Mr. Daley Goes to Harvard

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 10, 2011 2:45PM

Former Mayor Richard M. Daley is keeping busy. Harvard University students and newly elected mayors will have the opportunity to pick Daley's brain for knowledge when he comes to the Ivy League university the week after Thanksgiving as a visiting fellow of the university's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Daley will lead seminars, lead public policy classes and meet with student groups during the week-long stay. He'll also participate in the school's school’s 19th biennial Seminar on Transition and Leadership for Newly-Elected Mayors, drawing from his 22 years as Chicago's Elective Majesty to offer insight and advice to new mayors from across the country.

Trey Grayson, director of Harvard’s Institute of Politics, said of Daley's fellowship:

“We wanted him to give advice to mayors, based upon his experience as a mayor, and things they ought to look out for and broader issues they’re gonna face. We also love bringing former elected officials to campus to expose them to our students. Rather than having him just give a speech to 500 students, the fellowship allows a lot of smaller opportunities to have candid, off-the-record conversations in small groups over meals and coffee about how he got interested in politics, how he got elected, decisions he’s proud of and maybe decisions he’d like to do over.”

Given the mounds of criticism heaped on Daley since he left office, there might be a lot of decisions in which he would like to have a mulligan. Grayson wasn't deterred by the criticism.

“The next person is always gonna do things differently,” Grayson said. “One of the things we’re looking to talk to him about is: If he were still mayor, what would he be doing? Since it’s off-the-record, he might say, `I’d be doing the same as Emanuel’ or `I might be doing it differently.’ He’ll be able to deliver that kind of candor.”