Mayor Harold Washington

Roger Biles is Professor Emeritus of History at Illinois State University. His books include Richard J. Daley: Politics, Race, and the Governing of Chicago and The Fate of Cities: Urban America and the Federal Government, 1945-2000.

• Acknowledgments ixIntroduction: Race, Reform, and Redistribution 11 From Machine Regular to Progressive Democrat 152 The Plan and the Man 533 The Devalued Prize 1054 Chicago Works Together 1455 Balanced Growth 1896 In Search of a Mandate 2317 The Final Months 2708 Harold Washington and Chicago 307Notes 331Index 377Photographs follow page 181

"This is a must read for all who seek valuable insight into Mayor Harold Washington-the man, his administration, and the power struggle that accompanied the election of Chicago's first African American mayor."--David Orr "The master biographer of Illinois politicians provides the definitive account of Chicago’s first black mayor. Rooted deeply in the historical context, Roger Biles demonstrates how Harold Washington’s neighborhood agenda balanced social change with municipal housekeeping. Biles lifts Washington out of the morass of the Council Wars and reveals him as canny and substantive, flawed and private, deft and tragic."--Amanda I. Seligman, author of Chicago’s Block Clubs: How Neighbors Shape the City "Biles explores the intra- and inter-party political tensions in Chicago that helped cultivate Washington and redefined the city’s political and business landscape." --Booklist "One of the most comprehensive overviews to date of Washington's politics and policies while in office." --South Side Weekly "Highly recommended." --Choice "Makes a strong case for reevaluating Washington's career. [Biles] also covers pivotal elections with a flair for detail and suspense that locks you onto the page. This is a book that will reshape the way you think about Illinois, Chicago, and Harold Washington." --Public I