Bernard Epton
Encyclopedia
Bernard Epton was an American
politician who served in the Illinois House of Representatives
. In 1983 he lost a close and contentious election for Mayor
of Chicago
; he would have become the city's first Jewish mayor, and its first Republican
mayor since William "Big Bill" Thompson
was defeated in 1931.
Epton served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II
. He flew twenty-five missions over Germany and twice earned the Distinguished Flying Cross
.
During the postwar years, Epton became a successful attorney specializing in insurance law. A graduate of the University of Chicago
and DePaul University College of Law
, he was an unsuccessful progressive Republican candidate for U.S. Representative
from Illinois' 2nd congressional district in 1960, losing to Democratic
incumbent Barratt O'Hara
. Known for being witty and occasionally sharp-tongued, Epton was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1968 and served from 1969 to 1983. He chaired the chamber's Insurance Committee.
A resident of the Hyde Park
neighborhood of Chicago, Epton ran against the liberal African American
Democrat Harold Washington
in the mayoral election in the spring of 1983. In a racially charged election, Epton came within 40,000 votes (of 1.2 million cast) of defeating the Democratic nominee. His total was the high-water mark for Chicago Republicans in elections for mayor in the heavily Democratic city. Epton received 81 percent of the votes of Chicago whites, and 3 percent from blacks. One of Epton's campaign slogans was "Epton for mayor... Before it's too late", which critics declared had racial overtones
. By his own account, Epton was highly uncomfortable with the racially-oriented nature of his campaign, and had actually been an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
After his defeat, Epton briefly returned to private life. Four years after the mayoral election, and less than three weeks after Mayor Washington died suddenly of a heart attack, Epton himself suffered a coronary and died in Ann Arbor
, Michigan
, aged 66. Epton was there visiting his son Jeff, a socialist
Ann Arbor city councilman.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who served in the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois 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...
. In 1983 he lost a close and contentious election for Mayor
Mayor of Chicago
The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. He or she is charged with directing city departments and agencies, and with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council, appoints department and agency leaders.-Appointment...
of 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...
; he would have become the city's first Jewish mayor, and its first Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
mayor since William "Big Bill" Thompson
William Hale Thompson
William Hale Thompson was Mayor of Chicago from 1915 to 1923 and again from 1927 to 1931. Known as "Big Bill", Thompson was the last Republican to serve as Mayor of Chicago, and ranks among the most unethical mayors in American history.Thompson was born in Boston, Massachusetts to William Hale...
was defeated in 1931.
Epton served in the U.S. Army Air Force 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 flew twenty-five missions over Germany and twice earned the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
.
During the postwar years, Epton became a successful attorney specializing in insurance law. A graduate of the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and DePaul University College of Law
DePaul University College of Law
DePaul University College of Law is a law school located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Founded in 1897 as the Illinois College of Law, the school became part of DePaul University in 1912 and is one of the academic colleges of DePaul, a Big East Conference university. The College is known for its...
, he was an unsuccessful progressive Republican candidate for 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 Illinois' 2nd congressional district in 1960, losing to 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...
incumbent Barratt O'Hara
Barratt O'Hara
Barratt O'Hara of Chicago was the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois from 1913 to 1917 and a U.S. Representative from Illinois from 1949 to 1951 and from 1953 to 1969.-External links: Retrieved on 2008-02-09...
. Known for being witty and occasionally sharp-tongued, Epton was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1968 and served from 1969 to 1983. He chaired the chamber's Insurance Committee.
A resident of the Hyde Park
Hyde Park, Chicago
Hyde Park, located on the South Side of the City of Chicago, in Cook County, Illinois, United States and seven miles south of the Chicago Loop, is a Chicago neighborhood and one of 77 Chicago community areas. It is home to the University of Chicago, the Hyde Park Art Center, the Museum of Science...
neighborhood of Chicago, Epton ran against the liberal African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
Democrat 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 :...
in the mayoral election in the spring of 1983. In a racially charged election, Epton came within 40,000 votes (of 1.2 million cast) of defeating the Democratic nominee. His total was the high-water mark for Chicago Republicans in elections for mayor in the heavily Democratic city. Epton received 81 percent of the votes of Chicago whites, and 3 percent from blacks. One of Epton's campaign slogans was "Epton for mayor... Before it's too late", which critics declared had racial overtones
Dog-whistle politics
Dog-whistle politics, also known as the use of code words, is a type of political campaigning or speechmaking which employs coded language that appears to mean one thing to the general population but has a different or more specific meaning for a targeted subgroup of the audience...
. By his own account, Epton was highly uncomfortable with the racially-oriented nature of his campaign, and had actually been an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
After his defeat, Epton briefly returned to private life. Four years after the mayoral election, and less than three weeks after Mayor Washington died suddenly of a heart attack, Epton himself suffered a coronary and died in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, aged 66. Epton was there visiting his son Jeff, a socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
Ann Arbor city councilman.