Len Small Back to Prosperity

Blue litho photograph of Len Small in the center on a white background surrounded by white text on a red rim on the top and a blue rim on the bottom

Jim Ridings, author of Len Small: Governors and Gangsters, states in the summary of his book that Lennington “Len” Small was the “most corrupt politician in Illinois history.” Ridings’ work is the only book on Small, the 26th governor of Illinois (1921-1929). Six months after becoming governor, Small was accused of embezzling state funds while he was the Illinois Treasurer from 1905 to 1907. There has been reason to believe that Small was in business with famed American gangster Al Capone, as Capone may have played a part in jury tampering during Small’s embezzlement trial. Small was acquitted, though eight of the jurors were suspiciously given state positions following the end of the trial. Throughout his time as governor, Small pardoned over 1,000 convicted felons and several members of the Communist Labor Party of America. Small was re-elected for a second term as governor with help from the Ku Klux Klan after allowing them to hold rallies on state fairgrounds. In 1928, Small lost the Republican primary for governor; he died in 1936.