Tom Duggan
Encyclopedia
Thomas Duggan Goss (August 20, 1915 – May 28, 1969) was an NBC
and ABC
radio and television commentator
in Chicago and Los Angeles and a crusader against Chicago mob
involvement in boxing and politics.
, Cook County, Illinois
. His father was a plumber. He grew up in Chicago and went to work as his father's assistant.
In 1943, during World War II
, Duggan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
and served in the 3rd Marine Division in the South Pacific. Near the end of the war, he was assigned to Armed Forces Radio
in China
, developing an interest in broadcasting.
After his discharge, Duggan became a radio announcer for station KCLU in Santa Barbara, California
, using the name Tom Goss.
radio (WMAQ) and television (WNBQ
) outlets in Chicago. He now called himself Tom Duggan, the name he would use for the rest of his career. Duggan's nightly 15 minute television sports commentary on WNBQ at 10:30 quickly gained popularity.
Duggan constantly spoke out against Chicago mob figures and corrupt politicians in the International Boxing Club (IBC), the governing body for professional boxing. He continually railed against James D. Norris
and his partner Arthur Wirtz
over the mob's influence in boxing. Duggan finally alleged on-air that Norris had threatened to kill him. Both Norris and NBC demanded an apology, and when Duggan refused he was fired.
The Chicago Tribune
reported that "the station and newspaper offices were swamped with phone calls protesting Duggan's dismissal."
Letters published in the Tribune included the following:
Because of his enormous popularity, Chicago newspapers had big, bold front page headlines announcing his firing. A petition was circulated throughout Chicago, calling for Duggan's reinstatement.
).
Duggan has been called:
"To take advantage of his recognition for his anti-mob stand, ABC proposed that Duggan host a special presentation on Chicago mob boss Tony Accardo
, revealing his links with organised crime. ABC sought the co-operation of the Chicago Crime Commission
and state and local law enforcement to compile material and protect Duggan should there be retribution for the show. However, some staff at ABC and various law enforcement officials opposed the show."
The concept was abandoned after a meeting between ABC manager Sterling Quinlan and Accardo himself at the Tradewinds lounge. Instead, Duggan hosted a talk show from 11:10 until midnight on weeknights. It was the first all-talk show to appear on television.
The show covered many issues, but Duggan continued his attacks on alleged mob influence in boxing. Viewers could call in and submit questions to a "girl Friday," who then read them to Duggan. Fearing attack by mobsters, Duggan began carrying a pistol.
The nighttime show became so popular that Duggan was also given an afternoon audience participation show and a Saturday evening variety show. All three shows outrated their competitors. In 1955, Duggan strongly supported the first election campaign of Richard J. Daley
. Daley would become Chicago's longest-serving mayor.
Judge Daniel A. Covelli. Duggan's name had been mentioned in the case after a private detective alleged the wife involved had slept with Duggan. Duggan denied the allegation on-air and charged that the husband in the case was associated with the mob.
Judge Covelli found that Duggan was in contempt of court for making allegations which would reflect poorly on witnesses. Covelli himself would subsequently be identified as a protégé of Chicago's First Ward mobster Pat Marcy
. Duggan would later receive a full pardon from Illinois Governor Otto Kerner, Jr.
Roger M. Grace wrote in a column,
Duggan hosted television shows on KCOP-TV
, KTLA
and KTTV
, and wrote a newspaper column for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
. In 1967 he commuted between Los Angeles and Chicago for 10 months to tape a program for Chicago television.
Duggan also acted in movies and on television. His films included But Not for Me
with Clark Gable
, and Frankenstein 1970
with Boris Karloff
.
and actor Jimmy Durante
.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
radio and television commentator
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
in Chicago and Los Angeles and a crusader against Chicago mob
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
involvement in boxing and politics.
Early years
Duggan was born as Thomas Goss to Irish-American parents in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Cook County, Illinois
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
. His father was a plumber. He grew up in Chicago and went to work as his father's assistant.
In 1943, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Duggan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and served in the 3rd Marine Division in the South Pacific. Near the end of the war, he was assigned to Armed Forces Radio
American Forces Network
The American Forces Network is the brand name used by the United States Armed Forces American Forces Radio and Television Service for its entertainment and command internal information networks worldwide...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, developing an interest in broadcasting.
