James Thompson
39th Governor of Illinois
In office 1977 – 1991
Lieutenant(s)	Dave O'Neal (R) George Ryan (R)
Preceded by	Daniel Walker
Succeeded by	James Edgar
Born	May 8, 1936 Chicago, Illinois
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Jayne Ann Carr Thompson
Profession	Lawyer

James Robert Thompson III (born May 8, 1936), also known as "Big Jim Thompson", was the longest-serving Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois. A Republican, Elected to four consecutive terms, he held the office for 14 years. Thompson studied at the University of Illinois at Chicago Navy Pier campus, and received his A.B. from Washington University. He received his J.D. from Northwestern University in 1959. Many years after leaving public office, he re-entered the spotlight as a member of the The 9-11 Commission, gaining notoriety for his strong disagreements with former counter terrorism czar Dick Clarke. Image File history File linksMetadata 210_govthompson_edited. ... The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois is the secondary chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the lieutenant governor has specific jurisdiction. ... David C. ONeil (1937-) was Lieutenant Governor of Illinois from 1977-1982. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      For other uses, see Republican Party (disambiguation) or GOP (disambiguation). ... George Ryan George Homer Ryan (born February 24, 1934 in Maquoketa, Iowa) was the Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      For other uses, see Republican Party (disambiguation) or GOP (disambiguation). ... Daniel Walker (born April 24, 1991) is a former governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1992 to 2008. ... James Edgar (born January 22, 1946) is an American politician who was the Governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1999. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      For other uses, see Republican Party (disambiguation) or GOP (disambiguation). ... English barrister 16th century painting of a civil law notary, by Flemish painter Quentin Massys. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... This is a list of Governors of Illinois. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      A state of the United States is any one of the fifty subnational entities referred to... Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is a public, state-supported research university. ... A Bachelor of Arts (B.A. or A.B.) is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or program in the arts and/or sciences. ... Washington University in St. ... J.D. redirects here; for alternate uses, see J.D. (disambiguation) J.D. is an abbreviation for the Latin Juris Doctor, also called a Doctor of Law or Doctorate of Jurisprudence, and is the law degree typically awarded by an accredited U.S. law school after successfully completing three years... It has been suggested that Freshman urban program be merged into this article or section. ... The Commissions seal The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission, was set up in late 2002 to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001 attacks including preparedness for and the immediate response... There have been multiple notable individuals of the name Dick Clark. ...

Born in Chicago, Illinois, before becoming governor, he worked in the Cook County state's attorney's office, taught at Northwestern University's law school, and served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. As a federal prosecutor in the early 1970s, he obtained a conviction against former Governor Otto Kerner, Jr., for his use of improper influence on behalf of the racetrack industry. He also tried and convicted many of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley's top aides, most notably Alderman Tom Keane, on various corruption charges. These high-profile cases gave Thompson the celebrity which fueled his run for governor in 1976. During this period, Thompson was criticized for only prosecuting aging Democrats (more high-profile, than influential), while ignoring Republican and organized-crime suspects (even though Illinois was enduring the worst era of organized crime since the 1920's/Al Capone era). Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... Cook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... It has been suggested that Freshman urban program be merged into this article or section. ... The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is comprised of the following counties, divided into two divisions: The eastern division: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, La Salle, Lake, and Will counties. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... Otto Kerner, Jr. ... Alternative use: Race track Racetrack is a pencil and paper game, nominally for two players. ... Richard Joseph Daley (May 15, 1902 – December 20, 1976) was the longest-serving mayor of Chicago. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

In the 1976 election, he won 65 percent of the vote over Democratic Secretary of State Michael Howlett. Thompson was re-elected in 1978 with 60 percent of the vote, defeating State Superintendent Michael Bakalis. Thompson was very narrowly re-elected in 1982 over former U.S. Senator Adlai E. Stevenson III; Thompson decisively defeated him in their re-match four years later. Thompson was accused of hiding the sad shape that Illinois' economy and budget were in while campaigning, but once elected, calling for an emergency session of the Illinois Legislature to address the crisis. 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... Seal of the United States Department of State. ... Michael J. Howlett was born August 30, 1914. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... Adlai Stevenson III Adlai Ewing Stevenson III (born October 10, 1930, in Chicago) is an American politician of the Democratic party. ...

From 2003 to 2004 he served on the 9/11 Commission, where he aggressively questioned Richard Clarke. Richard A. Clarke (born 1951) provided national security advice to four U.S. presidents: Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, consulting on issues of intelligence and terrorism, from 1973 to 2003. ...

