by Josh Levin
117 called out: “California Cleans Up Its Welfare Mess,” Reader’s Digest/Abilene Reporter–News (Abilene, TX), October 28, 1973.
118 Cash declined: “Johnny Cash Won’t Sing Nixon Request,” UPI/Bridgeport Telegram (Bridgeport, CT), March 31, 1970.
119 an estimated 24.3 million people: U.S. Census Bureau, “Characteristics of the Population Below the Poverty Level: 1974,” Current Population Reports: Consumer Income, January 1976.
120 roughly fourteen million Americans: “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A Short History,” U.S. Department of Agriculture, www.fns.usda.gov/snap/short-history-snap.
121 7.8 million children: Table 2.1 in U.S. HHS, Aid to Families with Dependent Children: The Baseline, June 1998, p. 15.
122 “Department of Agriculture is receiving”: Harvey column, May 10, 1973.
123 “welfare mothers are being urged”: “High food prices more than a nuisance to the poor; even neckbones too expensive,” Chicago Tribune, July 29, 1973.
124 headline on the front page: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Lubbock, TX), October 1, 1974.
125 The median household income: Table A in U.S. Census Bureau, “Household Money Income in 1974 and Selected Social and Economic Characteristics of Households,” Current Population Reports: Consumer Income 60, no. 100, August 1975.
126 sticker price of a 1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible: NADA guides online.
127 On September 30, 1974: Criminal history, CPD/FOIA.
128 Don Moore wrote a letter: Moore to Rochford, October 7, 1974, ISA.
Chapter 4
Author interviews with Lamar Jones, Jack Sherwin, Joel Edelman, Ward Hamlin Jr., Peter Hannaford, Neal Caauwe, Johnnie Harbaugh, Bridget Hutchen, Bernard Carey, Kenneth Gillis, Jeffrey Simon.
129 the U.S. Department of Agriculture began: Interview with a USDA special agent, November 1974, FBI/FOIA.
130 the twelve-person, bipartisan group: History of LAC, handout, ISA.
131 26 cents per person per meal: “Demand More Aid for Poor Here,” Chicago Defender, March 3, 1969; “The Why’s and What’s of Welfare,” Chicago Tribune, August 11, 1969.
132 “hardly enough”: Senator Fred J. Smith to LAC, quoted in “Sen. Smith Opens War On Swank For Disregarding Needs Of Poor,” Chicago Defender, April 19, 1969.
133 some committee members: “State Hunts Missing Fathers,” AP/Freeport Journal–Standard (Freeport, IL), April 29, 1964.
134 the total abolition of public aid: Representative Rae C. Heiple II quoted in “Lawmaker Asks Stop to Poor Relief,” UPI/Daily Herald, March 14, 1963.
135 remained in the ADC program: DeParle, American Dream, Chapter 5.
136 “Suitable home” and “man in the house” provisions: Kohler-Hausmann, “The Crime of Survival,” p. 332.
137 The practice didn’t end: Kaelber, “Eugenics/Sexual Sterilizations in North Carolina.”
138 could be jailed: “Illinois Gets a Warning on Children’s Aid,” Chicago Tribune, May 3, 1962.
139 “hostility to this most disadvantaged segment”: Committee to Study the ADC, Facts, Fallacies and Future, p. 4.
140 “There is a good probability”: Ibid., p. 6.
141 reported, thirty-nine states: “Picture Of Typical Welfare Recipient False?,” AP/Wilmington News-Journal (Wilmington, OH), January 11, 1972.
142 In 1968, the Supreme Court…two years later, the justices: King v. Smith, 1968; Goldberg v. Kelly, 1970.
143 In 1959, 22.4 percent: Table A-1 in U.S. Census Bureau, “Poverty in the United States: 2000,” Current Population Reports: Consumer Income, September 2001.
144 Between 1963 and 1973: Caseload data, AFDC, Office of Family Assistance of the Administration for Children and Families.
145 rising to $1.5 billion: Department of Public Aid, financial report, ISA.
146 “is really the reform”: Richard Cloward (Columbia University) quoted in “The Welfare Crisis—A Human Crisis,” February 7, 1971.
147 “fiscal chaos, and perhaps bankruptcy”: “Dems Hit Welfare Slash Plan; Republicans Call It Necessary,” Chicago Tribune, October 7, 1971.
148 In 1972, he called: “Money main school problem, Moore tells Dist. 145,” Suburbanite Economist, October 15, 1972.
149 “both black and white people”: “Senate Bill Would Block Bus Use for Integration,” UPI/Galesburg Register-Mail (Galesburg, IL), April 13, 1973.
150 186 black constituents and 15,697 white ones: Data for Midlothian in “General Population Characteristics: Illinois,” 1970 Census of Population, U.S. Census Bureau, p. 13.