After his discharge, Duggan became a radio announcer for station KCLU in Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, using the name Tom Goss.
NBC Chicago
In 1949 Duggan went to work for the NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
radio (WMAQ) and television (WNBQ
WMAQ-TV
WMAQ-TV, channel 5, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Chicago, Illinois. WMAQ-TV's main studios and offices are located within the NBC Tower in the Streeterville neighborhood, with an auxiliary street-level studio on the Magnificent Mile at 401...
) outlets in Chicago. He now called himself Tom Duggan, the name he would use for the rest of his career. Duggan's nightly 15 minute television sports commentary on WNBQ at 10:30 quickly gained popularity.
Duggan constantly spoke out against Chicago mob figures and corrupt politicians in the International Boxing Club (IBC), the governing body for professional boxing. He continually railed against James D. Norris
James D. Norris
James Dougan Norris was an American sports businessman, with interests in boxing, ice hockey, and horse racing. He was the son of James E. Norris and half-brother of Bruce Norris and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.Born in Chicago, Norris served as a Lieutenant with the United States Navy...
and his partner Arthur Wirtz
Arthur Wirtz
Arthur Michael Wirtz was a powerful figure in sports and arena operation. He was the owner of Chicago Stadium, the Bismarck Hotel in Chicago, the Chicago Black Hawks, and the Chicago Bulls...
over the mob's influence in boxing. Duggan finally alleged on-air that Norris had threatened to kill him. Both Norris and NBC demanded an apology, and when Duggan refused he was fired.
The Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
reported that "the station and newspaper offices were swamped with phone calls protesting Duggan's dismissal."
Letters published in the Tribune included the following:
"Tom Duggan – Unafraid. A voice crying in the wilderness! St. George and The Dragon! So Long Tom – we'll all crawl back into our safe little shells now we've had or brief moment in the sun."
"Whether you like Duggan or not, what this country needs is more young guys telling whoever and whatever they think needs a little airing."
"If Tom Duggan tomorrow would enter politics and run on the Democratic ticket for Mayor of Chicago, his popularity would push him in with a landslide."
Because of his enormous popularity, Chicago newspapers had big, bold front page headlines announcing his firing. A petition was circulated throughout Chicago, calling for Duggan's reinstatement.
ABC Chicago
With NBC refusing to rehire him, Duggan accepted a job with ABC as a nightly commentator on WBKB (now WLS-TVWLS-TV
WLS-TV, virtual channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The station operates their full power digital operations on UHF channel 44, with their digital fill-in translator on VHF channel...
).
Duggan has been called:
"... loud, abrasive, and at times unpredictable. Perhaps best described as the Morton Downey, Jr.Morton Downey, Jr.Morton Downey, Jr. was an American singer, songwriter and later a television talk show host of the 1980s who pioneered the "trash TV" format on his program The Morton Downey Jr. Show....
of his day, Duggan also had ties to the Chicago Mob, an association that made Quinlan nervous, especially when Duggan would "predict" a Mob hit on the air and two or three weeks later that hit would come to pass."
"To take advantage of his recognition for his anti-mob stand, ABC proposed that Duggan host a special presentation on Chicago mob boss Tony Accardo
Tony Accardo
Antonino Joseph Accardo , also known as "Joe Batters" or "Big Tuna", rose from small-time hoodlum to the position of day-to-day boss of the Chicago Outfit in 1947, to ultimately become the final Outfit authority in 1972, until his death...
, revealing his links with organised crime. ABC sought the co-operation of the Chicago Crime Commission
Chicago Crime Commission
The Chicago Crime Commission is an independent, non-partisan civic watchdog organization of business leaders dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of organized criminal activity, especially organized crime, street gangs and the tools of their trade: drugs, guns, public corruption,...
and state and local law enforcement to compile material and protect Duggan should there be retribution for the show. However, some staff at ABC and various law enforcement officials opposed the show."
The concept was abandoned after a meeting between ABC manager Sterling Quinlan and Accardo himself at the Tradewinds lounge. Instead, Duggan hosted a talk show from 11:10 until midnight on weeknights. It was the first all-talk show to appear on television.
