Daley for Mayor Photograph

Richard J. Daley was an American politician and was Mayor of Chicago for 21 years from 1955 until his death on December 20, 1976.  Daley, a native of Chicago, was a democrat who was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives as a Republican before quickly moving back to the Democratic side of the aisle after the election.  He also served as Cook County Clerk before his eventual election as mayor of Chicago. O’Hare International Airport, the Sears Tower, and many other large construction projects occurred during Daley’s tenure.  Daley served as mayor for six terms before passing away during his sixth term in 1976.