When Richard M. Daley became mayor in 1989, Chicago faced a number of problems. The “council wars” of that decade had drawn attention to and exacerbated bitter racial divisions. A growing number of Chicagoans had begun to lose faith in the city’s ability to provide basic services and ensure access to education, police protection, and affordable housing. And the economy was changing, too. Well-paying manufacturing jobs were disappearing, and residents worried whether Chicago would adapt.

Valerie Jarrett, Chicago Planning Commissioner (1991-1995) summarizes the challenges facing Chicago when Daley took office:

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A New Global Economy

Through most of Chicago’s history, the global economy has been important for the city. From the late 1800s, Chicago had been a center for manufacturing and for such industries as meatpacking. Consumer and industrial goods produced and processed there were sold throughout the world. By the late 1980s, however, the number of manufacturing jobs declined.

Reminders of Chicago’s legacy as a manufacturing and distribution center:

[img: Hollenbach Sausage Shop Factory Outlet, undated. Hollenbach Sausage Company records, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, Holl18_0030_0010_014.]

[img: Industrial buildings at Rice Street and Hoyne Avenue in Chicago, 1967. Photo: Frank Las Photography. Richard J. Daley collection, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, RJD_04_01_0026_0005_003.]: contentDM: http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm/ref/collection/uic_rjdaley/id/4143 

[img: Union Stock Yard Gate with truck passing underneath its arch, 1972. Richard J. Daley collection, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, RJD_04_01_0033_0014_002.]

While labor-saving technologies contributed to much of this decline, global competition played an important role. Some firms relocated from Chicago to areas where labor was cheaper. The economies in other countries, particularly in East Asia and in what would eventually become the European Union, grew stronger. 

Two documents illustrate the importance of European and East Asian markets in the 1980s.

[img: The first page of a Chicago Board of Trade report on global marketing notes the new challenges from European markets, May 1987. Chicago Board of Trade Records, part 2, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, CBT0076_03_0003_0001_001b.]

[img: A Chicago Board of Trade memo explores Japanese commodity markets, July 20, 1988. Chicago Board of Trade Records, part 2, University of Illinois at Chicago, CBT0076_03_0039_0008_003a.]

Those changes offered opportunities for trade and newer approaches to investment. But they also undermined the United States'--and Chicago's--reliance on manufacturing. The question was now whether Chicago could adapt to these changes.

John McCarron discusses globalization and its challenges for Chicago..

[clip: RMDOH_01_mccarron_john_20190418_000810_000933_Globalization]

A new beginning for Chicago

[img: Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago, circa 1989. Richard M. Daley papers, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, RMD16_06_0002_0011_008.]

Richard M. Daley became Chicago's mayor in the wake of the racial divisions, loss of faith, and transformations in the global economy that had become so evident in the 1980s.

The son of Richard J. Daley (mayor, 1955-1976), Richard M. had long served the public. He was a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention (1970), an Illinois state senator (1973-1980), and state's attorney for Cook County (1981-1989). He had sought the Democratic nomination for mayor in 1983, but lost to Harold Washington in that election.

[img: Illinois State Senator Richard M. Daley (center) stands with his father, Mayor Richard J. Daley, to his left and Alderman Michael Bilandic to his right on a boat on Lake Michigan during a Chicago Park District fish derby, circa 1972-1976. Photo: Laszlo Kondor. Laszlo Kondor Photograph collection, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, MSLASZ13_0003_0004_039.]

[img: Flyer promotes Richard M. Daley for Cook County State's Attorney, 1980. Richard M. Daley papers, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, EXH_RMD16_06_0002_0001_013.]

[img: Poster promotes Richard M. Daley for mayor of Chicago, 1983. Richard M. Daley papers, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, EXH_RMD16_06_0004_0004_001]

When he announced for mayor, Daley said, "it's time for a new beginning in Chicago":

[note: quote] The name-calling and politics at City Hall are keeping us from tackling the real issues.

It’s time we stop fighting each other, and start working together.

--Richard M. Daley, “Statement of Candidacy,” Richard M. Daley papers, University of Illinois at Chicago Library. Box 6-2, folder 8.

Read the speech in which Richard M. Daley announced his candidacy for mayor on December 5, 1988.

[img: Richard M. Daley announces his candidacy for mayor of Chicago in this speech. First page, December 5, 1988. Richard M. Daley papers, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, EXH_RMD16_06_0002_0008_009_pg01.]

[img: Richard M. Daley announces his candidacy for mayor of Chicago in this speech. Second page, December 5, 1988. Richard M. Daley papers, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, EXH_RMD16_06_0002_0008_009_pg02.]

During the campaign, Daley addressed globalization. He promised to stem the loss of manufacturing jobs, secure new ones, and help Chicago adapt to new economic trends.

[note: quote] Chicago can make up for the shift in business trends by taking the forefront in the fight for new jobs in growing fields like finance and health care. Chicago cannot afford to focus on only one economic sector, ignoring the growth industries of the 1990s.

-- ["Daley's Economic Development Platform," p. 3, February 13, 1989, in "The Daley Agenda for Chicago's Future," Richard M. Daley papers, box 1-7 folder 1]

[img: Richard M. Daley shakes hands at a 47th Ward mayoral election campaign event, 1989. Photo: Sandy Bertog. Richard J. Daley collection, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, RJD_04_01_0038_0004_001.]

Daley won the election and took the oath of office on April 24, 1989. Over the next 22 years, he tried to balance the needs of Chicagoans with his vision for meeting the challenges of globalization.

LIsten to Mayor Daley’s first inauguration speech.

[clip: Possibly clip from Crawford collection? RMD's inauguration speech, April 24, 1989: Bob Crawford Audio Archive, RMDaley02-3: 12 minutes, 15 seconds]