University of Illinois at Springfield Norris L Brookens Library Archives/Special Collections George W. Dunne Memoir D922G. Dunne, George W. b. 1913 Interview and memoir 17 tapes, 626 mins., 156 pp., plus index ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM Dunne, former member of the Illinois General Assembly, recalls his childhood growing up in an Irish household in Chicago; education, early political experiences, tutelage under 42nd Ward politician William "Botchy" Connors; criminal activities, political issues, ethnic groups, work with the Chicago Park District, and WWII and Korean War military service. He also discusses his years in the General Assembly: legislation, committee work, Illinois politicians, judicial and legislative reform, reapportionment, legislative technique, Democratic Party, and the administrations of Governors Stratton and Kerner. References are made to Chicago mayors and the murder of Mayor Anton Cermak. Interview by Horace Q. Waggoner, 1983 OPEN See collateral file Archives/Special Collections LIB 144 University of Illinois at Springfield One University Plaza, MS BRK 140 Springfield IL 62703-5407 © 1983 University of Illinois Board of Trustees \:" .. ·: '· '• ;, ' ' .. ' ' ' ;, ~· , I . : ~ , '· ·, -~t:tl!"•) ·~-·;~~;;},. Joint <»nuait~ on ~&ihitive Suppo..-t Serrices Rep. Michael J. Madigan, Chicago, Chairman. · Sen; PlswP J .. Rock, Oak Park Speaker of the House • P.nt of the Senate Rep. Lee A. Daniels, Elmhurst Sen. ;)'a.... ",Pate" Philip, Elmhurst House Minority Leader Se~ Minority Leader Legislative Research Unit .. 222 S. COllege, Third Floor, .Suite A. Springfield, mmtdi 62704 CO.¢habmen Sen. Jack ~r, Crystal Lake Rep. Sam w;·~ Wolf; Granite City ·.. : .-:. SenatOrs R~tives Howard B. BrO()kins, Chicago Loleta A. Ditlri~ieon, :Flossmoor John A. D'Arco, Chicago James :M:. K.lfl•nd, Elgin Miguel del Vall'e, Chicago Robert teflofi~.Jr. Chicago ·,:; Walter W. Dudycz, Chicago MichaetJ. '!Jte, ~atur William F. Mahar,; Homewood (va.). y · . - ;·· Dlinoi&• General. Asse.. blj .. Oral Bistori Peam Advi8Dtf Committee ). ·•.· · Terry Bruce, Olney • · Patrick O'Grady, ~ •. Director U.S. Congressman Legislative Res~. U~t 19th District .,.,;· .Pan Holt, formerly·&ssijattd With Cullom Davis, .Director of Oral Hitltory state Historical ~a,Yi~ Office and Professor of Hiatoty, Sangamon State UJU.~eqtty Sangamon State University Robert P. Howard.; For~··" Statehouse Reporter William L. Day, Fonner Dii'ectot for Chicyo Tribune: Af#btl.r, Illinois: A Illinois Legislative Council; :ijistorx of the Prame - Editor Emeritus, Illinois IS&U!t · · ~t Munn, FMmJ'J:lran~ Chief. David Everson, Professor of Political Studies Department pf Mental ~lth and Public Affairs, Sangamm:i S~te University ,J. Glenn Schneider,'Fo~~.State Representative Gerald L. Gherardini, Associate.Director. ... :·(t>,Naperville), and'Socii.Studies Teacher, Legislative Research Unit· . .. N11perville North Hip ~~ Samuel K. Gove, Professor Institute of Government and Public Affairs, University of Illinois (Former Director) H. William Hey, Former Director Legislative Research Unit ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM PREVIOUS TITLES IN SERIES Martin B. Lohmann Memoir, 1 Vol. (1980) Bernice T. Van der Vries Memoir, 3 Vols. (1980) Walter J. Reum Memoir, 2 Vols. (1980) Thomas A. McGloon Memoir, 2 Vols. (1981) John W. Fribley Memoir, 2 Vols. (1981) Charles W. Clabaugh Memoir, 2 Vols. (1982) Cecil A. Partee Memoir, 2 Vols. (1982) Elbert S. Smith Memoir, 2 Vols. {1982) Frances L. Dawson Memoir, 2 Vols. (1982} Robert W. McCarthy Memoir, 2 Vols. (1983) ,John C. Parkhurst Memoir, 2 Vols. (1984) Corneal A. Davis Memoir, 2 Vols. {1984) Cumulative Index, 1980-1984 Edward P. Saltiel Memoir, 1 Vol. (1985) William A. Redmond Memoir, 2 Vols. (1986) .John G. Gilbert Memoir, 1 Vol. (1986) Paul J. Randolph Memoir, 1 Vol. (1986) William L. Grindle Memoir, 2 Vols. {1986) Gale Williams Memoir, 2 Vols. (1986) Robert L. Burhans Memoir, 1 Vol. (1987) Esther Saperstein Memoir, 2 Vols. (1987) Leland Rayson Memoir, 1 Vol. (1987) Donald O'Brien Memoir, 1 Vol. (1988) GEORGE W. DUNNE ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1955-1963 Preface This oral history of George W. Dunne's service in the Illinois House of Representatives is a product of the Illinois Legislative Rt~search Unit's General Assembly Oral History Program. The oral history technique adds a distinctive new dimension to the unit's statu­ tory responsibility for performing research and collecting information concerning the govern­ ment of the state. George W. Dunne was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 20, 191:3. A lifelong resident of the city's near north side, he grew up in an Irish household. He was educated in Catholic elementary and secondary schools