Every governor over the past 25 years—Republican and Democrat—has learned a lesson from Gov. Jim Thompson.
Every governor except one.
Running for re-election in 1982, Thompson was in the fight of his political life, and the Republican speaker of the House was making things worse.
Illinois had plunged into recession under Republican President Ronald Reagan, and Thompson was running against a household name, former U.S. Sen. Adlai Stevenson III.
Then, House Speaker George Ryan of Kankakee allowed an anti-union “right to work” bill to move to the House floor. Organized labor was furious. Thousands of workers gathered on the Statehouse lawn in June to angrily denounce Ryan. Thompson was met with a resounding chorus of boos when he took the stage.
But those boos turned to cheers when Thompson vowed to veto the bill. He then invited the crowd to the governor’s mansion for free beer.
In the November election, the Illinois AFL-CIO endorsed Stevenson against Thompson. But the incumbent received crucial backing from several individual unions after Stevenson suggested things like replacing unionized highway workers with prison inmates.
Thompson defeated Stevenson by just 5,000 votes. His speech and a sharply divided labor movement were crucial to his success—even though Ryan, whom the unions despised, had become his running mate.
After the election, Thompson signed a bill to legalize collective bargaining for state employee unions. He interceded in contract negotiations to break an impasse, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees endorsed his 1986 re-election bid, followed quickly by an AFL-CIO endorsement.
Every governor since then has learned the Thompson lesson: Keep state workers happy.
Well, every governor except the current one. We’ll get to him in a moment.
What ended up happening was that union contracts got better and better for the employees. Republican Govs. Jim Edgar and Ryan were kind to the unions. And AFSCME claimed that Gov. Rod Blagojevich negotiated the most generous contract in the nation. Union negotiations in 2010 were satisfactory enough that AFSCME immediately endorsed Pat Quinn after the talks ended and gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to his campaign.
Gov. Bruce Rauner deems this history “corrupt.” Quite a few people agree with him. The gazillionaire governor also claims that the millions of dollars he contributed to his own campaign last year and the millions he raised from his billionaire buddies are exercises in “freedom of speech.”
But you can’t on the one hand claim that contributions from billionaires are a constitutional right and on the other hand claim that contributions from working people are corrupt.
Plus, despite all this alleged “corruption,” Rauner won the election. The balance of power has substantially shifted.
His recent attempt to withhold some dues from the unions via executive order probably won’t succeed any time soon. Attorney General Lisa Madigan says Rauner is up against established case law and intends to fight him. Based on Madigan’s legal opinion, Comptroller Leslie Munger, a Rauner appointee, has said she won’t follow the order, effectively nullifying it.
Governors aren’t the only folks who learned from Jim Thompson. Legislators did, too. So, it’s highly doubtful the Democratic-controlled General Assembly will join any fight to undermine public employees’ legal rights.
A more adversarial relationship would be good for taxpayers in the short and the long run. But being adversarial is far different from this comically futile vow to destroy the other side. This could easily backfire and hurt everything else Rauner wants to do.
I asked the former governor what he thought of the current governor’s attacks on the unions. Thompson refused to criticize a sitting governor but said I was free to use any of his past comments.
Here’s one from 2013: “You can disagree with AFSCME, you can disagree with the teachers, you can disagree with other public employee unions without demonizing unions.”
Thompson was greeted by thunderous booing, but quickly calmed things by saying “Where’s Local (whatever number) from (whatever town)?” The union local members hollered and clapped and the whole tone changed. And by the time he announced that he would veto the bill, he had them eating out of the palms of his hands. I’ve never seen anything like it. That took real guts and real skill.
- Boone's is Back - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 10:42 am:
This is my favorite Big Jim story. Thanks for sharing Rich.
- JoanP - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 10:44 am:
=He then invited the crowd to the governor’s mansion for free beer.=
Sure, but was it served in a plunger?
- Centennial - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 10:44 am:
If Rauner took this advice to heart, he would still be governor.
- South of Sherman - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 10:58 am:
If Rauner took that advice to heart, he wouldn’t be Rauner.
- Froganon - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:08 am:
Governing/leading with the consent of the governed. Who knew that could work? LOL
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:09 am:
I was there. I remember that day.