151 “that some of these people”: July 1974, LAC/ISA.
152 “cancer eating at”: “Reagan Asks Sweeping Changes in Welfare, Medi-Cal Programs,” Los Angeles Times, January 13, 1971.
153 “Reagan Revolution”: “Reagan the Revolutionary,” Washington Star Syndicate/Emporia Gazette (Emporia, KS), September 4, 1971.
154 study what Reagan had done: Don Moore to LAC, ISA.
155 threatened to sue: “Lawsuits peril new welfare plan,” Chicago Tribune, August 20, 1973.
156 override the governor’s veto: “Override welfare veto,” Chicago Tribune, November 9, 1974.
157 On June 21, 1974: “High-salary workers collecting public aid.”
158 “that cheating amounts”: “Slash in funds could cripple fight against welfare cheats: Scott,” Chicago Tribune, June 22, 1974.
159 Edelman officially signed on: Edelman to Moore, September 5, 1974, LAC/ISA.
160 On their first day: Edelman to Ronald Zumbrun regarding Dave Todd, September 1974, LAC/ISA.
161 Taylor’s new home: Classified ad, Tucson Daily Citizen, September 30, 1974.
162 1974 Chevrolet Impala station wagon: Prosecutor’s statement, March 17, 1977, Illinois v. Linda Taylor.
163 She carried Illinois driver’s licenses: List of documents seized in Arizona, FBI/FOIA.
164 One identified her as: “Flimflam: Welfare schemer’s frauds may top $1 million,” Detroit News, February 9, 1975.
165 Joe Fick: Supplementary complaint report, MSP/FOIA.
166 A photo published: “Suspect held here in Chicago fraud,” October 11, 1974.
167 The cops impounded: List of documents seized in Arizona, FBI/FOIA.
168 “avalanches of abundance”: Text of the ad can be seen in “Is it true? This Amazing PSYCHIC PERCEPTOR brings you Wealth, Love and Power Beyond Belief!,” Florence Times—Tri-Cities Daily (Florence, AL), August 1, 1976.
169 Taylor’s daughter, Sandra: “Fraud suspect going to Chicago,” Tucson Daily Citizen, October 12, 1974.
170 placed her under arrest for grand theft: Arrest report, October 12, 1974, CPD/FOIA.
171 In his October 12 piece: “‘Welfare queen’ jailed in Tucson,” Chicago Tribune.
172 “I’m already a drone bee”: “‘Get Serious, Baby! I’m Not Slaving So Kids Can Make The Scene!,’” November 4, 1967.
173 “Mary Black”: “Rehabilitation Could Help in Some Welfare Cases,” July 25, 1969.
174 “woman who’s been dubbed”: “To Illinois Welfare Queen Everyone Is Stupid,” Gannett/El Paso Times, December 4, 1974.
175 “turns from black to Latin”: “Welfare scandal could be nation’s biggest: probers,” UPI/Daily Herald, November 27, 1974.
176 Peter Hannaford filed that clip away: Peter Hannaford papers, Hoover Institution archives, box twelve, folder twelve.
177 On October 24, 1974: LAC progress report, November 1974, LAC/ISA.
178 Paris, France: Using the name Sandra Harbaugh, Brownlee also listed her place of birth as Paris, France, on her 1972 marriage application. Record via FBI/FOIA.
179 she’d cashed welfare checks: Interview with Brownlee, October 29, 1974, FBI/FOIA.
180 “She is not sure of her origin”: Interview with Brownlee, December 17, 1974, FBI/FOIA.
181 Johnnie Harbaugh had been arrested: John A. Wakefield criminal history, CPD/FOIA.
182 On October 24: LAC progress report
, November 1974, LAC/ISA.
183 In 1975, the Tribune reported: “Police surrender secret files on four,” April 10, 1975.
184 “Two members of the legislative committee”: George Bliss and Charles Mount, “State employes helped ‘Welfare Queen’—legislator,” Chicago Tribune, October 26, 1974.
185 $4.3 million…largest cash heist: “Two vault suspects seized in W. Indies,” Chicago Tribune, October 31, 1974.
186 had been tied up with the vault break-in: LAC progress report, November 1974, LAC/ISA.
187 Bliss had called the legislative committee: Ibid.
188 Kenneth Gillis encouraged: LAC progress report, November 1974, LAC/ISA.
189 Aaron Bennett was decidedly uncrushed: “Flimflam: welfare schemer’s frauds may top $1 million.”
190 Sherwin testified about: November 1974, Illinois v. Linda Taylor.
191 “may be only a fraction”: “Jury indicts ‘Welfare Queen,’” November 14, 1974.
192 The legislative committee’s after-action report: LAC progress report, November 1974, LAC/ISA.
Chapter 5
Author interviews with John Parks, John Paul Parks, Patricia Bridgetta Parks, Kenneth Gillis, James Piper, Bridget Hutchen.
