Nick Blase:: The Prince of Niles, Illinois - Softcover

Schneider, Andrew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1609495497 ISBN 13: 9781609495497

Publisher: The History Press, 2012

Synopsis

Nick Blase ruled the Chicago suburb of Niles for almost half a century, defeating every challenger and even facing down legendary Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley on occasion. Ultimately, Blase, the longest-sitting mayor in the country, resigned from office following an arrest on federal corruption charges the morning of his seventy-eighth birthday. He pled guilty and was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. Despite the cloud over his tenure, there is no doubt Blase made a huge impact on the sleepy suburb, turning the postwar bedroom community into an economic powerhouse that ranked with the largest cities in the state. After exhaustive research and hours of personal interviews, Andrew Schneider has put together a fascinating portrait of Blase's political career.

About this title

About the Author:

Andrew Schneider is an award-winning journalist from Chicago. Throughout his career he has worked as a reporter at weekly neighborhood publications and as both editor of a single newspaper and as editor-in-chief of a chain of weekly publications covering Chicago's suburbs.

Review:

"Schneider said that longevity was mirrored by many Niles residents and is in stark contrast to the habits of younger generations. As he delved into Blase s life story, he saw the way he dominated politics in town, making him a rare and compelling icon." --Chicago Journal Online

...journalist Andrew Schneider gives a comprehensive history of the former mayor's political career....

...Schneider was working a full-time job throughout the process, the book became a four-year project. That included about a year each on research, writing, finding a publisher and preparing the manuscript for publication. The result is a thoroughly researched, highly readable history of not just one man but political life in a Chicago suburb. --Lincolnwood Review

About this edition

• Publisher: The History Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1609495497
• ISBN 13: 9781609495497
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256