OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
October 7, 2020
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a resolution honoring the life and memory of former Illinois governor James R. Thompson.
Your favorable consideration ofthis resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Body were saddened to learn ofthe death of Illinois' 37th Governor, James R. Thompson, on August 14, 2020 at the age of 84; and
WHEREAS, Illinois' longest-serving governor, leading Illinois from 1977 until 1991, "Big Jim" Thompson left a monumental legacy; and
WHEREAS, Jim Thompson was born on Chicago's West Side in 1936 and went to the University of Illinois' Chicago campus and Washington University in St. Louis, before earning his law degree from Northwestern University. He became a prosecutor in the office ofthe Cook County State's Attorney in 1959 and argued more cases in the Supreme Court of Illinois than any lawyer other than Abraham Lincoln. In 1964, he became a professor of criminal law at Northwestern University School of Law; and
WHEREAS, Thompson moved to the staff of Illinois Attorney General William Scott in 1969 to head the Criminal Division. In 1971, he was named U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois, serving until mid-1975. He grew the number of attorneys in that office and prosecuted a record number of official and police corruption cases; and
WHEREAS, In July, 1975, Thompson resigned as US Attorney and announced he would be a candidate for governor the following year. He was elected with close to 65 percent ofthe vote, the biggest gubernatorial win in Illinois since 1848. I le focused closely on crime, creating the "Class X" level of felonies carrying longer sentences for violent crimes such as armed robbery and attempted murder; and
WHEREAS, In 1978. because of a change in the 1970 state Constitution, Thompson had to stand for a second term, just two years after winning his first. He again prevailed easily, winning with 59 percent ofthe vote. His second term coincided with a nationwide recession, and the Midwest "Rust Belt" was particularly hard hit. Thompson worked tirelessly to reverse the decline, leading the effort to build overseas export markets for Illinois products and encouraging foreign companies to invest in Illinois. One of his biggest successes was the decision by Diamond-Star Motors lo build a joint Mitsubishi-Chrysler facility in Bloomington-Normal; and
WHEREAS, After winning a closely contested third term against U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III, Thompson proposed tax increases of close to $2 billion, with hikes on gasoline and liquor as well as income taxes. Working with the Illinois General Assembly, Thompson ultimately won approval of some of those increases including a temporary income tax increase as well as higher gasoline taxes and approval of more state funding for mass transit in Chicago and highway maintenance downstate. followed by increases in education funding; and
WHEREAS, During his fourth term. Governor Thompson launched a major infrastructure improvement program called Build Illinois. Funded by bonds. Build Illinois led to $2 billion in capital constiuction across the state, rebuilding public buildings, highways, bridges, park lodges, sewers and cultural centers. He also achieved another of his most successful
legislative wins: the vote in the closing hours ofthe 1988 General Assembly spring session to get the funding for a new stadium for the Chicago White Sox; and
WHEREAS, Governor Thompson was an informal leader and a fixture in the Springfield community, and the First Family was often seen around town, just like any other Springfield resident. He helped to open the Illinois State Fair by going down the giant slide in blue jeans. During a protracted debate ofthe State's right to work law, Thompson set up a beer lent on the Governor's Mansion's lawn and invited labor leaders over for a beer; and
WHEREAS, An admirer ofthe arts, Jim Thompson held an Antiques Fair every year on the Mansion's lawn. He not only required a small percentage of all public building contracts to be set aside for artwork, but also created the state's network of Illinois artisan shops. He was also a friend of historic preservation efforts around the state, creating the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and purchasing Frank Lloyd Wright's Dana Thomas house in Springfield for the State; and
WHEREAS, After leaving the governor's office in 1991, Thompson returned to practicing law, with the firm of Winston and Strawn in Chicago. He was picked by President George W. Bush in 2002 to be one ofthe members ofthe National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, better known as the 9/11 Commission; and
WHEREAS, Jim Thompson gave generously of time and talents to many other worthy causes, including serving as vice-chair ofthe Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission, chair ofthe National Governors Association, the Republican Governors Association, the Council of Great Lakes Governors, the President's National Intelligence Oversight Board, national co-chair of the Campaign to Protect Our Children, and as a member of the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality; and
WHEREAS, Jim Thompson generated widespread.admiration and loyally as a result of his extraordinary selflessness and skill at promoting and mentoring others. His impressive roster of proteges includes many legislators, a former White House Chief of Staff, a former US Secretary of Transportation, seven federal judges, three United States Attorneys, one Illinois Attorney General and four managing partners or chairs of leading Chicago law firms; and
WHEREAS, "Big Jim" Thompson will be remembered as a man who presided over state government during dramatically changing times, a governor who left a legacy of public works projects around the state, and a leader who represented an era when elected officials could put partisanship aside and reach agreements for the good ofthe people, now. therefore,
HE IT RESOLVED. That we. the Mayor and Members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, assembled this seventh day of October. 2020, do hereby extend our most heartfelt condolences to James R. Thompson's wife. .layne, his daughter. Samantha, and all of his family and friends; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy ofthis resolution be prepared and presented to the family of James R. Thompson as a sign of our honor and respect.