He is also a director and head of the Audit Committee for Hollinger International, the media company founded by Conrad Black (it is also now the subject of a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation). Hollinger International is the holding company of a Chicago based newspaper group. ... Conrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour PC, OC, KCSG, (born 25 August 1944, in Montreal, Quebec), is a British biographer, financier and former newspaper magnate. ... The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, commonly referred to as the SEC, is the United States governing body which has primary responsibility for overseeing the regulation of the securities industry. ...

Thompson, along with his gubernatorial successor Jim Edgar and state treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, have been criticized by some in the Illinois Republican Party for being too "liberal." Such criticism is representative of a debate within the national Republican Party regarding how liberal Republican candidates and office-holders should be (see also Republican in Name Only). In 2005, he donated $1000 to the Hillary Clinton PAC "Friends of Hillary." This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Judy Baar Topinka. ... The Illinois Republican Party is the affiliate of the Republican Party in Illinois. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      For other uses, see Republican Party (disambiguation) or GOP (disambiguation). ... Republican In Name Only, or RINO, is a disparaging term for a member of the Republican Party of the United States whose political views or actions are perceived as not conservative and outside the conservative mainstream. ... Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (born October 26, 1947), was First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001, as the wife of President Bill Clinton. ...

Since 1993, Thompson has served as chairman and CEO of Winston & Strawn LLP, a prestigious Chicago law firm. In 2003, he received the Justice John Paul Stevens Award for a "career that exemplifies the highest standards of the legal profession." As chairman and CEO of Winston & Strawn, Thompson practices in the area of government relations and regulatory affairs as well as in international and domestic corporate and litigation matters. The firm has lobbied for American Airlines, and he has previously represented United Airlines.^{[citation needed]} In 1997 and 2000, The National Law Journal named Thompson as one of the nation's 100 most influential lawyers. Winston & Strawn LLP is a large international law firm headquartered in Chicago. ... John Paul Stevens (born April 20, 1920) is an American jurist, and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. ... American Airlines and American Eagle aircraft at San Juan American Airlines (AA) is the largest airline in the world in terms of total passengers transported[] and fleet size[], and the second-largest airline in the world (behind Air France-KLM) in terms of total operating revenues[]. A wholly owned subsidiary... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Winston & Strawn is the same firm that represented former Illinois Governor George Ryan pro bono against federal charges relating to the "Licenses-for-Bribes" scandal during Ryan's tenure as Illinois Governor and Secretary of State. On April 17, 2006, George Ryan was convicted on all 18 counts, which included racketeering, misusing state resources for political gain, and fraud. He was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in federal prison, but currently remains free while appealing the court's original verdict. George Ryan George Homer Ryan (born February 24, 1934 in Maquoketa, Iowa) was the Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. ... Pro bono is a phrase derived from Latin meaning for the good. The complete phrase is pro bono publico, for the public good. It is used to designate legal or other professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment, as a public service. ...

In 1993, the State of Illinois Center in Chicago was renamed the James R. Thompson Center to honor the former governor. The James R. Thompson Center (JRTC) is located at 100 W. Randolph in the Loop, Chicago, Illinois and houses many Illinois State Departmental office. ...

External links

• Thompson's biography from the 9/11 Commission
• Thompson's biography from Northwestern University
• Receipt for Thompson's contribution for Friends of Hillary

Scholarly Secondary Source

• Hartley, Robert E. Big Jim Thompson of Illinois (1979).

Governors of Illinois
Bond • Coles • Edwards • Reynolds • Ewing • Duncan • Carlin • Ford • French • Matteson • Bissell • Wood • Yates • Oglesby • Palmer • Oglesby • Beveridge • Cullom • Hamilton • Oglesby • Fifer • Altgeld • Tanner • Yates • Deneen • Dunne • Lowden • Small • Emmerson • Horner • Stelle • Green • Stevenson • Stratton • Kerner • Shapiro • Ogilvie • Walker • Thompson • Edgar • Ryan • Blagojevich

