Getting an “AU H20 4 64″ campaign button as a stocking stuffer when I was 10. For the scientifically challenged, that means “Goldwater for 1964 for President”.
Too bad I didn’t get a better present of him getting elected over Johnson….
The movie “Christmas with the Kranks” starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. But Dan Aykroyd stands out as Vic, the local precinct captain, who knows everyone in the neighborhood as well as the police chief and mayor.
Christmas tree, Nativity, Menorah, Freedom from Religion sign, and Festivus pole in the Rotunda, along with a note from the Secy of State’s office explaining how it’s all permitted
When the primary was moved up to Feb 2 a few years back, I remember spending 3 hours Christmas morning putting Google maps together for 30 sign crews (groups of 2) and finalizing their supplies to get 2500 signs up the day after Christmas.
That sucked. But it worked. For a full week, only one candidates signs were visible against a very snowy background.
It’s my favorite story now, because even though it worked…I’ll never do it again.
My earliest Illinois political memory dates back to December 30th,1970. I was 14 years old and spending my first day at WMOK radio in my hometown of Metropolis learning how to be a disk jockey. The first thing I ever read on the AP wire was a story that afternoon from the Southern Illinoisan newspaper about the $800,000 in cash that had been found in shoe boxes in Paul Powell’s room at the St. Nicholas Hotel in Springfield. Years later, I had a picture taken of myself with one of the shoe boxes that former Statehouse news reporter Bob Hartley had borrowed from the Rendleman family for a publicity tour he was doing for his book, “Paul Powell of Illinois, A Lifelong Democrat.” The Illinois Bureau of Investigations evidence tape was still legible on what was a brightly-colored lime green and orange Nieman-Marcus shoe box with gold filigree trim. Sadly, the box was empty, but it was sure fun to let my imagination run wild for a while there!
My dad used to make reel to reel audio recordings of him interviewing me when I was a young child. In 1968 he had recently lost a race for States Attorney and on that tape I asked him if he was going to get a different job. Not exactly a fond memory but hearing the audio of my Dad and I talking when I was 6 years old is priceless to me. I only wish our reel to reel still worked!
Pat Botterman passing out warm gloves and hats, from a big box on his back seat, to the homeless wherever he could find them, for the whole month of December.
When I interned during a winter break we did care boxes for needy families, toys included. There was usually 2 or 3 that couldn’t make it in to get their boxes so we’d have to deliver them. I remember one family still. Three kids, and just the happiness to see us, and the family, how grateful.
I’ve tried to remember that and through that winter break internship, it’s still a life lesson today.
A Senate party with Sen. John Grotberg singing a beautiful version of “Oh Holy Night” with his special guest US Rep Bob Michel joining in. It was truly inspiring. (And with this comment, I have now hinted at my age.)
Personally witnessing how fast a passenger jet can accelerate from a crawl to whiplash acceleration after approaching the tarmac at Tempelhof airport on a cold late December day in West Berlin after coming too close to the pack 75mm salute gun section I was on. Dick Nixon was paying us a visit.
Scared him and his flight crew so bad that instead of unloading near us the jet taxied so far away that we could only see him with binoculars.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:09 pm:
The City of Chicago wasting tax dollars to litigate against the inclusion of a Nativity scene at the Daley Center Plaza during the annual “Christkindl Markt” event. A judge kicked the case out pretty quickly, but it was ironic (to those familiar with German) that the city was objecting to a Nativity scene at a Christmas marketplace that used the name of the “Christ Child” in all of its signage for those who know Deutsch.
In 2002 when we had the office Christmas Party at the mansion, and Governor Ryan surprised us all and gave us a behind the scenes tour. The staff was freaking out with all these 20-somethings with glasses of red wine in their hands going behind the ropes and touching all the artifacts.
Recall some time in the mid to late ’70s the Christmas lights on the Capitol Dome breaking away under the load of ice and sending up rockets of sparks. Quite a spectacular site….likely expensive too. We were enjoying beverages with a group of political friends at Mr. B’s, then off to Two Brothers. Good times.
- Sunshine - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 1:58 pm:
When state lawmakers go home for the holidays. Oh what a relief it is!
- Arizona Bob - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:01 pm:
Getting an “AU H20 4 64″ campaign button as a stocking stuffer when I was 10. For the scientifically challenged, that means “Goldwater for 1964 for President”.
Too bad I didn’t get a better present of him getting elected over Johnson….
- Naperville - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:03 pm:
When Blagojevich was arrested in the wee hours of the morning December 2008.
- anon - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:06 pm:
The movie “Christmas with the Kranks” starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. But Dan Aykroyd stands out as Vic, the local precinct captain, who knows everyone in the neighborhood as well as the police chief and mayor.
- Dave Dahl - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:08 pm:
Christmas tree, Nativity, Menorah, Freedom from Religion sign, and Festivus pole in the Rotunda, along with a note from the Secy of State’s office explaining how it’s all permitted
- Lotta Liaison - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:10 pm:
Legislative staff holiday parties.
