Harold Washington

Harold Lee Washington (April 15, 1922 – November 25, 1987) was an American politician and lawyer who was the 51st mayor of Chicago from 1983 until his death in 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first Black person to hold the office. Entering politics as a critic of Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley, Washington served in both houses of the Illinois General Assembly. He was subsequently elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1980 and was reelected in 1982. He ran for Mayor of Chicago in the 1983 election. During the Democratic primary, he defeated incumbent mayor Jane Byrne and State's Attorney Richard M. Daley, son of the late mayor. Many members of the city's ethnic white Democratic political machine backed his Republican opponent, Bernard Epton, in the general election. However, Washington prevailed, winning the close race. Washington's first term as mayor was dominated by a racially polarized political conflict dubbed the Council Wars. A 29-alderman majority on the Chicago City Council, led by Edward Vrdolyak and Edward Burke, battled Washington and effectively blocked his agenda. Running for reelection in 1987, he won the Democratic primary against former mayor Jane Byrne. He went on to defeat Vrdolyak in the general election, expanding upon his 1983 margins. Starting his second term with a supportive majority on the city council, the Council Wars largely subsided. However, Washington died in office a few months later. Considered one of the most prominent Black elected officials of the 1980s, Washington's progressive agenda and multi-racial political coalition inspired many, including future President Barack Obama. Multiple Chicago landmarks are named in honor of Washington, including the Chicago Public Library's main branch and one of the city's community colleges.