One of the things that amazed me was that he enjoyed every event. It could be the one-hundredth parade of the year and you would think that it truly was the first one. He loved people. He loved parades. He loved the excitement. He loved his job.
Patricia Daley-Martino, daughter of Richard J. Daley, interview excerpt, June 12, 2002
The [United States] State Department and other people always knew that they could bring people to Chicago. That was because they would get the best reception of all, the most lavish dinners, and the biggest parades. That was because they knew they could count on Richard J. Daley to put on a good performance. With New York, there was the first time around with the astronauts, sure. But then, after the second, third, and fourth ones, they didn’t. Chicago always still got them because we still put on a good show. He just loved showing off his city.
Ed Bedore, City Budget Director, May 18, 2009