Kindling a fire to clear the tangled undergrowth of Illinois politics
Thomas J. Gradel spent 35 years as a media consultant and served on the staff of Governor Dan Walker. He is a freelance writer and political researcher. Dick Simpson is a professor, former head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, former Chicago alderman and congressional candidate. His books include Rogues, Rebels, and Rubber Stamps: The Politics of the Chicago City Council from 1863 to the Present and Teaching Civic Engagement.
"Corrupt Illinois is the most comprehensive account of corruption
in our state ever published. It proposes cures, which will take
decades to implement fully, but which deserve our attention
now."
--Governor Jim Edgar, from the Foreword
"Political scholars Thomas Gradel and Dick Simpson have written a
path breaking book from The University of Illinois Press on
corruption in the state of Illinois. This book is the most
comprehensive survey of corruption in the state of Illinois ever
published. The lessons here are useful well beyond Illinois."--New
Geography
"Gradel and Simpson do not intend to simply chronicle political
corruption but also to motivate a public demand for reform…The
authors recognize that certain recent reforms have been implemented
and that Illinois is less corrupt than in the past, they make the
somber conclusion that the battle against the political machine
requires diligent and sustained work over the coming years.
Citizens interested in this work of reform will find the book an
informative and very worthwhile read."--Journal of the Illinois
State Historical Society
"Gradel and Simpson have chronicled corruption in Illinois for
decades. Here they sum up their findings in distressing, damning
detail. The authors propose important steps to tamp down this
corruption."--James A. Nowlan, former state representative and
co-author of Fixing Illinois: Politics and Policy in the Prairie
State
"Corrupt Illinois documents the vast scope and depth of corruption
in Illinois politics, which is a monumental achievement in itself.
Of equal importance, it explores the underlying roots of that
corruption, building an understanding of its dynamics and the
policy changes necessary to address it."--Kent Redfield, professor
emeritus of political science, University of Illinois at
Springfield
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