Illinois: Ogilvie's Offensive

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Being in charge—and in combat—is nothing new to him. As a sergeant in World War II, he commanded a tank. During a battle near the Nazi lines, a shell fragment ripped into the left side of his face, and plastic surgery left him with a stiff, dour expression that matches his personality. Smiles come hard to the new Governor, even if he were of the mind for them. Ogilvie built his public reputation as a federal prosecutor, gaining wide publicity in 1960 when he prosecuted a Chicago gang boss on income tax fraud. Ogilvie's masklike, bespectacled countenance became a familiar sight on . Chicago television screens, enhancing his image as a tenacious racket buster. As the rare Republican who could win elections in Daley's domain, Ogilvie and the mayor have a longstanding feud. In 1962, Ogilvie was elected sheriff of Cook County, and four years later he won the presidency of the Cook County board of commissioners.

If Ogilvie's methods are nothing new, some of his ideology is. He used to consider himself a conservative; last year he ran on a law-and-order platform and did not discourage the campaign help of Ronald Reagan. But Ogilvie, in his political prime at 46 and with his ambition whetted by his taste of statewide office, today terms himself part of that ever-growing American sub-party, the pragmatists.