Millennium City: Richard M. Daley & Global Chicago

Complete Interviews and Transcripts

Click on any name below to access the person's full-length interview, or visit the main site for the Richard M. Daley Oral Histories (University of Illinois at Chicago).

David Axelrod. Interview. February 21, 2018

David Axelrod was media consultant for Richard M. Daley’s re-election campaign for state's attorney in 1988 and worked on Daley's campaign for mayor in 1989. He later headed Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and served as senior aide to President Obama. Interview includes discussion of the 1983-1987 Chicago City Council Wars and the 1983 and 1989 Chicago mayoral races.

Bush, George W. Interview. February 28, 2018

George W. Bush was governor of Texas (1995-2000) and president of the United States (2001-2009). Interview includes discussion of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Chico, Gery Interview. November 1, 2017

Gery Chico served as Mayor Richard M. Daley’s chief of staff (1992-1993), president of the Chicago Board of Education (1995-2001), president of the Chicago Park District (2007-2010), and chair of the Board of the City Colleges of Chicago (2010). Interview includes discussion of the 1992 Chicago Loop flood and the 1994 World Cup.

Claypool, Forrest. Interview. September 22, 2017

Forrest Claypool served under Mayor Richard M. Daley as chief of staff (1989-1991 and 1998-1999) and superintendent of the Chicago Park District (1993-1998). He later served as Cook County Commissioner (2003-2011), CEO of the Chicago Transit Authority (2011-2015), and CEO of Chicago Public Schools (2015-2017). Interview includes discussion of Richard M. Daley’s first term (1989-1991) regarding his work on school reforms, park districts, etc.

Crown, Lester. Interview. April 20, 2018

Lester Crown is a leading business figure in Chicago for many, many decades. Interview includes planning of building Millennium Park.

Daley-Conroy, Nora Interview. April 26, 2019

Nora Daley-Conroy is Richard M. Daley's eldest daughter. Interview includes discussion of Richard M. Daley's family and personal life and the 1989 Chicago mayoral race.

Daley, John Interview. September 13, 2018

John Daley, brother of Mayor Richard M. Daley, has been the Democratic committeeman for the 11th ward since 1980 and Cook County commissioner since 1993. He has also served in the Illinois House of Representatives (1985-1989) and the Illinois Senate (1989-1992). Interview includes discussion of the 1995 Chicago heat wave, the 1992 Chicago Loop flood, and of Richard M. Daley’s family and personal life.

Daley, Michael Interview. May 8, 2019

Brother of Richard M. Daley. Interview includes discussion of Richard M. Daley's time as Cook County State's Attorney, as Illinois State Senator and his family and personal life.

Daley, William. Interview. February 21, 2018

William Daley, brother of Mayor Richard M. Daley, was chief strategist for many of Richard’s campaigns, including his 1980 bid for state's attorney and his 1983 and 1989 bids for mayor. William has held numerous positions at the federal level. He served as special counsel to President Bill Clinton to secure ratification of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement (1993-1994), as U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Clinton (1997-2000), and as chief of staff for President Barack Obama (2011-2012). Interview includes discussion of Richard M. Daley’s time as Cook County State's Attorney (1981-1989) as well as his family and personal life.

Duncan, Arne. Interview. January 23, 2018

Arne Duncan was CEO of Chicago Public Schools (2001-2008) and U.S. Secretary of Education (2009-2015).

Evans, Clay. Interview. April 19, 2018

Clay Evans was pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church (retired December 2000) and a community leader in Chicago, Illinois.

Healey, Lori. Interview. October 27, 2017

Under Mayor Richard M. Daley, Lori Healey served as deputy commissioner of Chicago's Tax Increment Finance (TIF) program (1998-2000), planning commissioner (2005-2007), and chief of staff (2007-2009). Interview includes discussion of the 2016 Olympic bid.

Heard, Jackie Interview. May 1, 2019

Jackie Heard served as mayor Richard M. Daley’s press secretary (1997-2011). Interview includes discussion of urban renewal projects such as Meig's Field, the relationship between mayor's office and the press, and Richard M. Daley's family and private life.

Higginbottom, Elzie Interview. May 21, 2018

Elzie Higginbottom is a Chicago real estate developer and has endorsed Richard M. Daley in all of his mayoral campaigns since 1983.

Hillard, Terry. Interview. December 1, 2017

Terry Hillard's decades-long service in the Chicago Police Department included two stints as superintendent under Mayor Richard M. Daley (1998-2003 and 2011).

