Richard M. Daley became Chicago's mayor in 1989 amid the racial divisions, loss of faith, and new global economy.

By 1989, he already had a long record of public service. Like his father, Richard J. Daley (Chicago mayor, 1955-1976), Richard M. served as Democratic committeeman for the 11th ward, which served his home neighborhood of Bridgeport.

Mary Carol Vanecko, Daley's sister, remembers the importance of her brother's roots in Bridgeport:






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.]

Daley's elected positions were many. He served in state government as a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention (1970) and state senator (1973-1980), and state's attorney for Cook County (1981-1989).


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.]

Frank Kruesi, longtime friend and former aide, remembers their time as roommates while Daley was state senator:



In 1980, Daley won election as Cook County State's Attorney.

William Daley explains how his brother won the election in a very close race:



While state's attorney, Daley briefly entered mayoral politics. He sought the Democratic nomination for mayor in 1983, but he lost to Harold Washington.



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 in 1988, Daley said, "it's time for a new beginning in Chicago":

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.

Read the speech in which Richard M. Daley announced his candidacy for mayor on December 5, 1988.
Daley's campaign "Agenda" addressed globalization. He promised to stem the loss of manufacturing jobs, secure new ones, and help Chicago adapt to new economic trends.

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.

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, as reported by Bob Crawford of WBBM Chicago: