BETTY and I would like to express our sorrow over the unexpected death of Richard J. Daley, mayor of the city of Chicago. Mayor Daley has been a dominant force in American politics for many years. His career of public service at the State and city level and his participation in national legislation and policies reflect his strong belief in and dedication to the vitality of the American cities.
Though controversial at times, he has been a towering figure in the American scene and will be long remembered by the people of Chicago, of Illinois, and of the Nation.
Note: Mr. Daley was mayor of Chicago from 1955 until his death. Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller served as Personal Representative of the President at funeral services in Chicago on December 22, 1976.
The statement was released at Vail, Colo.
Gerald R. Ford, Statement on the Death of Mayor Richard J. Daley Chicago. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/257708