The show covered many issues, but Duggan continued his attacks on alleged mob influence in boxing. Viewers could call in and submit questions to a "girl Friday," who then read them to Duggan. Fearing attack by mobsters, Duggan began carrying a pistol.
The nighttime show became so popular that Duggan was also given an afternoon audience participation show and a Saturday evening variety show. All three shows outrated their competitors. In 1955, Duggan strongly supported the first election campaign of Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
. Daley would become Chicago's longest-serving mayor.
Contempt of court
Also in 1955, Duggan was sentenced to ten days in jail for contempt of court after commenting on a divorce case being heard by Cook CountyCook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
Judge Daniel A. Covelli. Duggan's name had been mentioned in the case after a private detective alleged the wife involved had slept with Duggan. Duggan denied the allegation on-air and charged that the husband in the case was associated with the mob.
Judge Covelli found that Duggan was in contempt of court for making allegations which would reflect poorly on witnesses. Covelli himself would subsequently be identified as a protégé of Chicago's First Ward mobster Pat Marcy
Pat Marcy
Pat Marcy was a legendary political boss with great influence over the Illinois Democratic Party. According to Federal prosecutors, as well as informants Robert Cooley and Michael J. Corbitt, he was also a trusted and valued associate of the Chicago Outfit...
. Duggan would later receive a full pardon from Illinois Governor Otto Kerner, Jr.
Otto Kerner, Jr.
Otto Kerner, Jr. was the 33rd Governor of Illinois from 1961 to 1968. He is best known for chairing the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders and for accepting bribes....
Move to Los Angeles
On February 9, 1956, Duggan resigned from ABC and moved to Los Angeles.Roger M. Grace wrote in a column,
“In retrospect, it appears that Tom Duggan, a colorful and controversial talk show host and commentator in Los Angeles in the 1950s and ’60s, had been chased out of Chicago, where he was exposing corruption, by a judge who was himself linked with underworld figures."
Duggan hosted television shows on KCOP-TV
KCOP-TV
KCOP-TV, channel 13, is a television station in Los Angeles, California. Owned by Fox Television Stations, a division of the News Corporation, KCOP is a sister station to Fox network outlet KTTV , and is affiliated with the MyNetworkTV programming service...
, KTLA
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
and KTTV
KTTV
KTTV, channel 11, is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Los Angeles, California. Serving the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area, KTTV is a sister station to KCOP , Los Angeles' MyNetworkTV station...
, and wrote a newspaper column for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
The Los Angeles Herald Examiner was a major Los Angeles daily newspaper, published Monday through Friday in the afternoon, and in the morning on Saturdays and Sundays. It was part of the Hearst syndicate. The afternoon Herald-Express and the morning Examiner, both of which had been publishing in...
. In 1967 he commuted between Los Angeles and Chicago for 10 months to tape a program for Chicago television.
Duggan also acted in movies and on television. His films included But Not for Me
But Not for Me
But Not for Me may refer to:*"But Not for Me" , a popular song by George and Ira Gershwin*But Not for Me , a 1959 film starring Clark Gable and Carroll Baker...
with Clark Gable
Clark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
, and Frankenstein 1970
Frankenstein 1970
Frankenstein 1970 is a 1958 science fiction horror film, starring Boris Karloff and Don 'Red' Barry. This independent film was directed by Howard W. Koch, and its alternative titles were Frankenstein 1960 and Frankenstein 1975. Released on a low budget, the film was originally intended to be...
with Boris Karloff
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff, was an English actor.Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein , Bride of Frankenstein , and Son of Frankenstein...
.
Death
On May 28, 1969, Tom Duggan was involved in a serious traffic accident. He died the following day at the age of 53, and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery. Pallbearers included then Los Angeles Mayor Sam YortySamuel William Yorty
Losing a 1940 bid for U.S. Senator, when he ran unsuccessfully as a liberal internationalist against isolationist Republican and longtime incumbent Hiram Johnson, Yorty left politics during World War II to serve in the United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific Theater. He resumed his Assembly...
and actor Jimmy Durante
Jimmy Durante
James Francis "Jimmy" Durante was an American singer, pianist, comedian and actor. His distinctive clipped gravelly speech, comic language butchery, jazz-influenced songs, and large nose helped make him one of America's most familiar and popular personalities of the 1920s through the 1970s...
