Paul Powell (politician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Taylor Powell served as Illinois Secretary of State
from 1965 until his death in 1970.
from 1959 to 1963. In 1959 Powell, Democrat, was elected by a bipartisan coalition of Republicans and downstate Democrats against Joseph De La Cour, the candidate of Richard J. Daley
who had majority backing within the Chicago-dominated Democratic caucus. Powell was elected Secretary of State in 1965. The following year, his office was investigated for corruption, but he was exonerated. During his tenure, practice was that any payments made to the Secretary of State's office were made out to simply "Paul Powell". Unsuspecting Illinois residents thought they were writing personal checks for license plate registration. His personal motto was, "There's only one thing worse than a defeated politician, and that's a broke one."
Powell died in 1970, in Rochester, Minnesota
, as an outpatient of the Mayo Clinic
. Some newspapers, such as the Pantagraph
of Bloomington, Illinois
, wrote disparaging editorials about Powell immediately after his death, and were criticized for it. However, the media criticism of Powell would soon prove to be well-founded.
Although he never made more than $30,000 a year, upon his death, shoeboxes, briefcases and strongboxes with more than $800,000 in cash were found in his hotel suite residence in Springfield, Illinois
. In his hotel room he also had 49 cases of whiskey, 14 transistor radio
s, and two cases of creamed corn
. When settled in 1978 his estate was worth $4.6 million, of which $1 million was racetrack stock.
wrote a song, "Paul Powell," describing Powell's death and career.
Secretary of State of Illinois
The Secretary of State of Illinois is one of the six elected executive state offices of the government of Illinois, and one of the 47 secretaries of states in the United States. The Illinois Secretary of State keeps the state records, laws, and archives, and is the state's vehicle registration and...
from 1965 until his death in 1970.
Political career
A member of the Illinois legislature since the 1930s, Powell served as the Speaker of the Illinois House of RepresentativesIllinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
from 1959 to 1963. In 1959 Powell, Democrat, was elected by a bipartisan coalition of Republicans and downstate Democrats against Joseph De La Cour, the candidate of Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
who had majority backing within the Chicago-dominated Democratic caucus. Powell was elected Secretary of State in 1965. The following year, his office was investigated for corruption, but he was exonerated. During his tenure, practice was that any payments made to the Secretary of State's office were made out to simply "Paul Powell". Unsuspecting Illinois residents thought they were writing personal checks for license plate registration. His personal motto was, "There's only one thing worse than a defeated politician, and that's a broke one."
Powell died in 1970, in Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
, as an outpatient of the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
. Some newspapers, such as the Pantagraph
Pantagraph
The Pantagraph is a daily newspaper that serves Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, along with 60 communities and eight counties in the Central Illinois area. Its headquarters are in Bloomington and is owned by Lee Enterprises. The newspaper has an estimated 107,000 daily readers...
of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
, wrote disparaging editorials about Powell immediately after his death, and were criticized for it. However, the media criticism of Powell would soon prove to be well-founded.
Although he never made more than $30,000 a year, upon his death, shoeboxes, briefcases and strongboxes with more than $800,000 in cash were found in his hotel suite residence in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
. In his hotel room he also had 49 cases of whiskey, 14 transistor radio
Transistor radio
A transistor radio is a small portable radio receiver using transistor-based circuitry. Following their development in 1954 they became the most popular electronic communication device in history, with billions manufactured during the 1960s and 1970s...
s, and two cases of creamed corn
Creamed corn
Creamed corn is a soup or sauce made by melting butter and adding flour, milk, canned corn, and optionally some spices. It is a common part of Midwestern American cuisine, typically sold canned by firms such as Del Monte Foods...
. When settled in 1978 his estate was worth $4.6 million, of which $1 million was racetrack stock.
Powell in pop culture
Folk singer Steve GoodmanSteve Goodman
Steve Goodman was an American folk music singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. The writer of "City of New Orleans", made popular by Arlo Guthrie, Goodman won two Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
wrote a song, "Paul Powell," describing Powell's death and career.