Today in Chicago History: Ex-US House Speaker Dennis Hastert charged with lying to FBI

News Room

Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 28, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

  • High temperature: 95 degrees (2018)
  • Low temperature: 33 degrees (1992)
  • Precipitation: 1.76 inches (1908)
  • Snowfall: Trace (1908)
Chicago Bears coach Jim Dooley stands between Gale Sayers, left, and Dick Butkus in 1968. (Phil Mascione/Chicago Tribune)

1968: Jim Dooley was introduced as Chicago Bears head coach after George Halas announced his retirement.

Ben Johnson is the 19th Chicago Bears head coach. Here’s a look at how past coaches fared — and why they left.

Halas’ send-off of “Good luck, kid” to his successor immediately turned to bad luck and haunted Dooley through season records of 7-7, 1-13, 6-8 and 6-8. Dooley’s record was 20-36 (.357) from 1968-71, and he became the first Bears head coach to be fired by the organization.

White Sox are not alone in their losing. Disappointment is a common theme throughout Chicago’s sports history.

1995: The Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers set a major league record with 12 home runs and combined for an American League-record 21 extra-base hits in the Sox’s 14-12 win.

Federal prosecutors alleged in an indictment on May 28, 2015, that former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million in apparent hush money to a longtime acquaintance to cover-up wrongdoing in his past, then lied to the FBI when asked about suspicious cash withdrawals from several banks. (Chicago Tribune)
Federal prosecutors alleged in an indictment on May 28, 2015, that former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million in apparent hush money to a longtime acquaintance to cover up wrongdoing in his past, then lied to the FBI when asked about suspicious cash withdrawals from several banks. (Chicago Tribune)

2015: A federal indictment alleged former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million to someone from Yorkville — identified as Individual A in the charges — so the person would stay quiet about “prior misconduct.” Hastert, according to federal prosecutors, then lied to the FBI when asked about suspicious cash withdrawals from several banks. Hastert pleaded not guilty.

A 2016 court filing by federal prosecutors revealed allegations that Hastert sexually abused five students decades earlier.

Dennis Hastert timeline: Key events in the rise and fall of the former U.S. House speaker

In a packed Chicago courtroom, Hastert acknowledged in April 2016 that he sexually abused several boys he coached on the Yorkville High School wrestling team in the 1960s and 1970s. U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin repeatedly slammed Hastert as a “serial child molester” and sentenced Hastert to 15 months in prison, sex offender treatment, two years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

Want more vintage Chicago?

Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com

Related posts