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* I can’t help but think about our late friend Carlos Hernandez Gomez when reading this story today…
A daylong look at the life and legacy of a former Illinois governor who led a ground-breaking national study on urban violence, reformed the state’s mental health system and became a federal appeals court judge before doing prison time for corruption, is coming to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.
The Governor’s Conference on Otto Kerner begins at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 2 and will include a critical look at what happened to Kerner. Among panelists is Anton Kerner, son of the late governor, who questions the fairness of Kerner’s prosecution; and Bill Barnhart and Gene Schlickman, authors of a 1999 book “Kerner: The Conflict of Intangible Rights.”
In it, they argue that Kerner could be seen as a victim of unfortunate timing — given that his 1971 indictment linked to ownership of racetrack stock came in the wake of the 1970 death of former Illinois Secretary of State Paul Powell, who was found to have hoarded more than $800,000 in cash, some in a shoe box, in the old St. Nicholas Hotel in Springfield.
“We think it’s going to be a fascinating look at one of our former governors,” said Mark DePue, director of oral history at the presidential library. “It’s something of a tragedy that he’s only remembered today because he was … convicted for some things that happened during his administration.”
Carlos was fascinated with Kerner’s legacy. He believed the former governor may have been railroaded by an over zealous federal prosecutor (Jim Thompson) who went on to use that successful prosecution to elect himself governor.
Carlos wanted to write a book about Kerner, but then he got sick and passed away. Carlos was very tough on politicians, but he wasn’t a cynical hater. He always tried to get every side of a story, so I think his Kerner book would’ve been fascinating. We’ll never know.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 9:47 am
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It’s nice to remember him. Loved him! Rest in peace Carlos.
Comment by Decatur gal Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 10:02 am
The evil men (allegedly) do live after them,
the good is oft interred with their bones.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 10:02 am
Not sure of all the facts and will check out the book. Political prosecution, no doubt. But apparently he had stock in a non stock exchange traded company that was highly regulated by the state?? That is something that Walker, Ryan, and Blagojevich were not even close to being charged with.
Comment by just asking Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 10:04 am
Kerner’s stock rises as Thompsons drops with time…
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 10:13 am
Anon. Great Marc Antony reference.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 10:14 am
Would have loved to read this book. Too bad we’ll never have a chance.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 10:17 am
Looks like all of the Anons are out today.
I was too young to follow what had happened when it was happening and never researched the matter.
Therefore, I agree with Rich. Carlos’ book would have been an interesting read.
(And what a great testament to his friend. I’d imagine it takes alot of goodness to see, hear, and understand what others do; to have the strength to remain “tough” rather than taking the easy way out by simply becoming a hater; and to remain committed to understanding all sides of a story before passing judgment–should one feel the need to do so.)
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 10:36 am
Stories come up frequently that I know Carlito would have loved. Miss him.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 10:41 am
Otto Kerner might have been railroaded by an overzealous prosecutor? I guess payback really is a B the way he railroaded Preston Tucker.
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 11:20 am
Big Jim made his bones with Kerner. It set him on the path to fame and fortune — oh, and governor, too.
It’s ironic that he got Kerner on an Arlington Park stock deal. Big Jim later played for much higher stakes at Arlington Park than Kerner ever did.
In July 1985, a fire broke out at Arlington Park. Such a tragedy — the fire went out.
Happily, a miraculous second fire later that night burned up real good, destroying the main structures. Great success!
Heartbroken billionaire arms merchant Richard Duchossois reached out to Big Jim and his little buddy Sam Vinson to ease the pain.
Big Jim and Lil’ Sam moved heaven and earth to build a taxpayer financed racing palace in Arlington Heights. It wasn’t quite the taxpayer ripoff as new Cominskey Park, but it was in the ballpark, or racetrack.
Apparently, they still run races out at Arlington. You wouldn’t know that, because they don’t spend a dime on advertising or marketing to promote their business.
When they need more money, they usually just go down to Springfield and cry on some shoulders in the GA.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 11:23 am
Marj Everett was an unindicted co-conspirator in the Kerner case and even though she was a cooperative witness for the Feds, I recall she was forced to relinquish ownership of her Illinois tracks. I remember comments after Kerner was convicted that Thompson vouched for Everett to the California Racing Board when she sought ownership of CA tracks. Further, I recall that the lead investigator in the Kerner case may have gone on to be part of Florida’s horse racing industry. Kerner’s lawyer went on the be Marj Everett’s lawyer in CA. These coincidences surrounding the case may have been the reasons Thompson is criticized for conducting a political prosecution. There was also a comment made by Nixon or his AG during the investigation/trial that illustrated Nixon’s belief in Kerner’s guilt or his quest for revenge on the Daley organization for its role in defeating Nixon in the 1960 presidential race. This program at the Lincoln prez library is likely to cover some of these issues. Should be a good day for political history buffs.
Comment by Observing Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:12 pm
Otto Kerner was an excellent governor. He also took stock and money in an apparent trade for his services, and committed a number of federal crimes.
His son has been shopping the argument that he was innocent for decades now. The argument is based on the fact that the legal theory behind ONE of the crimes upon which he was convicted was subsequently overturned on a technicality.
Kerner’s son’s attempt to clear Kerner’s name was rejected by the federal Seventh Circuit court of appeals — on which Kerner had sat. The court acted on standing grounds, but also noted that:
Kerner was convicted of much more than mail fraud. His estate posits a sort of domino theory, under which Kerner’s convictions for conspiracy, perjury, false statements and tax evasion are knocked down one after another by the invalid mail fraud conviction.
http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=8122622471933492735&hl=en&as_sdt=6&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr
The whole sorry story of Kerner’s misconduct is told in the original court opinion affirming his conviction:
http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=141090994834746432&hl=en&as_sdt=400006&as_vis=1
(None of this is to defend Jim Thompson, which I wouldn’t do under any circumstances.)
Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 12:32 pm
If you know nothing about the Kerner story, this is a good place to start: http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2010/01/04/would-otto-kerners-conviction-actually-have-been-expunged
Not the last word, but a good place to start.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:06 pm
As both Rep. Mike Quigley, and then President Obama said about Carlos - in a complimentary way: “He was a throwback.” Young as he was, he knew his history and he cared about history passionately. God Bless Carlos!
Comment by Ab Initio Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 1:53 pm
Thanks for that link, JM. Interesting history lesson even if the lawyering may have sailed over my head.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 6:09 pm
Heartbreaking Carlos is gone. The book would have been amazing
Comment by Dominique Tuesday, Oct 22, 13 @ 8:29 pm
It is interesting to note that Jim Thompson began his political career by putting a governor in jail and spent his later years trying to keep another governor out of jail
Comment by David0316 Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 8:27 am