Editorial

Where not to look for personal integrity in politics

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

The late Mike Royko's book, "Boss," was a staple of political science classes back in the early 1970s, but its insight to Chicago politics is just as valid 40 years later.

One story that comes to mind involves an alderman who asked the owner of a bar to put up a few signs and support him in the coming election.

The day after he declined, city building inspectors showed up, costing him thousands of dollars in the process.

Critics of President Obama and the first lady are quick to say we shouldn't expect more from politicians spawned by the Illinois political system, but neither party has a monopoly on corruption in the Land of Lincoln.

The latest is former GOP Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, set to be arraigned this afternoon on charges he broke banking laws and lied to FBI investigators about $3.5 million he agreed to pay as hush money to keep secret his sexual misconduct as a teacher and coach many years ago.

Before that, there was Rod Blagojevich, who was governor from 2003 through 2009 before becoming the first Illinois governor to be impeached, convicted of numerous corruption charges including trying to sell or trade Barack Obama's old Senate seat.

He picked up where George Ryan left off; governor from 1999 through 2003, he was convicted of racketeering as governor and secretary of state, receiving a 61⁄2 year sentence in federal prison.

U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski served in Congress from 1959 to 1995, but resigned after pleading guilty to corruption charges. After 17 months in prison, he was pardoned by President Bill Clinton.

U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds resigned after being convicted of misconduct with a 16-year-old campaign volunteer, served more than two years in prison and was later convicted on federal wire and bank fraud charges, with a sentence of more than six years. Clinton commuted that sentence.

Gov. Dan Walker pleaded guilty to bank fraud and other charges in 1987 related to his dealings after leaving office, spent just over a year and a half in federal prison.

Otto Kernor, governor from 1961 to 1968, resigned to become a judge and was then sentenced to three years for bribery.

Gov. William G. Stratton served from 1953 to 1961, but was acquitted of income-tax evasion charges after leaving office.

Lennington Small, governor from 1921-1929, was indicted on embezzlement charges but was acquitted.

Joel Matteson, governor from 1853-1857, had his property sold at auction after a court ruled that he owed the state more than a quarter-million dollars in a contractor scheme.

After former Secretary of State Paul Powell died in 1970, shoeboxes stuffed with $800,000 were found in his home.

Auditor Orville Hodge used more than $1.5 million he embezzled from the state in the 1950s to buy two planes, four automobiles and homes in Illinois and Florida.

Attorney General William Scott, 1969-80, served a year in prison for tax fraud.

Nebraska, has not been immune to corruption, of course. Our first governor, David Butler, was convicted on one of 11 articles of impeachment, accused of using $16,000 from the state school fund to purchase lots in the new city of Lincoln.

Although he was removed from office, the Legislature later expunged the records of his impeachment. He was elected to the State Senate as an Independent in 1882, but failed to be elected governor in 1888.

As we head into another presidential election cycle, a look at Illinois should serve as a reminder of how important personal integrity is in the face of overwhelming temptation and political pressure.

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  • Clearly electing folks from Illinios with little experience in government is not a good idea.

    -- Posted by dennis on Thu, Jun 11, 2015, at 5:24 PM
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