Greek Chicagoans and the Rise of Modern Conservatism: Daley, Agnew, and American Identity

This thesis explores the motivating factors that influenced Greek-Americans in Chicago to become more conservative voters in the years around Nixon's first term. The first section is an overview of Greek history in Chicago, particularly emphasizing their economic and social experiences. The second section analyzes the issues which motivated the conservative Evangelical Christian voter and compares them to Greek-American positions on said topics, arguing that as Greeks in Chicago embraced their multiculturalism, they retained and emphasized ethnic traits which supported their ascendance in white America. Intermingled within this analysis is the Mayoral reign of Richard J. Daley (1955-1977), arguing that Greek-Chicagoans' allegiance to Daley's Democratic machine as well as their embrace of the Nixon-Agnew ticket were not conflicting choices but rather showcased their traditionalism and growing suspicion of New Deal liberalism.