| Daniel Walker |
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| governors of illinois | |
| walker, daniel | |
| 1922 births | |
| living people | |
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He was born in Washington DC and served as a naval officer in World War II . A graduate of the Northwestern University School Of Law , Walker later became an executive for Montgomery Ward while pursuing anti-machine Democratic politics in Chicago . He rose to prominence as head of the Chicago Study Team which issued a report on police conduct at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Walker concluded that in effect a "police riot" occurred. Walker announced his candidacy for Governor in 1972 , attracted wide attention by walking the length of Illinois, and won the Democratic Primary by upsetting then-Lt. Governor Paul Simon . In November, he narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Richard B. Ogilvie . The enmity between Walker and Mayor Richard J. Daley 's political organization was deep. In 1974, Walker supported legislative candidates against Daley allies. A year later, members of Walker's administration demanded Daley resign as chairman of the Cook County Democratic organization. The dislike was personal. Walker's deputy Governor, Victor DeGrazia later said: "... I knew from the beginning that every time Daley looked at Walker, he saw the Church of England and the British suppression of the Irish, and when Dan would look at Daley, he would see the quintessential politician who was only interested in political gain." {Link without Title} "We never established anything even approaching a personal rapport. To some degree, this was an obvious and natural result of my independent political activity. But it went deeper much deeper," said Walker. Walker did not repeal the income tax that Ogilvie had enacted and, wedged between Republicans and machine Democrats, had little success with the Illinois legislature during his tenure. "I publicly said I want a partnership between the legislative and executive branches of government so we can get something done to change this damn system," Walker states. "Right out of the box, my own party leaders deserted me and refused to confirm my Cabinet appointees. In effect, they spit in my face, and the Republicans kicked me in the ass. But what are you going to do? Lay down, or fight them? So I fought them." {Link without Title} In 1976, Walker lost the Democratic primary to Secretary of State Michael Howlett , the candidate supported by Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley . In the 1980s, Walker entered the private sector with a chain of self-named quick oil-change franchises and a pair of troubled Savings and Loans. In 1987 he was convicted of improprieties related to the latter, and spent nearly two years in federal prison. He currently resides in California . He has a book out called ''"The Maverick and the Machine"'' in which he speaks on his business and law troubles, saying "I knew this was against regulations, but, like most businessmen, I saw a huge difference between a law and a regulation." In the book he speaks of his experiences in jail as well as in the political sphere.
SOURCES Oral History Project at the University of Illinois at Springfield {Link without Title} |
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