Happy anniversary!
Tuesday, Jan 14, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Policy Institute…
“Michael Madigan: Elected without fuss.”
So reads one Illinois newspaper caption from Jan. 13, 1983, the day after Madigan’s peers in the General Assembly elected him speaker of the House for the first time. The choice was easy. Madigan had recently redrawn Illinois’ legislative maps, which meant many lawmakers in part owed their jobs to the 40-year-old from Chicago’s Southwest Side.
Madigan has now held that speaker’s gavel for 35 of the last 37 years.
The state’s median age is 37 years old, meaning one man has served as speaker for the vast majority of most Illinoisans’ lives. No legislative leader in American history has held power for longer.
What were you (or your parents) doing in January of 1983?
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:28 am:
I was in the 5th grade.
- SKI - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:28 am:
Living out my terrible twos in Wisconsin…
- MSIX - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:29 am:
Patrolling the Czech border in Germany.
- Rayne of Terror - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:32 am:
I would have been at Chestnut Coop nursery school. Maybe pounding nails into the giant stump or having reading circle time with Mrs. Harriet.
- Alfred - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:32 am:
I wasn’t even a thought
- City Zen - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:33 am:
Rocking the casbah.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:33 am:
I was still in high school, but I had volunteered on a HDem race that fall and my guy (Chuck Pangle) won, so he was one of those new members that owed his seat to Madigan’s map. Also, that was the first year that representatives were in their own districts following the cut-back amendment. So instead of 177 reps, Madigan only had to deal with 118.
- DIstant watcher - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:35 am:
What I was doing: planning my future.
What I wasn’t doing: whining about losing 35 out of 37 years.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:35 am:
I don’t even want to know what my parents were doing in January 1983. I am pretty sure they were together then though.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:36 am:
In junior high, bewildered by my classmates wearing parachute pants.
- A Guy - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:36 am:
Watching home mortgage rates drop from nearly 20% down to below 10% in the Reagan era. In 1983 they were still in the high teens but trending downward. Refi in 1985 at 9.75% Truly remarkable time. MJM was still a SW Side Conservative Dem at the time. How times have changed.
- James the Intolerant - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:36 am:
Just finishing up my struggle through DePaul.
- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:37 am:
I don’t even think my parents were together at that point…
- Ok Boomer - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:38 am:
I was happily wearing velour tracksuits and roos shoes to Roosevelt Elementary in Park Ridge as a third grader.
- 50 now - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:39 am:
Was a house page for that summer (and many after that).
- So_Ill - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:40 am:
I think my parents got married around then. I was -2.
- Give Me A Break - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:42 am:
Would be my senior year in college from what I remember, or least think I remember, it was kinda foggy.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:42 am:
With great respect, I’m probably not gonna pinpoint a true age window for me, but that said, if you think about 37 years old as the median age, think of all the wasted elections with that new map and “cut down” amendment that were wasted on trying to tie folks to Madigan when in reality, those “against type” (Republican winning in Dem drawn seats and visa-versa) became fewer and fewer, for both parties since 1983
I do think it’s “fun”, the glossing over the Pate Map of the 90’s that neglected to see (or just ignored because it was about the Senate and not the House) trends in the south suburbs and how the HDems pounced after losing the chamber for one term.
“The trends were against us”
Mike Madigan and the political trends he controls.
Happy Anniversary excuse seekers. You’ve been a victim since 1983.
Congratulations.
- en absentia - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:42 am:
Lived in Lincoln Towers - walked to Springfield HS through the tunnels from Centennial to Stratton when it was raining/snowing.
- GV - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:42 am:
Finishing my second trimester.
- Perrid - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:42 am:
My parents hadn’t met. Mom was finishing up her residency, dad had been teaching junior high for several years.
- 50 now - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:43 am:
Also the first time I met Rich at the statehouse. My last memory of that summer was outside the governor’s mansion with him and a couple others after session finally ended. The good old days for sure. *wink wink
- Builder of Bridges - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:43 am:
1983: Began my career at IDOT.
2020: Ending my career at IDOT.
Maybe the Speaker will follow my lead.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:44 am:
Starting my second week in Driver’s Education. I still can hear my teacher saying (while in the HS parking lot), “Is your left arm broken? Then PUT IT ON THE WHEEL(exclamation point).”
- Cornfield Cowboy - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:44 am:
Filling up my diaper.
- The Captain - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:45 am:
I’m pretty sure I spent all of 1983 thinking about Return of the Jedi and the White Sox.
- Real - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:50 am:
I was not alive during that time.
- Semicolon - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:51 am:
Investing in microsoft (not).
- Wilma - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:51 am:
In high school, not thinking about Illinois politics
- Ok - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:52 am:
I was just plucked off the street by a pair of elderly men, who thrust me in to a world of high society and the futures markets.
