Richard J. Daley was known simply as the mayor.

For more than two decades, his power over Chicago was absolute,

and his influence extended across Cook County through Springfield and even into the White House.

You better damn sure get your best candidate if you want him, then I'm a daily man myself,

first, last,lasting all the time.

He was famous for helping grow Chicago into an industrial and transportation powerhouse in the mid-20th century.

He was infamous for policies that kept the city racially divided, renewal programs that decimated whole neighborhoods,

and for his reaction to protesters during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. To judge the entire police department by the alleged action of a few would be just as unfair

as to judge our entire younger generation by the action of this mob.

He was also well known for his unique use of the English language.

The policeman isn't there to create disorder. The policeman is there to preserve this order.

But did you know that Mayor Daly was responsible for an invasive species taking over Japan?

I'm curious city producer Jason Mark.

I'm a fourth generation Chicagoan, and I've heard a lot of stories about Old Man Daly.

But I had never heard this one until our friends at Interlock and public

radio recently tapped us on the shoulder and said, hey, you did a Great Lakes story we

think our listeners will love. And we did a great Chicago-related story. We think your listeners

will love. Want to swap? So we did.

And we'll bring you the story of when the mayor met the crown prince of Japan

and the gift that screwed up Japan's biggest lake.

Dan Wansura and the team at the Points North podcast bring you that story next.

If you're already a WBEZ member, thank you.

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