Kingmaker
Good Government Is Good Politics1 of 8
Democratic candidates for office at the local, state, and even national levels sought Daley’s endorsement.
Richard J. Daley speaking to members of the media at the Democratic National Convention in 1964. Photo: Mart Studios. RJD_04_01_0048_0011_003
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Rally for Senator Humphrey, Democratic nominee for vice president, in Chicago, LaSalle St. across from City Hall, 1964. Photo: Chicago Fire Department. RJD_04_01_0048_0019_009
Everybody wanted him at their political functions. Just to have the mayor there was a success story.
Ed Kelly, Chicago Park District Superintendent 1973-1986, interview excerpt, December 11, 2003
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Mayor Richard J. Daley behind a podium with Senator Walter Mondale. Mondale later served as Vice President of the United States from 1977 to 1981, ca. 1970s. RJD_04_01_0052_0014_001
Most of the presidential candidates that were running at that time all stopped by to visit him. They’d be sitting there and you could see they were nervous. And these were very important people—senators, congressmen, and people who had been in Washington for a long time, and were very influential. I told my husband it reminded me of that scene in The Godfather where they were all waiting to go in and ask a favor of the godfather on the day of his daughter’s wedding.
Roseanne Bonoma, Richard J. Daley’s Secretary, interview excerpt, October 3, 2014
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Adlai Stevenson II with Richard J. Daley on the podium at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, 1956. RJD_04_01_0013_0006_005
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We were walked into the White House the day after the inauguration [of President John F. Kennedy]….The first thing he [Kennedy] said was, “I would not be here if it wasn’t for your dad. I would not be the president.”
John Daley, son of Richard J. Daley, interview excerpt, May 9, 2007
William Daley, Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, President John F. Kennedy, Eleanor Daley, Patricia Daley, John Daley, Mary Carol Daley, Eleanor R. Daley, and Michael Daley in the White House, 1961. RJD_04_01_0047_0016_004