Members of the 9/11 Commission

Kean (Chair) • Hamilton (Vice chair) Ben-Veniste • Fielding • Gorelick • Gorton • Kerrey • Lehman • Roemer • Thompson Daniel Walker (born April 24, 1991) is a former governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1992 to 2008. ... The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... This is a list of Governors of Illinois. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Illinois. ... Shadrach Bond Shadrick Bonbs Shadrach Bond (November 24, 1773–April 12, 1832) was Illinoiss first governor, and for six years before that, the first representative of the area to become Illinois. ... Edward Coles (December 15, 1786 – July 7, 1868) was governor of Illinois, serving from 1822 to 1826. ... Ninian Edwards (1775–1833) was a U.S. political figure. ... John Reynolds, US politician and Governor of Illinois John Reynolds (February 26, 1788–May 8, 1865) was a United States politician from the U.S. state of Illinois. ... William Lee Davidson Ewing (August 31, 1795–March 25, 1846) was a U.S. Senator from Illinois. ... Joseph Duncan (1794–1844) was a U.S. political figure. ... Thomas Carlin (July 18, 1789 – February 14, 1852) was governor of Illinois, serving from 1838 to 1842. ... Thomas Ford (December 5, 1800 - November 3, 1850) was a Democrat and governor of Illinois from 1842 to 1846 remembered largely for the Illinois Mormon War. ... Joel Aldrich Matteson (August 2, 1808 – January 31, 1873) was governor of Illinois, serving from 1853 to 1857. ... William Henry Bissell (1811–March 1860) was the governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1857 until his death. ... John Wood (December 20, 1798 – June 11, 1880) was governor of Illinois, serving from 1860 to 1861. ... Richard Yates (January 18, 1818 - November 27, 1873) was wartime governor of Illinois. ... Richard James Oglesby (1824 - 1899) was a U.S. political figure. ... John McAuley Palmer (September 13, 1817 – September 25, 1900) was a Union Major General during the American Civil War. ... Richard James Oglesby (1824 - 1899) was a U.S. political figure. ... John Lourie Beveridge (July 6, 1824 – May 3, 1910) was governor of Illinois, serving from 1873 to 1877. ... Shelby Moore Cullom (1829 - 1914) was a U.S. political figure. ... John Marshall Hamilton (May 28, 1847 – September 22, 1905) was governor of Illinois, serving from 1883 to 1885. ... Richard James Oglesby (1824 - 1899) was a U.S. political figure. ... Joseph Wilson Fifer (October 28, 1840 – August 6, 1938) was a Republican governor of Illinois, serving from 1889 to 1893. ... John Peter Altgeld (December 30, 1847 - March 12, 1902) was the governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1893 until 1897. ... John Riley Tanner (1844 - 1901) was a U.S. political figure. ... Richard Yates (December 12, 1860 - April 11, 1936) was governor of Illinois from 1901 to 1905. ... Charles Samuel Deneen (May 4, 1863 – February 5, 1940) was a Republican governor of Illinois, serving from 1905 to 1913, and as a U.S. Senator from Illinois, 1925-1931. ... Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (1853–1937) was an American politician. ... Frank Orren Lowden (1861 - 1943) was a U.S. political figure. ... Lennington Small (June 16, 1862 – May 17, 1936) was a Republican governor of Illinois, serving from 1921 to 1929. ... Louis Lincoln Emmerson (1883 - 1941) was a U.S. political figure. ... Henry Horner (November 30, 1879 – October 6, 1940) was a Democrat governor of Illinois, serving from 1933 to 1940. ... John Henry Stelle (born August 10, 1891 McLeansboro, Illinois - died July 5, 1962 St. ... Dwight Herbert Green (January 9, 1897 – February 20, 1958) was Republican governor of Illinois, serving from 1941 to 1949. ... Adlai Ewing Stevenson II (February 5, 1900 – July 14, 1965) was an American politician, noted for intellectual demeanor and advocacy of liberal causes in the Democratic party. ... William Grant Stratton (February 26, 1914–March 2, 2001), known as Billy the Kid, was the Republican Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1953 to 1961, succeeding Adlai Stevenson in that office. ... Otto Kerner, Jr. ... Samuel H. Shapiro (April 25, 1907 - March 16, 1987) was Democratic Governor of Illinois, serving from 1968 to 1969. ... Richard Buell Ogilvie (1923–1988) was an American political figure. ... Daniel Walker (born April 24, 1991) is a former governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1992 to 2008. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... George Homer Ryan (born February 24, 1934 in Maquoketa, Iowa) was the Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. ... Milorad Rod R. Blagojevich (pronounced IPA:  , born December 10, 1956) is an American politician from the state of Illinois. ... The Commissions seal The references in this article would be clearer with a different and/or consistent style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ... Logo of the 9-11 Commission. ... Thomas Howard Kean (born April 21, 1935) is an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey, from 1982 to 1990. ... Lee Hamilton redirects here. ... Richard Ben-Veniste (born January 3, 1943), a member of the 9-11 Commission, is known for his pointed questions and criticisms of members of both the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations. ... Fred Fisher Fielding (born March 21, 1939) is senior partner at Wiley Rein & Fielding, a Washington, D.C. law firm. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Slade Gorton Thomas Slade Gorton III (born January 8, 1928) is an American politician. ... Joseph Robert Bob Kerrey (born August 27, 1943) was the Democratic Governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987, and a U.S. Senator from Nebraska (1989–2001). ... John F. Lehman, Jr. ... Timothy J. Roemer is president of the Center for National Policy (CNP) and a distinguished scholar at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, a non-profit research and educational institution dedicated to improving public policy outcomes. ...