Hobson, Mellody Interview. May 22, 2018

Mellody Hobson, a Chicago area businesswoman, is president of Ariel Investments. She has chaired Chicago's After School Matters program (2012 – present) and has served on the boards of other organizations dedicated to public service, such as the Chicago Public Education Fund, the Chicago Public Library, and the Chicago Field Museum.

Huberman, Ron. Interview. September 22, 2017

Ron Huberman, a Chicago Police Officer from 1995 to 2000, served as assistant deputy superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (2000-2004), worked as a consultant for the Police Executive Research Forum, Executive Director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (2004-2005), Mayor Richard M. Daley's chief of staff (2005-2007), president of the Chicago Transit Authority (2007-2009, and CEO of the Chicago Public Schools (2009-2010).

Jarrett, Valerie Interview. December 13, 2018

Valerie Jarrett worked for Mayor Harold Washington, and later Mayor Richard M. Daley, as deputy corporation counsel for finance and development (1987-1991). In 1991, Mayor Daley named her deputy chief of staff, then, planning commissioner (1991-1995), and finally chair of the Chicago Transit Authority (1995-2003). When Barack Obama was elected president, she served as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs (2009-2016).

Katz, Marilyn Interview. June 9, 2018

Marilyn Katz is a communication strategist and founder of MK Communications. She advised Mayor Richard M. Daley on public relations during his tenure.

Kruesi, Frank. Interview. April 24, 2018

Frank Kruesi is a longtime friend and former aide to Richard M. Daley, working for him in the Illinois senate and the Cook County state's attorney's office. After Daley became mayor, Kruesi served as policy chief (1992-1996) and later as president of the Chicago Transit Authority (1997-2007). Interview includes discussion of Richard M. Daley’s time as Illinois State Senator (1973-1981) and the 1983 Chicago mayoral race.

Lavelle, Avis Interview. June 9, 2018

Avis Lavelle was Mayor Richard M. Daley’s press secretary (1989-1992), vice president of the school reform board for the Chicago Public Schools (1997-2003), and campaign manager for Daley's successful 1999 bid for re-election. Interview includes discussion of the 1983-1987 Chicago City Council Wars, race relations, and segregation.

Martino, Patricia Interview. September 13, 2018

Patricia Martino is Richard M. Daley's sister. Interview includes discussion of the 1983 mayoral race and of Richard M. Daley’s family and personal life.

McCarron, John Interview. April 18, 2019

John McCarron has written frequently on urban affairs. He was a member of the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board (1992-2000) and continues to write a monthly column for the Tribune. He has also served as vice president of planning and communication at the Metropolitan Planning Council (2000-2001). Interview includes discussion of Richard M. Daley's time as Illinois State Senator.

McKenna, Andy. Interview. April 26, 2018

Andrew McKenna, a Chicago area businessman, owns Schwarz Paper Company of Morton Grove. In 1991 he joined McDonald’s board and later served as chairman (2004-2016). He is a former chair and current member of the Chicago Commercial Club. Interview includes discussion of the 2016 Olympics bid.

Mosena, David. Interview. October 27, 2017

David Mosena was Chicago's planning commissioner under Mayor Harold Washington and remained planning commissioner under Mayor Richard M. Daley. He then served as Mayor Daley's chief of staff (1991-1992), as aviation commissioner (1992-1996), president of the Chicago Transit Authority (1996-1997), chair of the Chicago Landmarks Commission (1999-2010) and president and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry (1997 – present). Interview includes discussion of the 1992 Chicago Loop flood.

Newman, Terry Interview. May 1, 2019

Terry Newman is a retired attorney and personal friend of Richard M. Daley. Interview includes discussion of Richard M. Daley's family and personal life and the 1989 Chicago mayoral race.

O'Grady, Sheila. Interview. October 27, 2017

Sheila O'Grady was director of code enforcement for Chicago's zoning department (1993-1996), liaison for Mayor Richard M. Daley's Intergovernmental Affairs office (1996-2000), and chief of staff for the mayor (2000-2005). Interview includes discussion of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Obama, Barack Interview. December 13, 2018

Barack Obama was a Chicago community organizer, Illinois state senator (1997-2004), U.S. senator for Illinois (2005-2008), and forty-fourth president of the United States (2009-2017). Interview includes discussion of the 1983-1987 Chicago City Council Wars.

