Governing the City
He saw government and public service as the way to accomplish something. It wasn’t a means to make wealth as the private sector is. It was the means to do something for somebody else. Sure, there’s an ego in it. Yes, there is success. You move up. You’re a county clerk, then you become the mayor. That’s fine. But he taught us by both example and in word that you can do things in government that you can’t do in the private sector, and people in the private sector don’t do. They don’t look out for the little guy. They don’t look out for the greater good.
William Daley, son of Richard J. Daley, interview excerpt, December 5, 2008
img: [Richard J. Daley is interviewed on camera for Chicago’s 120 Anniversary celebration, circa. 1957. Photo: Pics Chicago. RJD_04_01_0014_0010_006. Richard J. Daley collection, University of Illinois Chicago ]
img: [Mayor Richard J. Daley presides over City Council meeting, circa 1972-1976. Photo: László Kondor. MSLASZ13_0001_0011_001. Laszlo Kondor photograph collection, University of Illinois Chicago.]
