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9 unusual facts about William Hale Thompson


Bernard Epton

In 1983 he lost a close and contentious election for Mayor of Chicago; he would have become the city's first Jewish mayor, and its first Republican mayor since William "Big Bill" Thompson was defeated in 1931.

Chicago Race Riot of 1919

In 1930, the flamboyant Republican mayor William Hale Thompson invoked the riot in a misleading pamphlet when urging African Americans against voting for the Republican nominee Rep Ruth Hanna McCormick in the United States Senate race for her late husband's seat.

William Hale Thompson was the Mayor of Chicago during the riot and a game of brinksmanship with Illinois Governor Frank Lowden may have exacerbated the riot since Thompson refused to ask Lowden to send in the militia for four days, despite Lowden ensuring the militia was in Chicago and ready to intervene.

Chicago Teachers Union

In the coming years, the city and School Board were accused of rampant corruption, particularly in connection with two-time mayor William Hale Thompson.

Flag of Chicago

In 1915, Mayor William Hale Thompson appointed a municipal flag commission, chaired by Alderman James A. Kearnes.

James Belcastro

During the 1927 Chicago primary elections, to be called "The Pineapple Primary", Belcastro launched a bombing campaign against then Mayor William Hale Thompson.

Pineapple Primary

The Pineapple Primary took place in 1928, during the administration of the notoriously corrupt Chicago Mayor William Hale ("Big Bill") Thompson, a Republican.

Political history of Chicago

For example, the citizens of Chicago have not elected a Republican mayor since 1927, when William Thompson was voted into office.

William Hale Thompson

According to Thompson, at this time the biggest enemy the United States had was King George V of the United Kingdom.


William Emmett Dever

In 1923, Democratic party boss George E. Brennan selected Dever as having the best chance of defeating incumbent mayor William "Big Bill" Thompson.


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