Archives/Special Collections, University of Illinois at Springfield

Q: Yes, any of those people
A: Well one time we had an example over at a little town over here in my district. I was
following the girl operating it. I don't know, they got their signals mixed up. And neither
one of them reported one day. One thought the other was going to be there. And sure
enough, why, I happened to drop in, and the thing was closed.
Q: Well!
A: Then Ciaccio or what's his name, he immediately wanted to fire them all se'. BUL it
turned out that this fellow \!.as going to run for an office, political office. And I said, "Well
there's no use of firing him. He's going to run for an office. And," I said, "he might be
a good vote-getter and if he gets eIected and we don't need him, you're not going to have
to fire him anyway. And if he don't get elected, he'd have to resign heforr he'd run for
the office anyway. And then you won't have to hire him hack." Funny thing, though, this
fellow died and we didn't have to do anything so . . .
Q: Well. Solved the problem
A: Yes
Q: Let's see, this person - that's C-I-11-C-C-0, wasn't it?
A: Ciaccio was his name. They ralled hini Side Show
Q: Side Show
A: IIe was Ciacrio. IIe mas Paul's administrative assistant
Q: Was he pretty effertive?
A: Well, yes. He had to be real good I guess or Paul wouldn't have had him. IIe was an
administrator. He had some kind of a arthritis. I don't knon whether he's still living ur
not anymore, could he. He was a lawyer in Springfield, I think, of sonle type. Hut I could
tell he resented me heing too close to Po\velI. Whether he thought I was reporting on him
or something that he didn't know anything about or what, I don't know.
Q: Did Powell have others like that in other vicinities'!
A: Hr didn't to start with. I was the only one. And then he had to find jobs, I guess, for
somebody. And he put a couple of more on. I guess he put somp people on who were controversial,
you know, and they prohahly got an inquiry because I rrmemher him telling me,
"We're sure going to have to watch what we do. They're watching us pretty close now." ilnd
hefore I guess he got this money mayhe out of the - I was paid out of the kitty.
Q: Well, do you think maybe that might have had - what was his name - Porcaro, I think
they called hini . . .
A: Oh, yes, that's right, I'orcaro, he's another one, t.hat's right. I always recall that I'o\vc,ll
sap, "When I went to his wedding, I knelt down and he took from me and" - ahout all
he said. He thought he was t.he most trusted man he fvas and then he got into trouhle
on his drivers license that time. That's one reason he . . .
Q: Had to tighten up?
A: Yes. The last few months I had it, t.he last six months mayhe, we had distrirts. HI,
had to have more johs I guess so he got to divide it up some. So he give a fellow ilo\\-n
Carl Wittmond Memoir -- Archives/Special Collections, University of Illinois at Springfield