Orozco, Raymond. Interview. September 22, 2017

Raymond Orozco, fire commissioner (2006-2008) and later head of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (2008-2010), served as Mayor Richard M. Daley's chief of staff from 2010 to 2011. Interview includes discussion of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Pang, Sarah. Interview. January 12, 2018

Sarah Pang served as Mayor Richard M. Daley’s deputy chief of staff (1992-2001) and later co-chaired the 21st Century Commission on City Government. Interview includes discussion of the 1996 Democratic National Convention and the 1994 World Cup.

Peterson, Terry. Interview. December 1, 2017

Terry Peterson served as Mayor Richard M. Daley’s executive assistant (1995-1996), alderman for the seventeenth ward (1996-2000), CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority (2000-2006), campaign manager for the mayor's re-election bid in 2007, and chair of the Chicago Transit Board. Interview includes discussion of the 1995 and 2007 Chicago mayoral races.

Pfleger, Michael Interview. May 21, 2018

Father Michael Pfleger is a community activist and pastor of Saint Sabina Catholic Church in Chicago.

Reyes, Victor Interview. May 21, 2018

Victor Reyes founded the Hispanic Democratic Organization in 1993, and he served in Mayor Richard M. Daley's Intergovernmental Affairs office (1995-2000). Interview includes discussion of the Chicago Hired Truck Program.

Rogers, John Interview. May 22, 2018

John Rogers, a Chicago area businessperson, is CEO of Ariel Investments. He worked on the finance committee for Richard M. Daley's mayoral campaign in 1989 and served as chair of the board for the Chicago Park District (1993-1999). Interview includes discussion of the 1983 and 1989 Chicago mayoral races.

Rose, Don. Interview. April 24, 2019

Don Rose is a Chicago activist and political consultant and a former press secretary for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Rose has worked on a number of political campaigns, including the mayoral campaigns of Jane Byrne (1979) and Harold Washington (1977, 1983, and 1987). Interview includes discussion of the 1983 and 1989 Chicago mayoral races and Richard M. Daley's time as Cook County State's Attorney.

Samuelson, Tim Interview. April 24, 2019

Tim Samuelson is a preservationist and cultural historian in Chicago. He has served on the Chicago Commission on Historical and Architectural Landmarks and has been Chicago's official cultural historian since 2002.

Schmidt, John. Interview. November 1, 2017

John Schmidt headed Mayor Richard M. Daley's transition team in 1989 and served as his first chief of staff for about 90 days. He then chaired the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (1989-1994) before working as associate attorney general in President Bill Clinton's administration (1994-1997). Interview includes discussion of Richard M. Daley’s time as Illinois State’s Attorney (1981-1989) and his time as Illinois State Senator (1973-1981), as well as the 1989 Chicago mayoral race.

Shiller, Helen Interview. April 24, 2019

Helen Shiller was a community activist in Chicago and an alderman from the 46th ward (1987-2011). Interview includes discussion of community relations with the Chicago Police Department and the 1995 Chicago heat wave.

Stasch, Julia. Interview. October 5, 2017

Julia Stasch worked for President Bill Clinton in the General Services Administration (1994-1995) before Mayor Richard M. Daley named her as commissioner of Chicago's Department of Housing (1997-1999). Stasch then served as the mayor's chief of staff (1999-2000) and left to work for the MacArthur Foundation.

Teele, Terry. Interview. December 7, 2017

Terry Teele served as deputy chief of staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley. Interview includes discussion of the 1989 Chicago mayoral race and the 1995 Chicago heat wave.

Vallas, Paul. Interview. April 20, 2018

Paul Vallas served as Mayor Richard M. Daley's budget director (1990-1993) and as CEO of Chicago Public Schools (1995-2001).

Vanecko, Mary Carol Interview. April 26, 2019

Mary Carol Vanecko is Richard M. Daley's sister. Interview includes discussion of Richard M. Daley's family and private life.

Volpe, Paul. Interview. November 1, 2017

Paul Volpe served as Chicago's budget director (2005-2007), the city's chief financial officer (2007-2008), and Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Chief of Staff (2008-2010). Interview includes discussion of the 2008 recession and parking meters lease deal.

Welsh, Kelly. Interview. January 12, 2018

Kelly Welsh worked on Richard M. Daley's campaign for mayor in 1989. After Daley was elected, he served as corporation counsel (1989-1993) and as chair of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (1994-2005). Interview includes discussion of the 1989 Chicago mayoral race, plans for Lake Calumet Airport, Navy Pier, McCormick Place and Chicago Public Schools.

Williams, Jim Interview. April 26, 2019

Jim Williams was Mayor Richard M. Daley’s press secretary (1992-1997). Interview includes discussion of the 1995 Chicago heat wave and the 1989 Chicago mayoral race.

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