79-12-A7
- Main Page \ Reagan Radio Commentaries \ 1979
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Citizen vs Chicago Transit Authority[edit]
Transcript[edit]This is one of those modern day David and Goliath stories, and it comes to us courtesy of Mike Royko, a columnist for the Chicago SUN-TIMES. A few weeks ago, eighty-three-year-old Irving Naiditch was visiting his two sons in Chicago. Mr. Naiditch lives in Minnesota. Since he prides himself on his independence (even at the age of eighty-three), Mr. Naiditch struck out on his own one day during his visit to see some old friends. As he boarded a bus on Clark Street in Chicago, he was pleased to see a sign which said that senior citizens could ride for twenty-five cents, half the regular fare. Mr. Naiditch dropped a quarter in the coin box, content that he had found such a bargain. But he certainly didn't bargain for the trouble that ensued. As he moved slowly toward his seat, the bus driver stopped Mr. Naiditch and asked for identification. That was no problem, and Mr. Naiditch quickly produced identification which proved that he was, indeed, eighty-three years old. "No," said the driver. You have to have a special card issued by the Chicago Transit authority which certifies that you are a senior citizen." Mr. Naiditch protested. "The sign says nothing about a card," he said. "It says simply that senior citizens ride for half-fare." The driver refused to give in. "You have to have the special card," he told Mr. Naiditch. "Either put another quarter in the box or get off the bus." Well, Mr. Naiditch decided to leave well enough alone. He agreed to get off the bus and asked for his quarter back. But the driver said he couldn't get his quarter back for it was at the bottom of that coin box. "Then I'm not getting off this bus," Mr. Naiditch said, and he took a seat. But rules are rules to this bus driver. He refused to give an inch. He shut off the engine, stood up and ordered every single passenger off the bus. Then he called for the police. The Chicago police struggled gallantly to solve this dispute between the stubborn bus driver and the stubborn Mr. Naiditch. Their final solution was to drive the eighty-three-year-old to the transit authority offices so he could apply for a special card. But the bureaucrat in charge refused to give Mr. Naiditch an ID card because he didn't have the required photo of himself. Mr. Naiditch insisted that he get his quarter back, and after consultations with his superiors, the bureaucrat agreed. Outside the offices, the policeman who had escorted Mr. Naiditch downtown asked him what he was going to do now. He replied that he intended to get on the next bus and go to visit his friends as he originally had planned. The policeman watched as the eighty-three-year-old boarded the bus, dropped a quarter in the box and declared, "I'm a senior citizen." This bus driver just looked at Mr. Naiditch and nodded. He didn't know how lucky he was for letting this man pass! This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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