Clout: Mayor Daley and His City

This solid look at Mayor Richard J. Daley (1902-1976) of Chicago is critical, informative, and realistic. Author Len O'Connor (1912-1991) was a local reporter who covered the local political scene for nearly four decades. Here he begins by covering Daley's youth and steady rise to the top, then his long tenure as mayor (1955-1976) and political leader. O'Connor finds fault with Daley and the corrupt Chicago political machine, yet also acknowledges the man's achievements. This book is often critical of Daley, but it never drops down to a hatchet job. Overall it's a rather realistic look at the politics of the nation's second city. This book came out shortly before Daley's years in office ended with his passing in late 1976. Readers should also consider BOSS by Mike Royko, a more harshly critical but engaging look at the mayor.