Sitting down, in a bathroom stall, enjoying my newfound success, I overhear these barons of the exchange discuss how my new opportunity was the result of a simple bet of nature vs. nurture. That I was the experiment, to see if they could pick the worst of the worst of society and make him successful.
I had the last laugh, though, and have been sitting on a beach ever since.
Last I heard, they were living on the streets of New York City, hoping a rogue African Prince would offer them some spare cash.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:52 am:
Literally being conceived…
- Merica - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:53 am:
Living in a state with a $25B pension deficit (adjusted for inflation to 2019 dollars).
Today we have a $140B pension deficit, and that doesn’t include downstate police and fire ($180B)
- FormerParatrooper - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:53 am:
Junior year of High School contemplating which service to choose. Also driving around my ‘83 Duster since I just received my license 2 months before.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:53 am:
College freshman in Kansas, switching my major from engineering to French after a disastrous introduction to Calculus and Engineering 101.
- yinn - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:54 am:
My parents planned and executed a small and tasteful wedding reception for my new husband and me, who had secretly and probably un-tastefully gotten married at the World Famous Chapel of the Bells in Vegas. We just celebrated our 37th.
- Chicagonk - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:55 am:
My parents were refinancing their mortgage after the rates dropped to 13.5%. What a deal!
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:55 am:
Applying to a Grad School in the snowiest metro area in the US.
- Matt jones - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:56 am:
Preparing for my conference wrestling tournament in my senior year of high school.
- Because I said so.... - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:56 am:
I had just quit my first job out of college, without another job. Never made that mistake again. My boyfriend at the time, now husband and I drove down to Florida to escape a Chicago winter. Weather in Florida wasn’t good but we had fun.
- Donnie Elgin - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:58 am:
Saving for college with a one year CD that paid over 12%
- thunderspirit - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 9:59 am:
== …I’m probably not gonna pinpoint a true age window for me… ==
I’ve no such qualms myself.
I was a freshman in HS.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:00 am:
===Also the first time I met Rich at the statehouse===
You probably meant 1990. That was my first year for a party at the mansion. In January of 1993 I was young and freezing and thinking about moving somewhere warm.
- Moi - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:02 am:
I was an 18-year-old hoping the Bears would win a Superbowl three years later.
- Been There - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:03 am:
I was bartending and also helping out on the Chicago mayors race. I was for Rich Daley. It was a great fun campaign to work on.Also cold. Those Feb primaries are terrible. But I did end up with a lot of respect for Harold after he became mayor.
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:04 am:
Freshman in college, in Minnesota, not caring one whit what was happening back here in my home state.
- Steve Ashcraft - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:08 am:
I was stationed with Army in Bad Toelz Germany.
- 50 now - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:10 am:
Rich, I’m reading the year as 1983?
- SpfdNewb - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:11 am:
Parents were getting married, I think? Otherwise, they were still in college.
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:12 am:
Forgot to add was filling out the application in a State Capitol where the Democratic Speaker was whipping the GOP regularly (they were playing checkers, he was playing 3D chess well enough to beat Mr. Spock), prompting calls for “term limits” …
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:12 am:
===I’m reading the year as 1983===
I was 20 years old in January of 1983 and going to college.
- HCMcB4 - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:15 am:
I was in my second year as a reporter in Springfield.
- JOHNNYBOY - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:17 am:
Eighth grade, rural kid enjoying our new 10 foot satellite dish.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:19 am:
===Rich, I’m reading the year as 1983?===
50 now is probably confusing you with Rick Pearson. Lol.
- Stuff Happens - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:19 am:
I was 12, in 6th grade, worrying about the things that matter — like what Kristin Y. would say if I asked her out.
- kitty - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:20 am:
Army in Germany near Stuttgart, earning GI bill for college
- JT11505 - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:20 am:
I was a sophomore in college, so chances are I was drunk or hungover.
- Steve Rogers - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:24 am:
I was a junior in high school, probably still basking in the Cardinals world series win a few months prior and probably watching Derek Harper and the Fighting Illini.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:28 am:
“50 now is probably confusing you with Rick Pearson. Lol.”
Ouch! But then again, a lot of us did.
- Commonsense in Illinois - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:32 am:
I was the Legislative Liaison for the Department of Corrections and watched as Rep. Madigan won and was sworn in as Speaker of the House from my favorite perch on the House Floor.
- Springfieldish - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:35 am:
In the middle of my third year of law school, clerking for a firm at 188 W. Randolph where Gov. Thompson and Senator Rock were sometimes spotted eating eggplant parmesan sandwiches in the little place off of Wells.
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:37 am:
Pretty close to the time I would have been conceived…
- Rich Hill - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:40 am:
Celebrating the White Sox prize free agent signing Floyd Bannister, who that fall would help the team to its first postseason appearance in my lifetime.
- Wonk - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:40 am:
I was 2 and spent lots of time playing with the Fisher Price Little People house that a friend got for Christmas that year.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:40 am:
I had just finished grad school at ISU and was wondering why I couldn’t find a job.
