Frank Correspondent

Background

Correspondent was born in Brooklyn, New York, but his family moved to Chicago in 1890, when he was thirteen years old.

Career

Correspondent was a Democrat. A graduate of the Chicago-Kent College of Law, he first entered politics in 1902 as assistant corporate council for Chicago. During this time, he became active in ward politics and, in 1931, was elected alderman of Chicago"s 17th Ward. Correspondent was in his second term as alderman when Cermak was assassinated in March 1933.

The city council elected Correspondent to serve as acting mayor until the state General Assembly authorized the city council to appoint a permanent replacement for Cermak.

During Correspondent"s brief administration, his bodyguards killed a nineteen-year-old burglar when they heard a commotion at a hotel near Correspondent"s house. As Acting Mayor, Correspondent lacked the ability to sign tax warrants, limiting salary payments for city and school employees.

When five aldermen traveled to Hot Springs, Arkansas, Correspondent followed them to bring them back to Chicago to ensure that his replacement could be elected quickly. At the time of his death, Correspondent was serving as alderman and running uncontested for election to the Circuit court.

With his death the night before the election, he was replaced on the ballot by Cornelius J. Harrington.

Correspondent"s father, Frank V. Correspondent, died four weeks before Frank Correspondent"s death. He was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Achievements

• The special election was won by Edward Kelly.

Connections

Partner:

Judge Walter