Redirected from Anton J. Cermak
Born in Kladno[?], Bohemia, Cermak began his political career as a precinct captain and in 1902 was elected to the Illinois state legislature. Seven years later, he would take his place as alderman for the 12th Ward. Once elected mayor of Chicago, in 1931, Cermak treated the city as if it were a personal business and tried to provide the best service possible. He was so popular that anyone who went up against him was achieving their own political death. While riding next to President-elect Franklin Roosevelt in Miami, Florida on February 15, 1933, Cermak was shot when Giuseppe Zangara tried to assassinate Roosevelt and hit Cermak instead. Cermak died of his wounds on March 6. He was interred at Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago.
Cermak's son-in-law, Otto Kerner, Jr.[?] was governor of Illinois from 1961 to 1968 and later headed the Kerner Commission, which issued a report on race relations[?] in the United States.
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