Harold Washington
Search results
Jane Byrne was the first woman to be elected mayor of Chicago in 1979, beating the city's political machine. She served until 1983, when she lost to Harold Washington, and was known for her reforms, controversies, and scandals.
Nov 15, 2014 · Jane M. Byrne, who stunned Chicago’s Democratic machine in 1979 when she was elected mayor after sharply criticizing the incumbent for his handling of a devastating winter — a victory...
Jane Byrne. As a woman once again occupies the fifth floor of City Hall, Chicago Stories remembers the city’s first female mayor. After pulling off one of Chicago’s greatest political upsets, Jane Byrne found herself caught between the political machine that shaped her and the reformers who elected her.
Nov 14, 2014 · Jane Byrne was the first and only woman to serve as mayor of Chicago, defeating the Daley machine in 1979 but losing to Harold Washington in 1983. She was known for her reforms, controversies and stunts, such as living in Cabrini-Green and luring Hollywood productions to the city.
- Jane Byrne Enters Politics
- Byrne Against The Machine
- A Snowstorm and Winds of Change
- Mayor Jane Byrne
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
Born Jane Burke in 1933, Byrne grew up in Sauganash on the city’s North Side. In 1959, at the age of 25, Byrne became a widow and a single parent to her daughter, Kathy, after her husband died in a plane crash. William Byrne was a pilot in the Marines and was wrapping up a tour when he crashed while trying to land in fog. “It’s not that it turned h...
In 1976, Mayor Daley had a heart attack and died in office at the age of 74. According to the city’s line of succession, the president pro-tem of the City Council – a Black alderman named Wilson Frost – was supposed to step in as mayor. But Daley’s aides wouldn’t allow Frost to enter the office. The City Council did not approve him and instead appo...
On January 13, 1979, a blizzard hit Chicago. In two days, 21 inchesof snow fell on the city. Cars and buses couldn’t navigate the snowy streets that plows struggled to keep clear, and CTA trains were packed. To keep the system moving, Mayor Bilandic decided to run the trains express instead of making every stop, but by doing so, he left commuters i...
Byrne was sworn in on April 16, 1979. In her one term in office, Byrne brought lasting change to Chicago, such as growing the film industry in the city and bringing more arts and cultureto Chicagoans in the form of citywide and neighborhood festivals such as Jazz Fest and Taste of Chicago. She also was the first Chicago mayor to recognize a Gay Pri...
Learn how Jane Byrne rose from a widow and a volunteer for John F. Kennedy to become the first woman mayor of a major U.S. city in 1979. Explore her challenges, achievements and controversies in office and beyond.
Nov 15, 2014 · Jane Byrne, who stunned Chicago's powerful political machine in becoming the first and still only woman elected mayor of the nation's third-largest city, died today at...
People also ask
Who is Jane Byrne?
Did Chicago remember Jane Byrne?
Did Jane Byrne become Chicago's first female mayor?
Why did Jane Byrne win?
Nov 15, 2014 · Jane Byrne died yesterday in her apartment overlooking the city she loved, riled and entertained. She was elected mayor of Chicago in 1979 - the first woman mayor.