193 “Linda Mallexo”: “Welfare Queen’s role—Was it voodoo spell?,” Chicago Tribune, June 29, 1975.
194 Parks would be dead: Ibid.
195 “My friend, Linda”: Last will and testament of Patricia Parks, December 11, 1974, CCCC Probate Division.
196 She “is without a doubt”: “More agencies join ‘welfare queen’ quiz,” Chicago Tribune, December 1, 1974.
197 “like some science fiction story”: “Welfare and Pension Swindle Laid to Woman of Many Aliases,” New York Times, December 15, 1974.
198 “most of the investigators’ stories”: “‘Welfare queen’ denies fraud rap,” UPI/Baltimore Afro-American, December 10, 1974.
199 in a private letter: Edelman to Chicago Tribune editor Clayton Kirkpatrick, February 17, 1976, LAC/ISA.
200 He repeatedly asked: Trainor to Moore, February 5, 1975, LAC/ISA.
201 In January 1975: Trainor to Moore, January 9, 1975, LAC/ISA.
202 “still receiving inquiries”: Caauwe and Pennix to Moore, January 1975, LAC/ISA.
203 declared in a memo: Chicago office memo, January 21, 1975, FBI/FOIA.
204 On November 12 and 13, 1974: Chicago office memo, December 19, 1974, FBI/FOIA.
205 On a handwriting assessment form: FBI/FOIA.
206 disguised her true handwriting: Chicago office memo, December 19, 1974, FBI/FOIA.
207 “tired of my sick butt”: Testimony of Patricia Parks, April 29, 1974, Patricia Parks v. John Parks, CCCC.
208 “physically ill and in a weakened condition”: Petition, February 5, 1975, Patricia Parks v. John Parks.
209 Five months earlier: Last will and testament of Patricia Parks, December 11, 1974, CCCC Probate Division.
210 Now she updated that will: Codicil to Parks’s last will and testament, May 29, 1975, CCCC Probate Division.
211 “for the consideration of one dollars”: Quitclaim deed, April 30, 1975, Cook County Recorder of Deeds.
212 Relationship: “friend”: Coroner’s certificate of death, Patricia Parks, June 15, 1975, CCCO.
213 ex-husband would get custody: Order, July 21, 1975, Patricia Parks v. John Parks.
214 “lingerie and various personal items”: Petition, February 5, 1975, Patricia Parks v. John Parks.
215 Patricia’s attorney also said: Claim against the estate, March 12, 1976, In the Matter of the Estate of Patricia Parks AKA Patricia M. Parks, Deceased, CCCC Probate Division.
216 had changed the locks: “‘Squatter’ claims her house: ‘Welfare Queen’ is locked out,” June 22, 1975.
217 sporty striped twinset: Photo in Chicago Tribune, June 23, 1975.
218 headed out to South Phillips Avenue: “Welfare Queen brings help, but still can’t get house,” Chicago Tribune, June 23, 1975.
219 “learned that Mrs. Parks reportedly”: “Probe death of Welfare Queen’s friend,” June 26, 1975.
220 “an excessive amount of medical drugs”: “Welfare Queen’s role—Was it voodoo spell?”
221 “housekeeper, nurse, and companion”: “Probe Patricia Parks death,” June 28, 1975.
222 “a paid housekeeper for Mrs. Parks”: “Welfare Queen’s role—Was it voodoo spell?”
223 was her sister: “‘Welfare Queen’ raps cops,” February 5, 1975.
224 “get out of the city”: “Run Them Out of Town,” July 16, 1966.
225 The Defender’s reply: “An Editorial: Let’s Face Facts,” July 18, 1966, cited in Michaeli, The Defender, p. 418.
226 daily circulation of twenty-five thousand…751,000: “Chicago Defender now a newspaper historical site,” UPI/Daily Dispatch (Moline, IL), May 6, 1975; “Once stodgy Chicago Tribune takes on new (out)look,” Lindsay-Schaub/Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL), November 14, 1976.
227 “evidently was the subject of voodoo sessions”: “Welfare Queen’s role—Was it voodoo spell?”
228 “I don’t believe in that mess!”: “‘Welfare queen’: Denies voodoo in death,” June 30, 1975.
229 Patricia Parks, negro female: Cook County state’s attorney’s office to FBI, July 9, 1975, FBI/FOIA.
230 Between 1968 and 1975: Investigation report, November 1974, FBI/FOIA.
231 “has a mental age of 10”: Ibid.
232 George Bliss had been assigned: “The reporter who taught how to give,” Chicago Tribune, September 13, 1978.
233 The FBI learned: Interview with a teacher at Our Lady of the Angels School, March 1975, FBI/FOIA.
234 She’d also gotten married in 1972: Chicago office memo, July 26, 1976, FBI/FOIA.
235 received a curt reply: FBI to SAC, Chicago, July 18, 1975, FBI/FOIA.