.
See also
- DuganDuganDugan or Duggan is an Irish surname that arose simultaneously in a number of areas, including Cork, Roscommon, Galway, Wexford and Fermanagh. The best known family of the name had its territory near the modern town of Fermoy in north Cork, and were originally the ruling family of the Fir Maighe...
- Seán Mór Ó DubhagáinSeán Mór Ó DubhagáinSeán Mór Ó Dubhagáin was an Irish Gaelic poet.-Background:Ó Dubhagáinn was among the first notable members of the bardic family Baile Uí Dhubhagáin , near Loughrea, County Galway...
(d.1372) Gaelic-Irish poet. - Patrick DugganPatrick DugganThe Most Reverend Patrick Duggan was an Irish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Bishop of Clonfert from 1872 until his death.Duggan was born in Cummer, County Galway in 1813...
(10 November 1813-15 August 1896) Roman Catholic Bishop of ClonfertClonfertClonfert is a small village in east County Galway, Ireland. It is half way between Ballinasloe and Portumna.Clonfert Cathedral is situated in the village, which is the see of the Diocese of Clonfert.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
. - Tomás Bacach Ó DúgáinTomás Bacach Ó DúgáinTomás Bacach Ó Dúgáin, Irish scribe, fl. 1848-1858.William Mahon devotes pages 636-37 of his article on this scribe. He was a descendant of the same family as Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin Tomás Bacach Ó Dúgáin, Irish scribe, fl. 1848-1858.William Mahon devotes pages 636-37 of his article (cited below) on...
, (fl. 1848-1858), scribe. - Maolsheachlainn Ó DúgáinMaolsheachlainn Ó DúgáinMaolsheachlainn Ó Dúgáin, Irish scribe, fl. mid-19th century.A native of Claregalway, Ó Dúgáin was a relation of Tomás Bacach Ó Dúgáin and Liam Ó Dúgáin, all of the same parish. His scribal work consists of songs.-References:...
, (fl. mid-19th century), scribe. - Liam Ó DúgáinLiam Ó DúgáinLiam Ó Dúgáin, Irish scribe, fl. mid-19th century.A native of Claregalway, Ó Dúgáin was a relation of Tomás Bacach Ó Dúgáin and Maolsheachlainn Ó Dúgáin, all of the same parish...
, (fl. mid-19th century), scribe. - Seánie DugganSeánie DugganSeánie Duggan is a retired Irish sportsman. He played hurling with his local club Liam Mellows and with the Galway senior inter-county team from 1943 until 1953. Duggan is regarded as one of the greatest players never to have won an All-Ireland medal.-Club:Duggan played his club hurling with his...
(born 1922), retired Irish sportsman. - Joe DuganJoe DuganJoseph Anthony Dugan , was an American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Jumping Joe", he played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and third baseman from 1917 through 1931. Dugan played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Boston Braves and Detroit...
(1897–1982), American baseball player from 1917–1931 - General Michael DuganMichael DuganGeneral Michael J. Dugan was briefly the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force for 79 days in 1990 until he was dismissed by United States Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney after telling reporters that the U.S. military planned to target Saddam Hussein, his family, and even his mistress in...
(born 1937), former Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force - Raymond Smith DuganRaymond Smith DuganRaymond Smith Dugan was an American astronomer and a graduate of Amherst College in Massachusetts .Dugan obtained his Masters Degree from Amherst College in 1902, and then received his Ph.D...
, (1878–1940), American Astronomer, textbook author and professor at Princeton University - Jeremiah DugganJeremiah DugganJeremiah Duggan was a British student at the Sorbonne who died on 27 March 2003 in Wiesbaden, Germany, while attending a youth cadre school organized by the LaRouche movement, an international network led by the American political activist Lyndon LaRouche....
(1980-2003), British student who died in disputed circumstances linked to the LaRouche movementLaRouche movementThe LaRouche movement is an international political and cultural network that promotes Lyndon LaRouche and his ideas. It has included scores of organizations and companies around the world. Their activities include campaigning, private intelligence gathering, and publishing numerous periodicals,...
.