Chicago is high on my wish list of cities I want to visit before I turn 35. A city once notorious for having many high-profile mobsters, Chicago has now become an international center for commerce and trade. Commerce. Of course, there are several reasons why I want to visit Chicago, however, there is one reason that stands out from all the others. Let me first tell you how this reason came about.
One day, I was browsing the internet to research facts about the Windy City when I came across some intriguing information. Always a curious cat, I delved deeper into my new discovery that had piqued my curiosity. I did more research on the subject; Looking at each and every nifty site available on the cyber world we call the World Wide Web to quench my ever-increasing thirst for knowledge on the subject. As someone who can’t keep secrets from myself, I thought what better platform than this to share what I unearthed from the web. Now let me save you any more suspense and let the cat out of the bag.
So here I go with my discovery.
During World War II, a bulletproof limousine belonging to America’s Public Enemy Number One saved the life of the First United States Citizen. Who was public enemy number one? Who was the First Citizen? And how was his life saved?
Well, the First Citizen was none other than President Franklin D Roosevelt. It was December 7, 1971, when President Roosevelt was to be safely transported from the White House to the Capitol to deliver his “infamous speech” the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The prospects of another attack by Japan and Germany were high.
The Secret Service found a transportation option on par with the US President’s security portfolio. Thus, an armored 1939 Cadillac V-8 Town Sedan formerly owned by Al Capone, the public enemy, was used. number one in the country, to transfer President Roosevelt to the United States Congress on Capitol Hill. The US Treasury Department seized the limousine after Al Capone, the leader of the Prohibition Era Chicago mobsters, was found guilty of tax evasion.
Since the day I found this out, I’ve been looking forward to visiting Chicago even more. Now, I have one more special reason to go to Chicago. It may sound childish, but I’d love to ride in Al Capone’s limo while I’m there. I really hope Mr. Al Capone doesn’t mind!