and later attended Northwestern University. Hard times led to various odd jobs as a young boy, and he readily moved into 42nd Ward politics under the tutelage of committeeman William (Botchy) Connors. His political career was inter­ rupted by four years of military service during World War II and another tour of duty during the Korean War. Mr. Dunne was an aetive participant in Chicago Democratic politics from the late Hl20s on. Succeeding Connors as 42nd Ward committeeman, he became associated with every party leader of his era. In 1954 he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, serving four terms that culminated in his election as House Majority Leader in 1961. As a legislator his interests seldom narrowed on one area, but he did serve on committees deal­ ing with municipalities, veteran's affairs, labor relations and public utilities. Subsequently he was elected to the Cook County Board, and thereafter served successive terms as Board President as well as chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party. Mr. Dunne worked hard in the General Assembly to champion the needs of Chicago citizens. His memoir covers many of the legislative issues and personalities of the 1950s and 1960s. It is particularly rich in its account and assessment of Chicago politics over more than a quarter century. Readers of this oral history should bear in mind that it is a transcript of the spoken word. Its informal, conversational style represents a deliberate attempt to encourage candor and to tap the narrator's memory. However, persons interested in listening to the tapes should understand that editorial considerations produced a text that differs somewhat from the original recordings. Both the recordings and this transcript should be regarded as pri­ mary historical sources, as no effort was made to correct or challenge the narrator. Neither the Illinois Legislative Research Unit nor Sangamon State University is responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein; these are for the reader to judge. The tape recorded interviews were conducted by Horace Waggoner during the summer and fall of 1983. Mr. Waggoner was born in 1924 in Waggoner, a small farm-service community v in central Illinois. At age 18, he enlisted for military service in World War II and, as a U.S. Air Force commissioned officer, continued to serve until 1973. Upon leaving service, he resumed his formal education, achieving a master degree in history at Sangamon State University. He was associated with the Sangamon State University Oral History Office from 1976 until his death in 1987. Julie Allen transcribed the tapes and, after the transcriptions were edited by Mr. Waggoner and reviewed by Mr. Dunne, prepared the typescript. Florence Hardin compiled the index. The Chicago Tribune provided valuable assistance in the pre-interview research. This oral history may be read, quoted and cited freely. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the Illi­ nois Legislative Research Unit, 222 So. College, 3rd Floor, Suite A, Springfield, Illinois, 62704. VI 1 George W. Dunne SESSION 1, TAPE 1, SIDE 1 Q: The first question, a vital statistic, is what's the date of your birth sir? A: February 20th, 1913. Q: And where were you born? A: I was born in the city of Chicago. Q: Where in Chicago? A: I believe the address was . 64 K Walton. Q: Was this north, south or east? A: That's on the near north side of Chicago. Q: What was your father's name? A: My father's name was John Dunne. Q: Was he born in Chicago also? A: No he was born, to the best of my limited knowledge, in Offaly, Ireland. Q: Offaly. A: Offaly. It was then called Queenstown. They changed the name of it because the people in Ireland don't have much regard for the crown. Q: Oh I see. Well. (chuckles) Yes sir. A: Yes. Q: What part of Ireland is that? A: Well that was up towards the north I guess. You know I'd have to see a map to - I really don't know. 2 Q: You haven't visited there? A: No I have not. Q: Do you recall him speaking of . A: Not a great deal. My father was a very quiet man and a very devoutly religious man. He went to work at five o'clock in the morning and he came back at noon and he laid down until three o'clock. And then he went back to work and then he came back at six o'clock, or after six o'clock it was really, it'd be six-thirty. And then on occasion he had to go back to work at night if there was church service, you know, until eight-thirty or nine o'clock. And so he never talked a great deal. We didn't get much chance and he died when I was twelve years old. Q: When you were twelve years old? A: Right. Q: And what occupation was this? A: He was the sexton, if you know what kind of a job that is, at the Holy Name Cathedral. Q: Oh? And that's on the near north side.