Interview with Chuck Bowen [Cont.] / Door to Door with Ald. Ambrosio Medrano

Transcript (Download)

Chuck, I mean you've been in politics for a long time now, almost 40 years.

You've seen a lot of people in politics, a lot of people that want to run for politics, a lot of people that are in office.

What's the key to being successful in politics? Well, the key to being successful in politics first is that you've got to want to serve.

When I say serve, I mean go beyond, you've got to go beyond the eight hours a day.

You've got to spend almost all of your time serving people and you've got to become a student of the game.

It takes every day of your life, it takes 12 to 14 hours a day really.

You've got to be at everybody's beck and call.

And the one thing that you have to do that most people don't do and that is you've got to call people back when they call you.

You've got to be able to pick up the telephone when you walk in, find out who's called you and get the people back on the phone.

That's one of the most impressive things I think that a politician can do.

No matter who it is, no matter what it's about really, you've got to find the time to talk to people.

And most people don't have big problems, they have little problems.

Problems that can be solved really by picking up the telephone, if you're in the position of course, by picking up the telephone and calling somebody and saying listen, can you do this for this person? Is this possible? Does this cause you any problem at all? But most of the times it does not really cause a big problem and you can take care of most of the things.

And all you have to do, if you can take care of some basic functions and basic problems then your reputation goes out and it goes in front of you.

And then people are glad to say hey, this guy, he takes care of business.

And that's what makes a politician, when you're able to take care of people.

And you've got to be there when they really need you.

And you can't go to them just when you need something.

You've got to go to them, you know, if it's somebody who's having a graduation, send a telegram, send some kind of recognition for that.

If it's a death, you've got to go and try to be with the family.

All of it matters.

Everything that you do.

And you've got to be out there 365 days a year.

It's a 365 day a year business and you've got to be involved in it every day.

Thank you very much.

I have one question.

I like that a lot.

One of the things we've heard, and this has been from some of the anti -Daily people, but I've heard it for a long time.

You keep on talking about the plantation.

What are they talking about? When people talk about plantation politics, they're talking about blikes who basically who do whites bidding in their community.

That's where the term plantation politics came from.

But if you're going to be a politician and you're going to take care of your people, whoever is in office, you have to have some mechanism to get to those people.

Four years is an awful long time not to have an entree to the mayor's office, to the governor's office.

The reason I've always said that there should be participation in a two -party system, you got to have African Americans who are Republicans and African Americans who are Democrats.

We shouldn't get angry with each other because we're in different parties and shouldn't call each other names.

Our whole process really is to make sure that we bring something back to our community.

If I'm able to help somebody in my party and through my party, I'm supposed to do that.

Other people can do the same things.

I know people in the Republican Party who have jobs, contracts, other things, and they're supposed to do that.

That's the way the business is played.

If we don't have a candidate that's an African American that's winnable, then we've got to The best guy who's going to do the job that we have access to, and that's the most important word in all of politics, is access.

If you've got access to a person and he knows you, it's like somebody said a long time ago, it's not what you know, it's who you know.

That's really not true.

It's who you know and how well they know you.

That's the key.

Who knows you and how well they know you.

That's how you get along in politics.

Who do you think is going to win the race for all of them in your district? Hey, Conn.

You think she's going to get re -elected? I mean nobody.

First of all, Rush does not have a real organization.

That's number one.

Nobody wants to see Rush bring in his sister to be all of them.

That's just kind of...

Do you think Congressman Rush is planning to run for the mayor at some point? Yep.

That's really what he wants.

He's getting the impression today.

That's exactly what he wants.

Do you think he's got a shot or do you think it's not in the cards? Well, I honestly believe that when he really gets out there, that his background and the things that he's been about are really going to play bad for him.

But they kept prodding the situation and they caused a real division in the black community.

The white community would have accepted Sawyer.

And that's what any black candidate has got to have a good segment of the white community to be all right with.

I'm not saying they have to be in love with him, but they've got to look at him as not being who is really going to lose bad.

Darden, I don't think is going to lose as bad as Burris will lose because Burris has been...

He's held a statewide office.

Two statewide offices.

And for him to get out and blow this, you want to get to your left now.

Because you're going to make a left turn.

I'm beginning to recognize where I am.

What will come first, being able to drive around the city or to memorize all 50 all the way? And what's more important? Learning how to drive around the city.

All the men come and go.

I would say beside Eddie Burke.

Eddie Burke has got to be the most powerful alderman.

And so that became a big, big deal.

And the mayor has basically carried on the same kind of situation.

He's a popular mayor and a populace.

I guess that's the right word, populace.

Isn't that right? That basically the alderman, if the mayor has something to put out there, the alderman basically has to go along with what he's saying.

So the power of balance has really gone towards the mayor now.

