Roman C. Pucinski: Chicago Alderman and Polonia Leader

Longtime congressman Roman C. Pucinski ran for the Chicago City Council in 1973, after his defeat for a seat in the United States Senate that year. He served as alderman until 1991. During those years, Chicago politics went through a transformation that saw the old political system begin to disintegrate and a new one emerge. Pucinski played a key role in these events. He played the part of both an ethnic politician and an ethnic community leader, serving as president of the Polish American Congress-Illinois Division for many years and as one of the most important spokesmen for Chicago Polonia. Once again, this era was a transformative one for the Polish community as it saw its political power begin to decline in the city.