Gale, the first chief of the Chicago Fire Department, had played a large part in drawing up the city's corporation charter in 1837, earning him regard as a "Chicago pioneer" by some academic journalists. Thompson was meant to attend Yale but instead moved to Wyoming at the age of 14, where he became a cowboy and cattle owner and traveled across Europe, taking up ranching in Texas and New Mexico later on in his life.
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.
He returned to Chicago in 1892 after his father's death to manage his estates.
The two never had children. == Political career == ===Early career=== Thompson began his political career in 1900, when he ran for and narrowly won the position as alderman of the 2nd Ward, his home district.
In 1901, Thompson married Mary "Maysie" Walker Wyse, a secretary in his father's office.
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.
Thompson with his outgoing and charismatic personality paired with his towering stature and gentlemanly appearance gave him an undeniable public presence, which was completed by Lundin's cunning political ideas and projects. ===First mayoralty (1915–1923) === In 1915, Thompson was elected as the 41st Mayor of Chicago, beating County Clerk Robert M.
He was the last Republican to be elected into office since, aside from his third term in 1927. Thompson was sworn in on April 26, 1915. As Thompson entered the first term of his mayorship, he appointed Fred Lundin as chairman on the committee of patronage.
Early in his mayoral career, Thompson began to amass a war chest to support an eventual run for the Presidency, by charging city drivers and inspectors $3 per month. Early in his mayoralty Thompson had to cut short a July 1915 trip to San Francisco in order to deal with the aftermath of the Eastland disaster.
Senate campaign. In his Inaugural Address, given April 26, 1915, Thompson spoke of his ambitions for Chicago to become "the greatest in the world", but also that his acts as mayor should not be swayed by corruption.
These facts later went on to hurt his chances in his 1918 U.S.
I shall impartially execute the laws made by the proper legislative authorities and interpreted by the judiciary." He was reelected mayor in 1919, beating out Robert Sweitzer once again along with Adolph S.
Eventually, however, despite his protests, the fare was raised to seven cents. Early into his second term, the city dealt with the Chicago race riot of 1919. In his Inaugural Address on April 28, 1919, Thompson looked towards drastically expanding Chicago, saying that "Chicago is greater than some nations".
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.
Thompson left office as Mayor on April 16, 1923.
Promoting both the project and himself, Thompson set off on a "scientific" expedition (to be extensively covered by the media), which he set off to the South Seas in order to find a tree-climbing fish on July 5, 1924.
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.
He was the last Republican to be elected into office since, aside from his third term in 1927. Thompson was sworn in on April 26, 1915. As Thompson entered the first term of his mayorship, he appointed Fred Lundin as chairman on the committee of patronage.
Attracting more attention, Thompson placed a $25,000 bet on his success, but no one participated. === Second mayoralty (1927–1931) === Thompson ran again in 1927 during a citywide gang war, aiming to unseat his successor, William Dever.
Valentine's Day Massacre also took place while Thompson was mayor. Thompson blamed Ruth Hanna McCormick's lack of support for his loss at the 1928 Republican National Convention, and he returned the favor during her 1930 campaign for the United States Senate.
Valentine's Day Massacre also took place while Thompson was mayor. Thompson blamed Ruth Hanna McCormick's lack of support for his loss at the 1928 Republican National Convention, and he returned the favor during her 1930 campaign for the United States Senate.
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.
TIME magazine said in 1931, "chief credit for creating 20th Century Politics Chicago Style" should go to William Thompson. 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".
Senator Joseph Medill McCormick was the publisher's brother, and after his death, his widow ran against Thompson for the vacant seat. Amid growing discontent with Thompson's leadership, particularly in the area of cleaning up Chicago's reputation as the capital of organized crime, he was defeated in 1931 by Democrat Anton Cermak.
The Tribune did not like Thompson. Thompson left office April 9, 1931. ===Subsequent career=== Years later, in 1936, Thompson ran for the office of Illinois governor on the "Union Progressive" ballot line against Henry Horner.
The Tribune did not like Thompson. Thompson left office April 9, 1931. ===Subsequent career=== Years later, in 1936, Thompson ran for the office of Illinois governor on the "Union Progressive" ballot line against Henry Horner.
In 1939, he ran in the Republican primary for mayor of Chicago and was soundly defeated by a 77% to 23% margin against future Governor Dwight Green. == Death == William Hale Thompson died on March 19, 1944, at the Blackstone Hotel at the age of 74.
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.
In 1939, he ran in the Republican primary for mayor of Chicago and was soundly defeated by a 77% to 23% margin against future Governor Dwight Green. == Death == William Hale Thompson died on March 19, 1944, at the Blackstone Hotel at the age of 74.
Once the money was uncovered, the Internal Revenue Service took their share in taxes, and Maysie Thompson lived off of the rest until her death in 1958. == References == ==Further reading== == External links == Mayors of Chicago Chicago City Council members Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Businesspeople from Chicago Al Capone associates Illinois Independents Illinois Republicans Politicians from Boston 1868 births 1944 deaths American political bosses from Illinois
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