“Scrootened:” The Mayors Daley of Chicago

Quoting politicians accurately is even more critical when candidates are running for office.

That might include how well-spoken the person is. Voters want to be able to make decisions about which candidates to support based on a variety of criteria, including how they speak in public (or private). One of the ways journalists inform audiences and hold candidates and leaders accountable is to tell or show characteristics of the prominent figures.

In one famous example, Chicago newspapers and TV stations often quoted Mayor Richard M. Daley verbatim because he made so many odd remarks and misstatements during his tenure which ran from 1989 to 2011.

He seems to have gotten it honestly. His father, Richard J. Daley who was mayor from 1955 to 1976, once said, “The policeman isn’t there to create disorder; the policeman is there to preserve disorder.”

For the younger Daley, this kind of statement was a regular occurrence. The Chicago Tribune and other media have reported him saying the following:

“How much scrutiny do you want to have? You go scrutinize yourself! I get scrootened every day . . .”

“Our plan is financially conservative, reasonable and feasonable.”

“There are no excuses for children to learn.”

It is conceivable that audiences place different demands on speakers in private and public roles. Shoppers quoted about their views on bargains or parents’ feeling about child care might be forgiven by readers for ungrammatical utterances. Public figures, such as politicians or educators, might not.

At the very least, persons in public roles should be held to somewhat higher standards even if they suffer the effects of of their misstatements, dialect or poor grammar. In one study of quotes in news stories, it appeared a public figure was held to a higher standard than a private person based on how they spoke.

All the more reason to quote public figures as they speak. Audiences deserve to know what those who hold public office (like a mayor or a president) or manage public resources (like a public university chancellor) have to say and exactly how they say it. That way, citizens, parents, students and other stakeholders can make more informed decisions about whether those people are fit for their roles.

And being quoted verbatim is not all bad news for politicians. The fact Richard J. Daley was mayor for 21 years shows Chicago voters found his style acceptable.