Roman Pucinski
Encyclopedia
Roman Conrad Pucinski was an American
Democratic
politician from Chicago
, Illinois
. He was a U.S. Representative
from 1959 to 1973, and alderman from the 41st Ward of Chicago from 1973 to 1991. He was considered a longtime leader of Chicago Polonia and was seen to represent its interests in Washington along with Congressman Dan Rostenkowski
.
He was born in Buffalo, New York
, but moved to Chicago with his family as a child. In 1941, he graduated from Northwestern University
. During World War II
he served in the Air Force. After the war, he attended John Marshall Law School in Chicago, and graduated in 1949. He worked in journalism for many years, notably at the Chicago Sun-Times
. In 1952, he was chief investigator for the Congressional Special Committee which investigated the Katyn Massacre
. This was of special interest to him as a Polish
-American.
Pucinski became active in politics, and was elected U.S Representative in 1958 from the heavily Polish-American 11th District on the Northwest Side of Chicago. He was re-elected to six additional terms, serving from 1959 to 1973.
As a Representative, he made two important contributions. He pushed for the installation of "black box" flight recorder
s on all passenger airliners. He also supported Federal assistance to community college
s.
When districts were redrawn after the 1970 Census
, Pucinski's district was abolished, and he did not seek re-election in 1972. Instead he was the Democratic candidate for the United States Senate
, against incumbent Senator Charles H. Percy
; he lost badly.
In 1973, he was first elected alderman from the 41st Ward of Chicago, which had been part of his old Congressional District and was heavily Polish-American. Pucinski also served as Democratic Ward Committeeman from the 41st ward for many years. When Mayor Richard J. Daley
died in 1976, a special mayoral election was held in 1977. Pucinski ran in this election, even though the Democratic organization had endorsed Michael Bilandic. Pucinski lost.
During the Council Wars
struggle of the mid-1980s, Pucinski sided with the Vrdolyak 29 against Mayor Harold Washington
.
He also introduced proposed ordinances on various issues. One of his proposals (in 1987) was a requirement for an employee vote on any Employee Stock Ownership Plan established by a corporation based in Chicago. In 1984, he supported a redistribution of Community Development Block Grant
funds that would have allocated $1.3 million to repave streets in the 41st Ward.
The 41st Ward was Republican in most contests and the aging Pucinski was defeated in his campaign for re-election as Alderman by Republican Brian Doherty
in 1991.
His daughter Aurelia followed him into politics. He died in Chicago in 2002.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. He was a U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1959 to 1973, and alderman from the 41st Ward of Chicago from 1973 to 1991. He was considered a longtime leader of Chicago Polonia and was seen to represent its interests in Washington along with Congressman Dan Rostenkowski
Dan Rostenkowski
Daniel David "Dan" Rostenkowski was a United States Representative from Illinois, serving from 1959 to 1995. Raised in a blue-collar neighborhood on the Northwest Side of Chicago, Rostenkowski rose to become one of the most powerful legislators in Washington. He was a member of the Democratic Party...
.
He was born in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, but moved to Chicago with his family as a child. In 1941, he graduated from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served in the Air Force. After the war, he attended John Marshall Law School in Chicago, and graduated in 1949. He worked in journalism for many years, notably at the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
. In 1952, he was chief investigator for the Congressional Special Committee which investigated the Katyn Massacre
Katyn massacre
The Katyn massacre, also known as the Katyn Forest massacre , was a mass execution of Polish nationals carried out by the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs , the Soviet secret police, in April and May 1940. The massacre was prompted by Lavrentiy Beria's proposal to execute all members of...
. This was of special interest to him as a Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
-American.
Pucinski became active in politics, and was elected U.S Representative in 1958 from the heavily Polish-American 11th District on the Northwest Side of Chicago. He was re-elected to six additional terms, serving from 1959 to 1973.
As a Representative, he made two important contributions. He pushed for the installation of "black box" flight recorder
Flight recorder
A flight recorder is an electronic recording device placed in an aircraft for the purpose of facilitating the investigation of an aircraft accident or incident. For this reason, flight recorders are required to be capable of surviving the conditions likely to be encountered in a severe aircraft...
s on all passenger airliners. He also supported Federal assistance to community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
s.
When districts were redrawn after the 1970 Census
United States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
, Pucinski's district was abolished, and he did not seek re-election in 1972. Instead he was the Democratic candidate for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, against incumbent Senator Charles H. Percy
Charles H. Percy
Charles Harting "Chuck" Percy was president of the Bell & Howell Corporation from 1949 to 1964. He was elected United States Senator from Illinois in 1966, re-elected through his term ending in 1985; he concentrated on business and foreign relations...
; he lost badly.
In 1973, he was first elected alderman from the 41st Ward of Chicago, which had been part of his old Congressional District and was heavily Polish-American. Pucinski also served as Democratic Ward Committeeman from the 41st ward for many years. When Mayor 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...
died in 1976, a special mayoral election was held in 1977. Pucinski ran in this election, even though the Democratic organization had endorsed Michael Bilandic. Pucinski lost.
During the Council Wars
Council Wars
The Council Wars were a racially polarized political conflict in the city of Chicago from 1983-1986, centered on the Chicago City Council.The term came from a satirical comedy sketch of the same name written and performed by comedian and journalist Aaron Freeman in 1983, using the good-v.-evil plot...
struggle of the mid-1980s, Pucinski sided with the Vrdolyak 29 against Mayor Harold Washington
Harold Washington
Harold Lee Washington was an American lawyer and politician who became the first African-American Mayor of Chicago, serving from 1983 until his death in 1987.- Early years and military service :...
.
He also introduced proposed ordinances on various issues. One of his proposals (in 1987) was a requirement for an employee vote on any Employee Stock Ownership Plan established by a corporation based in Chicago. In 1984, he supported a redistribution of Community Development Block Grant
Community Development Block Grant
The Community Development Block Grant , one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, funds local community development activities such as affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development...
funds that would have allocated $1.3 million to repave streets in the 41st Ward.
The 41st Ward was Republican in most contests and the aging Pucinski was defeated in his campaign for re-election as Alderman by Republican Brian Doherty
Brian Doherty (politician)
Brian G. Doherty was the alderman of the 41st Ward of the City of Chicago from 1991 to 2011. First elected to the Chicago City Council in 1991 when he defeated longtime incumbent Roman Pucinski, Doherty represented portions of the city's Northwest Side, including O'Hare International Airport...
in 1991.
His daughter Aurelia followed him into politics. He died in Chicago in 2002.