- Springfield Westsider - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:45 am:
In January 1983 my parents were still like 17 years old, and barely dating. For context, I was born in December 1983.
- Annon - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:55 am:
On the 10th Floor McCormick Hall at Marquette complaining about the cold winter…..
- RIJ - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 10:58 am:
January 1983: I was beginning my final semester of study for my Master’s Degree. I was also listening to a lot of New Wave music.
- Tommydanger - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:00 am:
Running for reelection, skipping classes and dating my future wife…ahh, the good ‘ol days.
- A Jack - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:03 am:
In the Navy, serving in San Diego, California.
- ChrisB - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:07 am:
I was born in late 1983, so I guess my parents were keeping warm on a cold winter’s night.
- XonXoff - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:07 am:
I had just started dating a young lady who would turn out to be the best wife I could have ever hoped for. We spent most of 83… well… not following politics.
- Langhorne - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:10 am:
Good—working at DCCA in the heyday when anything we could some up with got funded.
Bad—doing site visits all over the state in JANUARY. Waking up to snow coming in under my hotel room door.
- Bogey Golfer - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:22 am:
In January 1983, my grandmother passed away after a long illness. A month later my father died suddenly.
- Generic Drone - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:27 am:
24year old coal miner working his 5th year underground.
- West Side the Best Side - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:33 am:
Thinking about having a third child, and in November it was Eenie,Meanie, Miney and no more.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:35 am:
HS senior working at a supermarket.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:42 am:
Newlywed, 4 months.
Working nights as a clerk at a hospital.
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:48 am:
Living in Connecticut. Working as Director of Marketing for a company that supplied equipment to the energy markets.
Learned a lot of technology that is now obsolete.
- Person 8 - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:52 am:
Half of me was merging with the other half of me.
- D - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 11:58 am:
Just think has Governor Ogilvie’s name been pulled from the hat, Madigan would not had been elected Speaker in 1983.
From one who was there.
- Sandy C - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 12:06 pm:
I was 17, single and not a care in the world. Oh and a huge Prince fan.
- Wylie Coyote - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 12:11 pm:
I was 27 and working as a reporter covering Madigan’s ascension to the throne.
- Proud Sucker - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 12:12 pm:
Just started my 2nd semester at IIT (though we are finally going by Illinois Tech ) getting used to living on the south side.
- Retired 126 - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 12:18 pm:
Just joined the 13th Ward Orginization.
- DTAG - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 12:28 pm:
My parent had just met and were married a year later. I came a year after that.
- Anotherretiree - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 12:38 pm:
Finishing my 10th month as a new programmer,sill going to classes at night to finish degree,looking forward to Spring and end of my 6 year Army commitment (IRR), relieved I had made it through probation but hearing about budget season and fretting about being first hired first laid off if agency budget cut in the Spring.
- Lake Effect - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 12:49 pm:
Learning to walk on Damen and Grace
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 12:58 pm:
Thank you Mr. Speaker for your dedication. You’ve made it a better state.
- Kahala Caseworker - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:03 pm:
I was less than 1mo old, after being born the month prior…..does that mean I win?
- WH Mess - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:30 pm:
Let’s see. When Madigan won the speakership, I was walking down Lawrence Avenue to Hay-Edwards. It looks like it was a warmer than normal January day, with no snow.
https://www.wunderground.com/history/monthly/us/il/springfield/KSPI/date/1983-1
I’m quite sure I was paying no attention to the legislature and focused more on whether or not Mr. Copi would let us outside to play kickball.
- stateandlake - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:31 pm:
Trying to decide whether to accept a transfer to Kansas by my railroad employer. I eventually did, and met my future wife a month after the move.
- Levois J - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:48 pm:
1983 I wasn’t even in school yet….
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 1:53 pm:
January 1983?
Enjoying a celebrity’s high-profile paternity dispute.
– MrJM
- RNUG - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 2:04 pm:
Guess my post got lost …
I was starting my 13th year working for the State … and getting divorced.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 2:14 pm:
1983…is when public pundits began wondering how long Mike Madigan would last.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 2:16 pm:
Has anyone asked…Himself?
- Rudy's teeth - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 2:21 pm:
Enjoying a beverage at Chicago’s best and long-gone cocktail lounge–Gold Star Sardine Bar.
- Facts Matter - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 2:24 pm:
I was a JCAR staffer.
- Stones - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 2:54 pm:
Jan ‘83 I was in my Junior yr of college.
- obiter dictum - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 3:32 pm:
1st year of law school
- Maryjane - Tuesday, Jan 14, 20 @ 5:22 pm:
U.S.N.
- Oldtimer - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 7:18 am:
Midway through my Freshman year of high school. Hoping Sophomore year would be an improvement.
- Labotts - Wednesday, Jan 15, 20 @ 9:48 pm:
My parents were just a few months away from making me, as I was born 1 year and 11 days later.