Richard M. Daley was the recognized boss of Chicago for decades and served 21 years at the city`s mayor. He was instrumental in helping John F. Kennedy to the Democratic nomination in the election of 1960. His handling of the protests at the 1968 Democratic convention left lasting scars on the party. His son Richard J. Daley became mayor after a brief interregnum and eventually exceeded his father`s record as longest serving Chicago mayor.