Thoughts of Chairman Rizzo

Philadelphia's tough-talking Democratic mayor, Frank Rizzo, has long been as hard on syntax as he is on the "vermin" he blames for his city's problems with crime and decline. During his campaign for a second four-year term in 1975, for instance, the blustery former police chief offered Philadelphians a typically unpunctuated promise: "Just wait after November you'll have a front row seat because I'm going to make Attila the Hun look like a faggot."

A coalition of the Americans for Democratic Action and Rizzo foes failed to oust "hizzoner" by means of a recall drive last year. Now, seeking to head off any attempt by Rizzo to maneuver around the Philadelphia mayoralty's two-term restriction, A.D.A. is trying yet another weapon: The Sayings of Chairman Frank, a 100-page compendium of Rizzoisms published last week that is intended to make municipal voters laugh and the city's mayor weep. A sampler:

On Liberals In some areas I consider them sick . . . They are for open pornography, for prostitution, open sex on the marquees of our theaters.

Crime The streets are safe in Philadelphia, it's only the people who make them unsafe.

Youth Problems They wouldn't be running in gangs if they were my children. I'd be out with a baseball bat looking for them.

Schools We need excellence in public education and if the teachers can't do it, we'll send in a couple of policemen.

Political Peacemaking Doves are flying out from all over me. I raise my arms, they fly out of my armpits. I'm only interested in worrying about the city.

Privacy of Public Officials The newspapers have made me a prude. I can't get away with a thing. Listen, if I wanted to cut a caper with a promiscuous broad, I'd have to find one who was an Eskimo and meet in her igloo, and I'd probably have to wear a beard.

Growing in the Job I respect a guy who can use his hands . . . to defend himself. I've done that all my life . . . Now I'm a real gentleman. Now I take my handkerchief out and slap you across the face.

Effective Communications I learned a lot. Now you don't tell them, you just stab them.

Justice I have great confidence in the court system, that even a guy like me, with my philosophy, has rights also.

Public Service Politicians are crooks generally.

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