as a TV newsman. His editorial commentary was brilliantly written, if oddly, uniquely delivered. O'Connor was a Chicagoan through and through. I was in the Navy, overseas when Clout was published and I bought it as soon as it came available through the Book of the Month Club. I was not at all disappointed. In reading it my mind heard his distinct voice and restrained delivery throughout. O'Connor was a man with gravitas at all times so Clout is never a flippant work. He did his homework and I cannot recall a single cheap shot fired so I feel that you can rely on his telling of history.
Mike Royko's Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago was published around the same time and has a far more abrasive tone. Though they're not linked in any way but subject, I consider them companion volumes.
Mike Royko's Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago was published around the same time and has a far more abrasive tone. Though they're not linked in any way but subject, I consider them companion volumes.
May 25, 2011
The first half of the book, dealing with Daley I's rise through the machine, culminating in his being elected Mayor is pretty good. As a new resident of Chicago, it was interesting and illuminating - if a little biased.
As the book strides towards 1975 (the year the book was published,) it loses its luster (35+ years later,) as the author seems to assume that the reader has more than a passing familiarity with, what were then, current events.
As the book strides towards 1975 (the year the book was published,) it loses its luster (35+ years later,) as the author seems to assume that the reader has more than a passing familiarity with, what were then, current events.
May 4, 2008
Interesting picture of Daley the First. I didn't realize so many of his strategies came from Anton Cermak. Also, how much of the system has remained the same (sigh).
March 25, 2014
Good book, and I learned quite a bit. Just not as interesting a subject as I expected.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews