DNAinfo Chicago: U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley Dishes on Food, Hockey and Life in Congress

The following is a copy of an article and a transcription of a video that originally apperaed on DNAinfo Chicago on August 23, 2012. The video and the article can be found here.

DOWNTOWN " Congressman Mike Quigley slept on the floor of his Washington office for his first 4½ years in office, but has finally got himself a little place with his wife.

"Waking up four times a night wears on you," he said.

Quigley, who represents Illinois' 5th District, loves Chicago, hockey ... and Chicago food. He was also named the most YOLO congressman by BuzzFeed.

On Thursday, Quigley stopped by the DNAinfo Chicago studio to talk about life in Washington and in the Chicago neighborhoods he represents.

Jackie Kostec: You are watching DNAinfo Chicago's Video update. I'm Jackie Kostec, and I'm joined by our Lincoln Park reporter, Paul Biasco. We're excited to welcome our guest, Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley. His district, district five, includes parts of Chicago neighborhoods, Lake View, Lincoln Park and Portage Park. So Congressman thanks for joining us.

Rep. Mike Quigley: Thanks for having me.

Jackie Kostec: So, tell us what you have been up to since you've been back from DC this summer.

Rep. Mike Quigley: It's a busy time. Chicago is busy enough as it is. Catching up with friends and family is always nice. Going to some of the best restaurants in the world. You can't go any other place and get real pizza or real hot dogs, in some cases real pastries, so I come home to Ann Sathers, D'Agostino's, Leona's, Super Dog...I'm a happy guy.

Jackie Kostec: You've been doing this ongoing campaign called the undercover Congressman. Tell us a little about why you wanted to do that and what it's like to actually surprise people.

Rep. Mike Quigley: For me, undercover Congressman was an opportunity from the first day to use it as a listening device. What's happening with people's minds and their lives? So I've done everything from work at food pantries, deliver pizza, I was a garbage man, at UPS, I've worked at factories. The only pinball factory left in the whole world is in my district that was a fun day. I've swept streets, delivered pizza, a bus boy. I'm working in a hotel today. I've made Eli's cheesecake; I've worked at Dinkel's. My staff reminds me that there seems to be a lot of food interests...that's just a fringe benefit. It gives you a chance to talk to people as they work and it's a fascinating study. One of the things it taught me was that the job is a lot more than a paycheck. It is a reminder of one's self worth. It represents who they are and has a lot to do with their dignity. Everyone wants to be proud of what they do. When I work at factories and people would explain how precise they are at what they do and how effective they are, you can see that pride and it reminds you that creating jobs and spurring on the economy is absolutely critical. Not just for the economic reasons, but it has a lot to do with people's souls as well.

Jackie Kostec: That's great.

Paul Biasco: Now we are on to summer two of the cup. I know you are a big hockey guy, I know you play...

Rep. Mike Quigley: These are the good old days, in case you were wondering

Paul Biasco: So how many times have you seen the cup this summer?

Rep. Mike Quigley: I've only seen it a couple of times. I got a chance to take a photo with Rocky Wirtz and our resolution in Congress congratulating the Blackhawks for winning the cup for the second time in four years. The players have control of the cup predominately through September 1st and then it goes to the team, so I'm hoping we will have more opportunities. When they won the cup in 2010, I got it for a day in Washington. So we just lined it up, we teed it up in our office, and people lined up for hours to come into the office and take photos with the cup. And I took the cup all over DC. We took it to the Lincoln Memorial and what was just fascinating there was a guy who would remind you of Don Knotts, of Mayberry RFD and he said, "You can't bring that here!" And I said, "Well I'm Congressman Quigley and I don't understand the rules. Could you explain?" So he took 20 minutes to explain the rules while everybody lined up and took photos, this iconic photo with the Stanley Cup looking out over the Washington Monument and Washington DC. And he should know that many of the people taking the photos were his staff. So I would love to do that again and bring it all over Chicago and Washington DC and share the joy of the great victory for all of Chicago.

Paul Biasco: So in DC, I know word got out that you were sleeping in your office when you first took office. Is that still going on?

Rep. Mike Quigley: I finally gave that up after about fourth and a half years. Waking up about four times a night wears on you. But my wife and I have two wonderful daughters who were going through college and that's a little pricey, so we saved money and sleeping in my office wasn't that much of a burden. Now that they are wonderfully graduated from college, we could afford a little apartment there, and that gets us away from it. But, most of what it had to do with me was Boston University and Northwestern.

Jackie Kostec: Thanks so much Congressman and we appreciate you being here. Have a safe trip back, I guess, in the next week or two.

Rep. Mike Quigley: Thanks so much. Take care.

Jackie Kostec: And thanks so much for joining us. For a look at the day's top story, for more local neighborhood news, go to DNainfo.com/Chicago