Richardson Dilworth: Last of the Bare- Knuckled Aristocrats

by Peter Binzen with Jonathan Binzen

the rollicking story of Philadelphia’s crusading district attorney, mayor, and school-board president

“Richardson Dilworth straddled all of the nuanced corners of Philadelphia’s political and civic worlds. A blue blood, he was a brilliant agitator for political and municipal reform while making room in his government for the ethnic and street-based Democratic political organization. The result was that Dilworth forged a better Philadelphia. His penchant for the fight and his larger-than-life persona are captured with great style and insight by the father-son team of Peter and Jonathan Binzen.”  

– Sam Katz, Executive Producer, Philadelphia: The Great Experiment

“Dilworth all but rises from his grave…

– Steve Weinberg, Philadelphia Inquirer

News & Coverage

Commentary: Joys of peacetime follow horrors of battle, by Peter Binzen, Philadelphia Inquirer, March 29, 2016.

Like Trump’s business skill? Look at Taj Mahal case, by Peter Binzen, Philadelphia Inquirer, March 2, 2016.

Claude Lewis made history – and covered it, by Peter Binzen, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 19, 2016.

A  Philadelphia StoryThe Lawrentian, Spring, 2015 (p. 18).

Nearly everybody read the Bulletin … and Peter Binzen, by Jake Blumgart, Philly Voice, March 24, 2015.

Jawnts: Dilworth was a fighter, by Jake Blumgart, Philadelphia Inquirer, March 8, 2015.

Promise, hope in city schools, by Peter Binzen, Philadelphia Inquirer, February 8, 2015.

19102 Review: Richardson Dilworth: Last of the Bare-Knuckled AristocratsPhiladelphia City Paper, Oct. 3, 2014.

Icon Magazine, Sept. 2014, p.5.

Who you calling a wimp?Broad Street Review, August 26, 2014. See section, “Dilworth’s contrived rage.”

Interview with Peter and Jonathan BinzenWHYY Radio (90.9 FM) NewsWorks Tonight, Philadelphia, Pa, September 16, 2014

Dilworth Park Honors Man Who Transformed Philadelphia PoliticsCBS Philly, September 7, 2014

Dilworth: The man behind the parkPhiladelphia Inquirer, September 6, 2014

How Richardson Dilworth, a scion of old Pittsburgh, became one of Philadelphia’s great mayorsPittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 31, 2014

Main Liner’s book brings Richardson Dilworth to lifeMain Line Media News, July 23, 2014

Colorful account of Dilworth, a blue-blood brawler, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 22, 2014

On a sinking ship, the mayor stands tall, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 22, 2014

A debate like ‘a crowd at a wrestling match,’ Philadelphia Inquirer, June 15, 2014

A Democrat comes to town, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 8, 2014

Lens Through Time: Peter Binzen, Philadelphia: the Great Experiment (YouTube), October 10, 2012

Searching for Richardson DilworthPhiladephia Magazine, November 24, 2008