Richard J. Daley

born May 15, 1902 in Chicago, Illinois died December 20, 1976 in Chicago, Illinois

Richard Joseph Daley was Chicago's third mayor from Bridgeport in a row. He served longer than any other person as the mayor of Chicago. According to Chicago folksinger Steve Goodman, no man "could inspire more love, more hate." Known to the world as a Democrat, Daley's first elected position was as a Republican member of the Illinois legislature. When Republican David Shanahan died, Daley switched parties long enough to be elected to serve out his term and, immediately after the election, returned to the Democratic party. Daley suffered his only political defeat in 1946 when he lost a bid to become Cook County sheriff. Known for party politics, Daley was instrumental in electing John F. Kennedy in 1960. Major construction during his terms in office resulted in O'Hare, the Sears Tower, McCormick Place and other Chicago landmarks. 1968 was a bad year for Daley, between his order to shoot to kill rioters in the aftermath of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination and the riots which occured during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Despite revisionism, most of Chicago supported Daley's actions during the DNC. 1968 is when Daley uttered one of his most memorable phrases, "Gentlemen, get the thing straight, once and for all: the policeman isn't there to create disorder, the policeman is there to preserve disorder."

Daley's son, Richard M. Daley would be elected mayor of Chicago in 1989.