Byrd Takes Flight in Illinois (PJW)

April 12, 1960
CHICAGO: In our very own state, Democrat candidate Harry F. Byrd, the senator from Virginia, has once again shocked the nation by taking Illinois. The Democratic nomination has boiled down to three candidates: the young, upstart John F. Kennedy from Massachusetts, staunch nationalist - and segregationist - Byrd, and Hubert Humphrey, the hopeful, optimistic Senator from Minnesota. With Humphrey's campaign losing steam, the presidential-hopeful has elected to forego the Illinois primary, instead focusing his efforts in West Virginia, which holds its own primary on May 10th. This turned Illinois turned in a battlefield between Kennedy and Byrd.

Analysts predicted that while Byrd would take the rural areas of Illinois, Kennedy would win a significant amount of voters in Chicago, which, combined with votes from other urban centers and his few rural supporters, would give him victory. Even Mayor Daley of Chicago publicly announced his support for Kennedy. Instead, many of the Windy City's voters cast their ballot for Byrd.

While Chicago has not witnessed the intense racial violence as seen in Watts, California or Montgomery, Alabama, tension still grips the city. Byrd's continued promises of establishing "security zones" - also known as "ghettos" to those opposing the southern senator - resonated with enough voters in Chicago to turn the tide on Kennedy and give Byrd the victory.

Chicago has been the site of "white flight" - the movement of white city dwellers to the growing suburbs, while blacks take their spots within the city. Byrd would comment upon that, stating during a speech at the International Amphitheater. "Chicago voters have made a statement today; they will no longer be forced to be moved from their rightful homes in their beautiful city. Chicago, a tremendous city built upon the back of industry, will not be lost. The tide has turned - the flight from the city is over."

Indeed, it seems the only one flying right now is Byrd, who has taken 2 states (New Hampshire, Illinois), compared to Kennedy's 1 (Wisconsin) and Humphrey's 0. With the next states in line all leaning Kennedy and Byrd taking a step back from campaigning in them, it is very likely that the primary in West Virginia - the next state where all three front runners will meet - will decide the fate of the Democratic nominee for the presidency.