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[Pages S5542-S5543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING JIM THOMPSON
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, in 1978, I was the Democratic nominee for
Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, running with Michael Bakalis, the
Democratic nominee for governor. We squared off against a ticket headed
by six-foot-six Governor Big Jim Thompson. Big Jim was 40 years old and
a relatively new Governor, only elected 2 years earlier. Bakalis and I
were underdogs, but we were hopeful. We shouldn't have been.
Our fate was sealed when Jim and Jayne were joined by their beautiful
daughter Samantha right after Labor Day. Election day came, and we were
clobbered. We found out what many Democrats would learn over the years.
Big Jim was hard as hell to beat. Why? He may have campaigned as a
partisan, but he governed in bipartisanship. His talent for working to
get things done helped make him the longest serving Governor in
Illinois history.
Last month, Jim passed away. I was honored to call him a friend and,
today, I would like to pay tribute to his life.
James Robert Thompson, Jr. was born on the West Side of Chicago in
1936. Jim was known to be shy but ambitious. He listed his ambition as
``President-Politician'' in his yearbook. In one classmate's yearbook,
he wrote ``Jim Thompson, Pres. of U.S. 1984-1992.''
Jim attended the University of Illinois at its campus on Navy Pier in
Chicago. He transferred to Washington University in St. Louis in his
junior year and attended law school at Northwestern in 1959.
In 1961, Jim worked for the Cook County State's attorney and argued
two cases before the United States Supreme Court. He also joined
Northwestern University Law School as an assistant professor.
For 5 years, Jim taught at Northwestern, inspiring many students to
pursue criminal law. In 1969, he became the head of the criminal
division of the U.S. Attorney's office. As fate would have it, he was
the lecturer on criminal procedure in my bar review course. In 1971,
President Richard Nixon appointed him to be the U.S. Attorney for the
Northern District of Illinois.
At the age of 35, Jim was a crusader against corruption in both
parties, leading investigations against Chicago aldermen and Vice
President Spiro Agnew. His efforts made him look like a political
outsider--just what Illinois
[[Page S5543]]
was looking for in a Governor. Jim decided to run for Governor in the
1976 election. During that campaign, he married his wife Jayne.
He won the gubernatorial race as the first candidate in the State
ever to garner 3 million votes. Though he would have a close election
in 1982, Big Jim never lost a race.
As Governor, he accomplished a lot of good for the State of Illinois.
He spurred the construction of more highways than any other Governor.
His ``Build Illinois'' plan launched a $2.3 billion infrastructure
effort that helped turn the State into a national leader in economic
development, historic preservation, and environmental protection.
There are too many projects to name that Jim championed through the
State legislature. He helped bring about Navy Pier's renovation, making
it the State's top tourist destination. When the Chicago White Sox were
on the verge of leaving Chicago for Florida, he fought hard to keep
them. Jim was working the votes well into the night, and the White Sox
got their new stadium. He supported the legislation that paved the way
for the Chicago Bulls' arena, the United Center.
When Republicans in the Illinois House sought to make Illinois a
right-to-work State, Jim called local beer distributors in Springfield
and had them set up on the lawn of the Governor's mansion, where he
invited protesting labor members to have a drink. The right-to-work
legislation never passed.
In 1989, Jim decided against running for a fifth term. He had guided
the State through a recession and helped rebuild it. He made countless
deals with people of both parties. Jim could have coasted on the
reputation he had built, but he didn't. He joined the law firm Winston
& Strawn, and within 2 years, he was chairman and had made the firm a
powerhouse. Jim also continued to serve his country as he was part of
the 9/11 Commission, he chaired the Illinois Sports Facilities
Authority, and he argued several cases before the Illinois Supreme
Court. He retired in 2015.
Jim Thompson never hesitated to work with the other side for a
greater good. We were political adversaries, yet we also were personal
friends. Sure, we disagreed on quite a bit, but we always worked
together for the State of Illinois. Loretta and I send our thoughts and
prayers to Jayne and their daughter Samantha.
____________________
