George Dunne

Cook County Board President George Dunne, who was also the 42nd ward Democratic Committeeman, broke with most of his fellow Machine bosses and backed then-Cook County State’s Attorney Rich Daley for Mayor in 1983, rather than support the re-election of incumbent Mayor Jane Byrne.

He carried the ward for Daley in the primary election and then endorsed Congressman Harold Washington, the winner of the primary, in the general election despite most White Democratic Committeemen campaigning for the White Republican candidate.

Part of it was to get even with Byrne and her chief political enforcer, 10th Ward Alderman Ed Vrdolyak for engineering Dunne’s replacement (with Vrdolyak) as Chair of the Cook County Democratic Organization.

But, Dunne, despite his commitment to Machine politics, was known as a fair guy on racial issues. To him, Washington won the primary and was now the Democratic candidate. The party, he felt, should back the primary victor no matter his race.

Dunne launched Jesse White’s political career and often slated Blacks and Jews for local offices.

He was also thought of as a nice guy. So, journalists and others who might have criticized him for his political dealings, didn’t.

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