Well Chicago actually was being led by somebody and they would withhold their votes from the mayor.

I'm going to drop you off right by the door over here.

That would be great.

You got me back here just in time.

Yeah, you're 27.

So what I want to do is, we need maybe to put out something with the...

Do you know what we can do? We can do an official ballot.

The green book? The booklet? And I put it, when Ray is going to send it...

The negative piece? When is he sending the next piece? It's out already.

It should hit Thursday or Friday.

There's not going to be any other piece.

Maybe we should insert the real ballot.

Let's think of something when I get back there.

But you know what we could do is we can print an official ballot and send it with the precinct captains straight to the door.

It's the green book, official 25th ward ballot.

No, they're following me around.

I'm going to do something with PBS.

After the election I want to get them on that.

What do we want to do now? I just want to do something and I thought maybe...

We'll do the green book.

We'll get a green sample ballot book.

And what they do is they put, it says official sample ballot 25th ward democratic organization.

And then it only has the names and the numbers of the people that we want them to punch for.

I just don't want to react but I just want to go after him.

There's a lot of negative stuff.

He's very negative.

He's sending this to everybody? Yeah, that's a direct mail.

Man, this must be 55 cents? Yeah.

So that's what I'm saying.

Times 13 ,000 voters? Right.

So that's what I want to go.

How much is that? $5 ,500 just in postage.

Yes, in postage.

I really want to go.

I just want to go after him.

Well, we're going to go walk.

I'll see you later.

Nice to meet you.

Which way, Kath? Man, I'm not so sure I want these guys with me.

I feel like doing something with this mail.

You want to stop here? Yeah, is she home? You can see this as well.

I've got last some posters in the windows.

We can go that way if you want to start that way.

There's some people out there.

Go up to there and then back.

This is the owner.

I'm Alderman Miglado.

Thank you for having the sign in the window.

Just reminding you to come out and vote on February 28th.

Thank you very much.

You're welcome.

Let's keep going.

We're hitting the home runs.

The rest on this side, I don't think are home.

Okay, well then we can go across if you want.

If you want we'll start at the corner and walk away.

You don't want to go that way.

We can catch Sam.

Sam? Let's catch Sam.

Hey Sam! How are you? What's going on? You're on the smart side.

You're where the sun's at.

How you feeling? Alright, how are you? Thank you very much.

I know you are.

Thank you for the signs and everything.

Just tell your friends we need that vote on the 28th.

I'm just going to stop by and say hello to a few people and we're on our way.

I'm going to have to start to learn how to speak Chinese.

TV camera scare him.

This is the little Mark Rills that you're in the home.

This is Mark Rills.

Oh let me tell you that party at St.

I can't believe it.

I found out about it too late.

Listen to them birds.

They all walk away.

You got someone's own here.

Holden and Madrano.

What's all this? They're following me around.

Just seeing how the campaign is going.

So we're hoping we can count on your support on the 28th.

I was at the meeting with you the other night.

I'll be there Thursday.

Thank you very much.

If you can get the rest of your friends out there.

One more weekend and it's all over.

Take care of yourself.

How are you? Nice to meet you.

Oh nice to meet you.

They're just following me around.

Don't turn it on.

Have a little fortune cookie.

Gloria we'll see you on the 28th.

Alright bye bye.

Hi how are you? How's it going? Oh just great.

Thank you so much.

I met you at Bingo.

And let me tell you about the ladies.

You've got my vote.

You've got my vote.

Thank you very much.

I'll meet you all the time.

This is Alderman McDonnell.

I'm Alderman McDonnell.

And I'm looking for some support in your vote for February 28th.

You might get it.

That's better than not getting it.

Nice job on the signs Kathy.

Here they come.

Here they come.

How are you? Fine.

How are you? Hi Kathy.

I'm Alderman McDonnell.

Kathy over here has got me walking to precinct.

People are interested in seeing what I look like.

So I stopped by to say hello and hopefully we can count on your support.

Thank you for the poster in the window.

I really appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

We'll see you later.

You're welcome.

Oh that's okay.

Nice to meet you.

I'm Alderman Madrona.

And I'm hoping I can count on your support next week Tuesday.

You get my support as long as you employ this lady.

She's already up and running.

The office is up and going.

It took us long, a long time.

But we're finally there now.

But I really appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

And if you can just tell your friends and neighbors I really appreciate it.

Nice meeting you.

The last letter we got on Saturday was nice.

Thank you very much.

I just thought I'd let people know I haven't officially been elected.

I know the other guys have been sending out a lot of negative stuff.

But I'm glad to hear that you got the piece.

We hope we can count on your support next week.

And if you can tell your friends and neighbors about it I really appreciate it.

She has your sign.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much for the sign.

It was nice meeting you.

Last summer I used to wake my son up.

