Mayor Daley named people from varied backgrounds to high-ranking positions.

John Schmidt, Daley’s chief of staff (1989), discusses the first cabinet:

Read the press release that announced Mayor Daley’s first cabinet:

Father Michael Pfleger explains the importance of symbolism when Daley appointed minorities to leadership positions.

img: [Cortez Trotter speaks at the press conference in which Mayor Richard M. Daley has named him Chicago's new fire commissioner. Mayor Daley stands to Trotter's left., April 1, 2004. Richard M. Daley papers, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, EXH_RMD16_07_0276_0006_020A]img: [Terry Hillard speaks at the press conference at which Mayor Richard M. Daley has named him superintendent of the Chicago Police Department February 18, 1998. Mayor Daley looks on. Richard M. Daley papers, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, EXH_RMD16_07_0158_0014_001_011A]