Snagging an interview with Richard M. Daley, as Chicago News Cooperative columnist James Warren did recently, is like winning a big stuffed bear at a carnival shooting gallery. It’s an exhilarating feat, but soon you realize that winning the bear is more thrilling than having it.
Hizformer is clearly a deep thinker, but he’s not the kind to put on airs by expressing his thoughts comprehensibly. He also tends not to wax poetic or philosophic. His idea of expanding on a comment is repeating it. As the old joke goes, first prize would be 10 minutes with Daley, second prize, 20 minutes.
Now, this could simply be Daley’s manner with reporters. Perhaps in a private setting he’s witty and eloquent and lyrical. I’m guessing, though, that while he might turn out to be engaging company at dinner, you’d bring along something to read.