And I was just thinking that on Welle Street would be just the thought.

That would be a good idea because I know that they usually or generally put up signs for a lot of different things.

So letting them know that this is a residential area and that they have to keep the volume down to a certain degree would be good.

And I thought maybe on Welle Street because then it would help punchinello's and then because this is a busy street.

We'll look into that.

Thank you very much.

Right here? Cathy? Yeah.

Doorbell? It's tight.

I think she was inside.

I guess she's not home.

I'm going to go check on her.

She would love to meet you.

We're doing good.

We'll come back another day.

I don't know what we can do.

I feel something from there.

We're getting a little bit of a loose.

They put a little bit.

It has a Chinese feel to it.

Oh yeah, but they shouldn't leave it like that.

We should get that fixed.

Oh, there he is.

Your voter? Oh, man.

How are you? Great.

How's everything? Alright.

We didn't mean to bother you.

Nice to see you.

We're just going door to door here.

Letting people get a better look at me.

I know you are.

Sorry you have to tell your market class.

Alright, well we're looking for your help and your support.

You're a good man.

Just keep those fellas on their toes Tuesday.

Tell them to make sure they come out and vote.

Thank you very much.

And I'll see you Thursday.

We're going out again this weekend.

But I went through my seat.

It's supposed to be a nice weekend.

We'll start warming up tomorrow.

We should get an election day.

Carlos? Is that one? Carlos Palacios.

Carlos Palacios.

Do I know him? No.

Okay, this one needs to get...

This one and this one.

We're going in here? Hey Kathy.

Hi, how are you? This is Mrs.

Descansando? La destorbamos? No, no, no.

El Andy acaba de venir de la tienda.

Bueno, estamos dando la vuelta a ver si podemos contar con su apoyo el martes.

Okay, thank you very much.

I appreciate it.

Make sure everybody comes out.

You got quite a few voters here.

To the right? To the left and around the corner.

People take advantage of me.

even if we don't see them, the people that did see us will tell them that we were here.

Hi, how are you? How's everything? This is Mrs.

We just stopped and talked to you.

Yeah, we just stopped and talked to you from how are you? Fine, good luck.

Thank you very much, I appreciate it.

I appreciate what you're going to do for us regarding this problem.

We have quite a good house here.

And you know what, you want the three kids back? No.

You don't want no trees? Just a whole sidewalk.

Thank you very much.

I heard a lot about you on 18th Street.

One of my girlfriends went to one of your meetings.

I think two weeks ago.

She told me all about it and I forgot all about it.

I said, how did it go? She said it was fantastic.

She was also asking for garbage cans and things like that.

A day later, it turned up.

That's what it's all about, right? That's what it's all about.

That's about it.

Thank you, we'll see you Tuesday.

You know what, that's another thing I want to do.

I want to start getting the applications for citizenship.

Because a lot of the Chinese aren't citizens.

Actually, you know what, they came up to me at the St.

I had an Italian gentleman who said he and his wife are not citizens.

They want to become citizens.

Oh, okay, I already talked to them.

You talked to them? Great.

Do you need some of this one? Usually it's hot, but...

Oh, I know just the lady who wants to see you.

Who's that? Her? Probably the woman.

Come on, open the door.

She's in the tubes.

Come on, the other man wants to meet you.

Television scared her away.

Who is that? Serino.

Serino? She's going to kill me.

She's sleeping.

I can see her relaxing on your couch.

Oh, why am I going here? Come on, Jared.

This is the camera.

They get nervous.

How are you? Fine.

How are you? Glad to meet you.

I'm doing okay.

I'm just coming out, knocking on some doors.

Are you going to win big or win low? I'm going to win big, I hope.

I need you to help me.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate that.

You know what I want to do too? This summer, I would really like to come around and talk to a lot of people.

Just get to meet them.

Let them know who I am.

Nothing wrong with that.

There's some here.

They're not home? Who else? That's okay.

At least we know they're working people.

You're good to go.

The senior citizens are out today.

Nothing wrong with that.

Thank you very much.

Identifier

V.2026-05-0015

Date Of Production

1995

Abstract

Continued interview with mayoral liaison Chuck Bowen. This tape also follows Ald. Ambrosio Medrano and his precinct captain Cathy Maida as they conduct door to door canvassing in the Armour Square neighborhood of the 25th Ward.

Color

Color

Reel/Tape Number

1/1

Language Of Materials

English

Format

Cassette Tape ➜ Betacam SP ➜ 30 min.

Subject

Political campaigns
Politicians

Related Collections

The Center For New American Media: Chicago Collection

Related Places

North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Chicago ➜ Armour Square

Main Credits

The Center for New American Media (is production company)

Participants And Performers

Medrano, Ambrosio (is participant)

Maida, Cathy (is participant)

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