- A guy... - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:10 pm:
When the primary was moved up to Feb 2 a few years back, I remember spending 3 hours Christmas morning putting Google maps together for 30 sign crews (groups of 2) and finalizing their supplies to get 2500 signs up the day after Christmas.
That sucked. But it worked. For a full week, only one candidates signs were visible against a very snowy background.
It’s my favorite story now, because even though it worked…I’ll never do it again.
- A guy... - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:12 pm:
Serafin’s parties were good at Christmas too. Problem is the memories are too vague. That’s how good they were.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:13 pm:
Receiving a uniquely designed chocolate bar as a Christmas gift.
Not as “unique” as Clark Griswold, but, it was memorable.
- A guy... - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:15 pm:
They make those in Chocolate?
- steve schnorf - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:16 pm:
Our “Christmas on Dirksen” event at the SoS building on Dirksen Parkway when I worked for SoS in the 80s
- Jak Tichenor - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:18 pm:
My earliest Illinois political memory dates back to December 30th,1970. I was 14 years old and spending my first day at WMOK radio in my hometown of Metropolis learning how to be a disk jockey. The first thing I ever read on the AP wire was a story that afternoon from the Southern Illinoisan newspaper about the $800,000 in cash that had been found in shoe boxes in Paul Powell’s room at the St. Nicholas Hotel in Springfield. Years later, I had a picture taken of myself with one of the shoe boxes that former Statehouse news reporter Bob Hartley had borrowed from the Rendleman family for a publicity tour he was doing for his book, “Paul Powell of Illinois, A Lifelong Democrat.” The Illinois Bureau of Investigations evidence tape was still legible on what was a brightly-colored lime green and orange Nieman-Marcus shoe box with gold filigree trim. Sadly, the box was empty, but it was sure fun to let my imagination run wild for a while there!
- Norseman - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:26 pm:
When I asked my wife to marry me at the Capitol.
- Stones - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:28 pm:
My dad used to make reel to reel audio recordings of him interviewing me when I was a young child. In 1968 he had recently lost a race for States Attorney and on that tape I asked him if he was going to get a different job. Not exactly a fond memory but hearing the audio of my Dad and I talking when I was 6 years old is priceless to me. I only wish our reel to reel still worked!
- Empty Suit - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:28 pm:
When I found out Santa was a Republican
- Norseman - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:29 pm:
Legislative staff parties that were planned by the staffs - a much friendlier time for the partisan staffs.
- Lionel R - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:29 pm:
I always love getting the Don Moffitt card with Don and the family perched on the Don Moffitt overpass.
- Norseman - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:30 pm:
I meant to add the staff parties were my 2nd best memory. Sorry honey, I’ll go do the dishes now.
- Walker - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:40 pm:
Pat Botterman passing out warm gloves and hats, from a big box on his back seat, to the homeless wherever he could find them, for the whole month of December.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:47 pm:
Politics and Chanukah don’t mix.
Ask King Herod.
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 3:12 pm:
The Safe Neighborhoods special session Holiday Party at the Ryan governor’s mansion.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 3:16 pm:
When I interned during a winter break we did care boxes for needy families, toys included. There was usually 2 or 3 that couldn’t make it in to get their boxes so we’d have to deliver them. I remember one family still. Three kids, and just the happiness to see us, and the family, how grateful.
I’ve tried to remember that and through that winter break internship, it’s still a life lesson today.
- Observation - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 3:57 pm:
A Senate party with Sen. John Grotberg singing a beautiful version of “Oh Holy Night” with his special guest US Rep Bob Michel joining in. It was truly inspiring. (And with this comment, I have now hinted at my age.)
- redleg - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 3:58 pm:
Personally witnessing how fast a passenger jet can accelerate from a crawl to whiplash acceleration after approaching the tarmac at Tempelhof airport on a cold late December day in West Berlin after coming too close to the pack 75mm salute gun section I was on. Dick Nixon was paying us a visit.
Scared him and his flight crew so bad that instead of unloading near us the jet taxied so far away that we could only see him with binoculars.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:09 pm:
The City of Chicago wasting tax dollars to litigate against the inclusion of a Nativity scene at the Daley Center Plaza during the annual “Christkindl Markt” event. A judge kicked the case out pretty quickly, but it was ironic (to those familiar with German) that the city was objecting to a Nativity scene at a Christmas marketplace that used the name of the “Christ Child” in all of its signage for those who know Deutsch.
Politically correct absurdity at its worse.
- Not it - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:34 pm:
In 2002 when we had the office Christmas Party at the mansion, and Governor Ryan surprised us all and gave us a behind the scenes tour. The staff was freaking out with all these 20-somethings with glasses of red wine in their hands going behind the ropes and touching all the artifacts.
- Sunshine - Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:49 pm:
Recall some time in the mid to late ’70s the Christmas lights on the Capitol Dome breaking away under the load of ice and sending up rockets of sparks. Quite a spectacular site….likely expensive too. We were enjoying beverages with a group of political friends at Mr. B’s, then off to Two Brothers. Good times.