Tuesday, April 18, 2006
How Alexander MacArthur Started Otto Kerner on the Road to Perdition
With George Ryan’s having been convicted with the assistance of admitted Federal felon and former Crystal Laker Donald Udstuen, I am reminded of a story that Alexander MacArthur told me.
MacAthur was Barrington Hills village president and a supporter of mine.
I don’t remember whether or not he was a McHenry County resident when he started the paper trail that brought former Governor Otto Kerner down.
As the Palatine Township Republican Committeeman, he had supported the election of Cook County Sheriff Dick Ogilvie. He served as his chief deputy, I believe.
After Ogilvie was elected Governor, MacArthur was appointed to head the state racing board.
When he walked in the office for the first time in1973, he told me,
“There wasn’t a scrap of paper in the office. They had cleaned the place out.”
But, then, MacArthur noticed the edge of a piece of paper sticking out from behind an old steam radiator.
He pulled it out and saw letters, including “OK,” among others, with numbers written next to what he concluded were initials.
MacArthur called the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“These two strapping young Assistant U.S. Attorney’s came over, Jim Thompson and Sam Skinner.”
When I read Chicago Tribune reporter Bill Barnhart’s and former State Rep. Gene Schlickman’s biography of Kerner, I expected to read that story. Unfortunately, it was missing.
So, the demise of the last two governors convicted of official corruption were brought down in part by McHenry County residents. Kerner by MacArthur and Ryan by Don Udstuen. MacArthur was honest; Udstuen is a crook.
MacAthur was Barrington Hills village president and a supporter of mine.
I don’t remember whether or not he was a McHenry County resident when he started the paper trail that brought former Governor Otto Kerner down.
As the Palatine Township Republican Committeeman, he had supported the election of Cook County Sheriff Dick Ogilvie. He served as his chief deputy, I believe.
After Ogilvie was elected Governor, MacArthur was appointed to head the state racing board.
When he walked in the office for the first time in1973, he told me,
“There wasn’t a scrap of paper in the office. They had cleaned the place out.”
But, then, MacArthur noticed the edge of a piece of paper sticking out from behind an old steam radiator.
He pulled it out and saw letters, including “OK,” among others, with numbers written next to what he concluded were initials.
MacArthur called the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“These two strapping young Assistant U.S. Attorney’s came over, Jim Thompson and Sam Skinner.”
When I read Chicago Tribune reporter Bill Barnhart’s and former State Rep. Gene Schlickman’s biography of Kerner, I expected to read that story. Unfortunately, it was missing.
So, the demise of the last two governors convicted of official corruption were brought down in part by McHenry County residents. Kerner by MacArthur and Ryan by Don Udstuen. MacArthur was honest; Udstuen is a crook.
