The voice was later reported to have been that of an aide of Chicago Mayor Edward J. Kelley, one of the city's legendary bosses.

Mayor Richard M. Daley, the son of the legendary boss of the Chicago machine, much prefers the role of efficient manager to ward politician.

Resisting those demands, Professor Lurie noted, was none other than Frank Hague, the legendary boss of Jersey City and Hudson County.

Pat Marcy (September 6, 1913 - March 13, 1993) was a legendary political boss with great influence over the Illinois Democratic Party.

William Marcy Tweed, the legendary political boss, controlled the State Legislature and City Hall and stole (in current dollars) $250 million to build his famous courthouse.

Like quite a few of the legendary bosses of American politics, he was essentially a dour, inward-looking man, no natural practitioner of "Last Hurrah conviviality.

The city's legendary boss, Mayor Richard J. Daley, built much of modern Chicago, including many of its high-rise cages for the poor.

Another legendary boss, Luciano Liggio, once said that Mr. Provenzano "shoots like a god but has the brains of a chicken."

In the late 1990's, as a top executive at General Electric, he was one of three contenders to succeed G.E.'s legendary boss, Jack Welch.

Mayor Richard M. Daley, the son of the legendary boss of the Democratic machine, "has not addressed a ward organization in years," said Mr. Green.