William Hale Thompson | |
|---|---|
 Thompson, photographed between 1911 and 1917 | |
| 41st & 43rd Mayor of Chicago | |
| In office April 18, 1927 – April 9, 1931 | |
| Preceded by | William Emmett Dever |
| Succeeded by | Anton Cermak |
| In office April 26, 1915 – April 16, 1923 | |
| Preceded by | Carter Harrison Jr. |
| Succeeded by | William Emmett Dever |
| Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners | |
| In office 1902–1904 | |
| Chicago Alderman from the 2nd Ward | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 14, 1869 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | March 19, 1944 (aged 74) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Mary Walker Wyse (m. 1901) |
| Signature | .jpg){kind=small} |
William Hale Thompson (May 14, 1869 – March 19, 1944) was an American politician who served as mayor of Chicago from 1915 to 1923 and again from 1927 to 1931. Known as "Big Bill",[1] he is the most recent Republican to have served as mayor of Chicago. Historians rank him among the most unethical mayors in American history, mainly for his open alliance with Al Capone. However, others recognize the effectiveness of his political methods and publicity-oriented campaigning, acknowledging him as a "Political Chameleon" and the leader of an effective political machine.
Thompson was known for his over-the-top campaigning and uncensored language that, along with his towering height and weight, earned him the nickname "Big Bill".[2] Upon his reelection in 1927, Thompson had the school board suspend the Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools, William McAndrew. He was also at the forefront of the movement for the Chicago Public Library system and education officials to censor and ban many texts and historical recollections coming from the United Kingdom.[3]
Though Thompson was a popular figure during his career, his popularity collapsed after his death, when two safe-deposit boxes were found in his name containing over $1.8 million, which were taken as evidence of his corruption.
- ^ Reynolds, Paul (November 29, 2009). "US-UK 'Special Relationship' Not So Special Any More". BBC. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
- ^ McCelland, Edward. "The Most Corrupt Public Official In Illinois History: William Hale Thompson." NBC Chicago. NBC Universal Media, January 25, 2012. Web. October 28, 2016.
- ^ Thomison, Dennis. "The Private Wars of Chicago's Big Bill Thompson." Journal of Library History 15.3 (1980): 261–80. America: History & Life. Web. November 2, 2016.