Interviewees and Transcripts
Oral History Contributors
Interviews, transcripts, and brief biographies of the friends, family members, and colleagues of Mayor Richard J. Daley who made this online exhibit possibleA. Abboud, Robert (b. 1929 — )
Served as the president and chief operating officer of Occidental Petroleum Corporation, independent co-chairman of Ivanhoe Energy Inc., chairman of First Chicago Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago, chairman of First City Bank Corporation of Texas, and chairman of ACB International, Ltd.A. Robert Abboud, interview transcript [PDF], December 3, 2009
Adduci, Alexander A. (b. 1930 — )
Alderman, Chicago’s Ninth Ward (1971 – 1979).Alexander, Adduci interview transcript [PDF], July 18, 2014
Bedore, Ed (b. 1932 — )
Grew up in Bridgeport and graduated from De La Salle High School and DePaul University. Served as City Budget Director (1970-76) and was one of Richard J. Daley’s trusted cabinet members.Edward J. Bedore, interview transcript [PDF], May 18, 2009
Edward J. Bedore, interview transcript [PDF], October 1, 2009
Berman, Arthur (b. 1935 — d. 2020)
Precinct captain in Edgewater in 1955. Elected to state legislature in 1969, and then to the Illinois state senate in 1977, where he worked for education reform.Arthur Berman, interview transcript [PDF], October 8, 2003
Bonoma, Roseanne (b. 1938 — )
Secretary for the Cook County Democratic Party and neighbor of Richard J. Daley.Roseanne Bonoma, interview transcript [PDF], October 3, 2014
Burke, Ed (b. 1943 — )
Democratic committeeman and alderman for Chicago’s Fourteenth Ward (1969 – present). First elected in 1969.Ed Burke, interview transcript [PDF], July 22, 2014
Ed Burke, interview transcript [PDF], August 5, 2014
Ed Burke, interview transcript [PDF], October 20, 2014
Butler, Jerome (b. 1928 — )
Served as architect for the city of Chicago from 1966 to 1979, during which time he oversaw the award-winning Navy Pier restoration. He later served as Chicago’s Commissioner of Public Works (1979-1985) and Commissioner of Aviation (1985 – 1987).Jerome Butler, interview transcript [PDF], July 8, 2002
Carter, Jimmy (b. 1924 — )
Governor of Georgia (1971 – 1975) and president of the United States (1977 – 1981).Jimmy Carter, interview transcript [PDF], October 17, 2014
Christensen, Robert W. (b. 1932 — d. 2021)
Executive director, Public Building Commission (1961 – 1974). Studied engineering at Northwestern University (BS 1955, MS 1956) under Frederick T. Aschman.Robert Christensen, interview transcript [PDF], September 8, 2003
Compton, James (b. 1939 — )
Civic leader and civil rights activist. Worked in the Chicago Public School system and later served as president of the Chicago Urban League (1978 – 2006).James Compton, interview transcript [PDF], August 27, 2010
Crown, Lester (b. 1925 — )
President of Henry Crown & Company and director of the Continental Illinois Bank, Transworld Airlines, and Esmark. Friend of former Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson II.Crown, Lester, interview transcript [PDF], August 31, 2009
Curry, Richard L. (b. 1929 — d. 2015)
Served as law clerk for Daley & Lynch. He later served as assistant corporation counsel for the city of Chicago and then as corporation counsel (1970 – 1974). Elected circuit court judge in 1974.Richard L. Curry, written statement [PDF]. November 10, 2014
Daley, Eleanor “Sis” (b. 1907 – d. 2003)
Wife of Richard J. Daley.Eleanor Daley, interview transcript [PDF], July 18, 2002
Eleanor Daley, interview transcript [PDF], October 9, 2002
Eleanor Daley, interview transcript [PDF], October 16, 2002
Eleanor Daley, interview transcript [PDF], January 17, 2003
Eleanor Daley, interview transcript [PDF], February 5, 2003
Eleanor Daley, interview transcript [PDF], February 12, 2003
Daley, John (b. 1946 — )
Son of Richard J. Daley, John Daley now serves as the Eleventh Ward Democratic Committeeman and serves on the Cook County Board of Commissioners (1992 – present).John Daley, interview transcript [PDF], May 9, 2007
Daley, Michael (b. 1943 — )
Son of Richard J. Daley and partner at Daley & Georges law firm since 1970. He has never sought or held elected public office.Michael Daley, interview transcript [PDF], July 21, 2006
Daley, Richard M. (b. 1942 — )
Eldest son of Richard J. Daley. He served as Eleventh Ward Democratic Committeeman (1976 – 1980), Illinois state senator (1972 – 1980), the State’s Attorney for Cook County (1981 – 1989), and mayor of Chicago (1989 – 2011).Richard M. Daley, interview transcript [PDF], March 11, 2009
Daley, William “Bill” (b. 1948 — )
Youngest son of Richard J. Daley. Served as Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton (1997 – 2000), as campaign manager for Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore in 2000, and as chief of staff for President Barack Obama (2011 – 2012).William Daley, interview transcript [PDF], December 5, 2008