Chapter 6
Author interviews with Jim Lake, John Sears, Peter Hannaford, Bill Mullen, Lou Cannon, Isaiah “Skip” Gant, Jim Piper, Steven Lubet, Sam Adam, Sr., Thomas Geraghty, Arnette Hubbard.
236 In a radio commentary: Reagan in His Own Hand, pp. 255–256.
237 “preaching the gospel of free enterprise”: CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, January 6, 1975.
238 “The astonishing thing is”: “Reagan’s Theatrical Politics,” November 19, 1975.
239 “citizens’ press conferences”: Perlstein, The Invisible Bridge, pp. 595–596.
240 “throw old people in the snow”: Bo Callaway quoted in ibid., p. 596; and “Reagan Ford’s big asset in NH,” Boston Globe, January 10, 1976.
241 “I guess I made a mistake”: Ibid., p. 596.
242 federal taxes on alcohol: “Reagan Soft-Pedals Revenue By Tax In Taxless NH,” AP/Biddeford-Saco Journal (Biddeford, ME), January 16, 1976.
243 “move elsewhere”: “Reagan Says Plan Could Harm Needy,” New York Times, January 17, 1976.
244 “No one knows”: “Reagan Soft-Pedals Revenue By Tax In Taxless NH.”
245 He also bunked there in April 1967: Robert Lipsyte, “Clay Puts His Affairs in Order As Day of Decision Approaches,” New York Times, April 27, 1967.
246 an updated, fifty-four-count indictment: Illinois v. Linda Taylor.
247 Taylor testified: Estate of Patricia Parks.
248 “two men came in carrying guns”: “Miss Taylor Reports Robbery,” Chicago Tribune, October 24, 1975.
249 “blow his brains out”: “‘Welfare queen’ robbed,” October 25, 1975.
250 tried and failed to lay claim to the estate: “Policy chief’s estate case an 11-year game,” February 20, 1975.
251 1964 kidnapping: “Probe aid queen tie to kidnapping,” Chicago Tribune, March 21, 1975.
252 she may have purchased children: “Hint aid queen, baby-buying tie,” Chicago Tribune, March 24, 1975.
253 faking his own death: “Ex-husband bilked her, ‘welfare queen’ charges,” May 12, 1975.
254 The AP reported: “‘
Welfare Queen’ reindicted on 54 counts of fraud,” AP/Dixon Evening Telegraph (Dixon, IL), September 18, 1975.
255 “was accused of covering up”: “Walker hid aid fraud: legislator,” Chicago Tribune, January 10, 1975.
256 yet another Pulitzer Prize: “The hard work behind the Pulitzer,” Chicago Tribune, May 4, 1976.
257 At a $5-a-plate luncheon: “Reagan Visits Cities In NC,” AP/Rocky Mountain Telegram, January 27, 1976.
258 to repay $1,511: Audio recording, Hoover Institution archives.
259 “might be a dangerous subject”: Dallek, The Right Moment, pp. 197–198.
260 the term’s vagueness: Gilens, Why Americans Hate Welfare, p. 13; “The Outsize Hold of the Word ‘Welfare’ on the Public Imagination,” New York Times, August 6, 2018.
261 “I don’t like to see my taxes”: “Goldwater, Rocky Clash on Welfare,” Des Moines Register, July 20, 1961.
262 “the welfare system, as we know it”: “Welfare Cheating: Address of Hon. Russell B. Long, Chairman, Committee on Finance and Supporting Materials,” Congressional Record, September 30, 1972.
263 a group of women in Prince George’s County: “Welfare Cheating Ring Uncovered,” December 12, 1971.
264 Department of Health, Education, and Welfare reported: U.S. Senate, “Fraud, Abuse, Waste, and Mismanagement.”
265 A 1973 HEW survey: “Payment Errors Found,” Washington Post, December 21, 1973.
266 “honest mistakes”: Ibid.
267 the basic grant: “State Legislator Proposes Welfare Payment Increase,” AP/Freeport Journal-Standard (Freeport, IL), June 7, 1974.
268 just more than $3,800: “Public aid budget keeps going up and up…,” Lindsay-Schaub/Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL), March 11, 1975.
269 A June 1976 survey: “Majority ambivalent on welfare,” Chicago Tribune, June 10, 1976.
270 “the American way of life”: “The year was…1976,” Public Perspective, May/June 2000.
271 just more than 40 percent: Gilens, Why Americans Hate Welfare, p. 106.
272 In 1964, just 27 percent: Ibid., p. 120.
273 “more constructive or productive citizens”: Joseph Mitchell at the Citizens’ Council Forum, quoted in Rolph, “Courting Conservatism.”
