In a small town deep in southern Illinois, the legacy of Paul Powell, a political powerhouse of the mid-1900s, faces an uncertain future. Powell, known for his influence and slogan 'The only thing worse than a defeated politician is a broke one,' left behind a complicated legacy with the discovery of $800,000 cash in a scandalous incident that rocked the state.
His birthplace in Vienna, a town with a population of 1,300 people, has served as a museum for decades, faithfully maintained by the Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society. Preserving the home as it was during Powell's time in office, the society now faces financial challenges as the trust that sustained the property is close to depletion.