William Daley, interview transcript [PDF], January 12, 2009
Daley-Martino, Patricia (b. 1937 — )
Eldest daughter of Richard J. Daley.Patricia Daley-Martino, interview transcript [PDF], June 12, 2002
Donovan, Tom (b. 1938 — )
Hired as an administrative assistant to Mayor Richard J. Daley in 1969, under which position he was responsible for patronage. He later served as president of the Chicago Board of Trade (1982 – 2000).Tom Donovan, interview transcript [PDF], April 2, 2009
Dunne, George (b. 1913 – d. 2006)
President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners (1969 – 1991).George Dunne, interview transcript [PDF], December 16, 2003
Durbin, Sen. Richard J. (b. 1944 — )
Served as legal counsel for Lieutenant Governor Paul Simon (1969 – 1972) and then for the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee (1972 – 1982). He later represented Illinois in the United States Congress (1983 – 1996) and Senate (1997 – present).Richard Durbin, interview transcript [PDF], September 8, 2014
Elrod, Richard (b. 1934 – d. 2014)
Assistant corporation counsel for city of Chicago (1958 – 1965), Chicago’s chief prosecutor (1967 – 1969), Illinois state legislator (1969 – 1970), and Cook County sheriff (1970 – 1986). In October 1969, he was partially paralyzed after trying to apprehend a suspect during the “Days of Rage” protest in Chicago.Richard Elrod, interview transcript [PDF], April 10, 2009
Fitzgerald, Joseph (b. 1928 — )
Chicago Building Commissioner (1969 – 1979).Joseph Fitzgerald, interview transcript [PDF], July 24, 2014
Frost, Wilson (b. 1925 — d. 2018)
Served as alderman for Chicago’s Thirty-fourth Ward (1967 – 1987).Frost, Wilson, interview transcript [PDF], November 13, 2014
Gavin, Vince (b. ? — )
Headed Mayor Richard J. Daley’s security detail (1967 – 1975), and later served on the Chicago Liquor Commission (1975 – 1979).Vince Gavin, interview transcript [PDF], June 19, 2014
Graham, Gilbert (b. 1921 – d. 2008)
Roman Catholic priest, lifelong friend, and unofficial chaplain to the Daley family. He delivered the eulogy at Richard J. Daley’s funeral.Father Gilbert Graham, interview transcript [PDF], November 17, 2003
Hartigan, Neil (b. 1938 — )
Worked for the city of Chicago as legislative counsel, as a member of the Board of Health, as a member of the Chicago Park District, and as liquor commissioner. He later served as Illinois’s lieutenant governor of Illinois (1973 – 1977) and attorney general in (1983 – 1991).Neil Hartigan, interview transcript [PDF], February 19, 2009
Heineman, Ben W. (b. 1914 – d. 2012)
Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad who was a friend to Richard J. Daley. Heineman also served the public in several capacities. Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson named Heineman special assistant attorney general for Illinois to investigate cigarette tax fraud in 1951. Heineman headed the Illinois Board of Higher Education (1962-1969), and in 1966 he chaired Mayor Daley’s Chicago Civil Rights Summit Conference on Fair Housing. He also served on several commissions for President Lyndon B. Johnson.Ben Heineman, interview transcript [PDF], October 22, 2003
Hynes, Thomas (b. 1932 — d. 2019)
Served in the Illinois State Senate (1971 – 1979) and was president of that body for the last two years of his tenure.Thomas Hynes, interview transcript [PDF], March 10, 2010
Kelly, Ed (b. 1924 — )
Worked for thirty-eight years at the Chicago Park District, eventually becoming its superintendent. As Forty-seventh Ward Committeeman (1968 – 1975), he befriended Richard J. Daley, managed his final campaign, and was with the mayor the day he died.Ed Kelly, interview transcript [PDF], December 11, 2003
Kondor, László. (b. 1940 — )
Mayor Richard J. Daley’s official photographer (1972 – 1976).Laszlo Kondor, interview transcript [PDF], November 6, 2013
Madigan, Michael (b. 1942 — )
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1971 – present). He has served as speaker of that body (1983 – 1995, 1997 – present ).Michael Madigan, interview transcript [PDF], August 10, 2009
McDonough, James (b. 1933 — d. 2019)
Commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation (1968 – 1974) and later chairman of the Chicago Transit Authority (1976 – 1980).James McDonough, interview transcript [PDF], September 17, 2003
Minow, Newton (b. 1926 — )
Worked for the presidential campaigns of Adlai Stevenson II (1952, 1956) and John F. Kennedy (1960). Served as chair of Federal Communications Commission (1961 – 1963).Newton Minow, interview transcript [PDF], October 2, 2003
Natarus, Burton (b. 1933 — d. 2020)
