Bailouts and Community

“Dodge Main”—the name of the huge Chrysler plant in Hamtramck—was often the first English phrase learned by Poles arriving in Detroit. Over half a century it produced 14 million cars and helped integrate into mainstream society successive waves of immigrants from Europe and the American South. In 1978 the factory supported 5,000 workers, their families, and the small businesses that served them.

That same year Lee Iacocca took over as president of the Chrysler Corporati...