Alderman from the Forty-second Ward (1971 – 2007).Burton Natarus, interview transcript [PDF], June 16, 2010
Nolan, Gene (b. ? — )
A police officer who served on Richard J. Daley’s security detail.Gene Nolan, interview transcript [PDF], September 4, 2003
O’Connor, Jim (b. ? — )
Attorney who worked for Commonwealth Edison Company (1963 – 1998), eventually serving as its president and later as its chief executive officer.James O'Connor, interview transcript [PDF], July 22, 2014
Parker, Jack (b. ? — )
Longtime friend and neighbor of Richard J. Daley.Jack Parker, interview transcript [PDF], August 13, 2009
Pavia, Richard (b. 1930 – d. 2010)
Became assistant commissioner in Chicago’s department of water and sewers in 1966. He later served as the city’s water commissioner (1973-1979).Richard Pavia, interview transcript [PDF], June 20, 2002
Pounian, Charles A. (b. ? — )
Director of Personnel for the city of Chicago (1960 – 1985).Charles A. Pounian, interview transcript [PDF], September 3, 2003
Quinlan, Catherine “Kay” (b.? — )
Richard J. Daley’s personal secretary (1967 – 1976).Kay Quinlan, interview transcript [PDF], August 7, 2014
Reilly, Frank (b. 1921 – d. 2015)
Associate at the law firm of Daley & Lynch, of which Richard J. Daley was a partner.Frank Reilly, interview transcript [PDF], July 20, 2010
Riley, James (b. 1937 — )
Businessman who assisted Richard J. Daley in his 1967, 1971, and 1975 runs for mayor.James Riley, interview transcript [PDF], October 30, 2014
James Riley, interview transcript [PDF], June 16, 2015
Rostenkowski, Dan (b. 1928 – d. 2010)
Chicago Democratic ward committeeman and congressman (1959 – 1995).Dan Rostenkowski, interview transcript [PDF], July 1, 2004
Dan Rostenkowski, interview transcript [PDF], June 3, 2005
Sain, Ken (b.? — )
Administrative assistant to Richard J. Daley (1968 – 1972) and deputy mayor of Chicago (1972 – 1976).Ken Sain, interview transcript [PDF], April 17, 2015
Seith, Alex (b. 1934 – d. 2010)
Democratic activist and politician. He served as chairman of the Young Democrats of Cook County (1965 – 1966) and served on numerous boards. In 1978 and 1984, he unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate.Alex Seith, interview transcript [PDF], December 19, 2008
Simon, Ray (b. 1932 — )
Simon served as corporation counsel for the city of Chicago (1965 – 1969).Ray Simon, interview transcript [PDF], June 30, 2010
Stevenson III, Adlai E. (b. 1930 — )
A Democratic politician from Illinois, Stevenson served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1965 – 1967), as Illinois Treasurer (1967 – 1970), and as a member of the United States Senate (1970 – 1981).Adlai Stevenson III, interview transcript [PDF], July 9, 2003
Stone, Bernard (b. 1927 – d. 2014)
Alderman for Chicago’s Fiftieth Ward (1973 – 2011).Bernard Stone, interview transcript [PDF], July 1, 2010
Suloway, Marshall (b. 1921 – d. 2014)
Civil engineer who worked in the Illinois Highway Department (1950 – 1964). From 1964 on, he served the city of Chicago under Richard J. Daley as Chief Subway and Highway Engineer, Chief Engineer, and Commissioner for Public Works.Marshall Suloway, interview transcript [PDF], August 11, 2003
Thompson, Courtney (b. 1967 — )
Granddaughter of Richard J. Daley.Courtney Thompson, interview transcript [PDF], August 5, 2002
Thompson, Patrick (b. 1969 — )
Grandson of Richard J. Daley. He won election to the position of alderman for Chicago’s Eleventh Ward in 2015.Patrick Thompson, interview transcript [PDF], June 13, 2002
Thompson, Peter (b. 1968 — )
Grandson of Richard J. Daley.Peter Thompson, interview transcript [PDF], June 11, 2002
Vanecko, Mark G. (b. 1966 — )
Grandson of Richard J. Daley.Mark G. Vanecko, interview transcript [PDF], July 9, 2014
Vanecko, Mary Carol (b. 1938 — )
Daughter of Richard J. Daley.Mary Carol Vanecko, interview transcript [PDF], March 5, 2009
Vanecko, Robert G. (b. 1965 — )
Grandson of Richard J. Daley.Robert G. Vanecko, interview transcript [PDF], March 5, 2010
Vanecko, Robert M. (b. 1935 — )
Husband of Mary Carol Vanecko and son-in-law to Richard J. Daley.Robert M. Vanecko, interview transcript [PDF], March 8, 2010
Weithers, John (b. 1933 – d. 2013)
Assisted in Richard J. Daley’s 1967 campaign for mayor and for a time served on Chicago’s Public Building Commission. He worked as an executive for the Midwest Stock Exchange.John Weithers, interview transcript [PDF], October 7, 2003
Young, Andrew (b. 1932 — )
Civil rights activist who worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and accompanied Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his visit to Chicago in 1966. He later served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1977 – 1979) and Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia (1981 – 1989).Andrew Young, interview transcript [PDF], October 20, 2014