- illinifan - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:10 am:
Big Jim demonstrated the leadership of working for the people of Illinois vs. Rauner who was focused on serving his ego and ideology
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:11 am:
“contributions from working people are corrupt”
Says the guy who in his own words got rich off of public employee pensions.
State employees have had their share of cuts: major pension reform, healthcare cost hikes, no annual pay increases and COLA’s. Rauner and his ilk have had zero cuts, thanks to the constitution and flat tax. Hopefully this time state employees and others can unburden themselves of carrying the wealthy’s share of state income taxes.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:12 am:
“Every governor since then has learned the Thompson lesson: Keep state workers happy”
Of curse, the taxpayers of Illinois must pay for that labor peace. Short term happiness for polls needing their votes, result in long term unsustainabnale pensions for the whole.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:13 am:
===taxpayers of Illinois must pay for that labor peace===
Voters haven’t seemed to care all that much.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:15 am:
=== taxpayers of Illinois must pay for that labor peace===
… and yet, those union workers are taxpayers too.
They vote. Rauner himself felt the Union workers impact in both elections.
- SIU - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:16 am:
Of curse, the taxpayers of Illinois must pay for that labor peace. Short term happiness for polls needing their votes, result in long term unsustainabnale pensions for the whole.
They will care soon when thay can’t take the taxes and the ongoing corruption that results from keeping those workers happy…..
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:19 am:
“the ongoing corruption that results from keeping those workers happy” Citation please.
- Rich Hill - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:22 am:
This could be the opening passage of a book on a history of the ILGOP 1970-2020.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:24 am:
=== They will care soon when thay can’t take the taxes and the ongoing corruption that results from keeping those workers happy…..===
No snark, I don’t even think you know what that means, lol
Please, wear a mask if you’re gonna mouth breathe that heavy.
- WH Mess - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:25 am:
I remember that time period well — would love to see that video if someone can dig it up.
- Paddyrollingstone - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:27 am:
is that speech on You Tube anywhere? Would love to see it.
- Practical Politics - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:30 am:
“Thompson defeated Stevenson by just 5,000 votes.”
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Seymour Simon (D) broke ranks and voted with Republican justices in a 4-3 majority to deny Stevenson a recount.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:34 am:
Gov. Thompson’s passing also has tremendous significance in that he was one of the last of the moderate Republicans. Today the party is the Trump base and anti-tax, anti-union types at the Trib editorial board, IPI etc. No wonder the ILGOP can’t make lemonade of the Madigan lemons.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:37 am:
==“the ongoing corruption that results from keeping those workers happy”==
Thanks for the contribution, Mr. Rauner, but you apparently forgot to read the post: “ But you can’t on the one hand claim that contributions from billionaires are a constitutional right and on the other hand claim that contributions from working people are corrupt.”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:45 am:
Ok, to the Post,
The phony Raunerites now, who daily ignore the damage they enabled with Rauner could never be considered as thoughtful to governing or labor as Big Jim.
Look around.
There are ZERO… ZEE-ROW… Thompson, Edgar or a Topinka Republicans left in the Raunerite Party. The phonies who replaced the pro-labor Republicans in the GA, mere switch-sitters now who have alienated labor, public and trade labor, and no leadership is seen by the Raunerites that were put in by Rauner (be it by pressuring locals, or Tillman sitting in on decisions, or… but I digress) to hurt this state because hurting labor was more important than a short term (a whole General Assembly, by the way) budget stalemate.
These phony Raunerites left, Rauner himself pushed all of labor to Madigan, not just Dems, because as Rauner went after labor, Rauner tied it all to Madigan too, and in unprecedented unity, both took down Rauner, labor as a big factor to the demise.
Can you imagine Thompson embracing a thinking that a confederate flag is… heritage? How about a 51st state? Ok, how about trying to close universities… cowardly in a passive way? The Thompson Years were about partisan politics but doing so with cobbled wins, arm twisting, smiles and beer, and a personality and style bigger than his standing frame.
I can’t help the Raunerites when the leaders of the party are Rauner appointees still never grasping how Thompson got a state to come around and get things his way. I’d like to help, but I don’t see Thompson savvy within the Raunerite Ruin.
I’d make some peace, publicly, with labor, a lil mea culpa, a lil more mea culpa to regions outside the downstate baseline.
Help me help you. More Thompson, less Rauner, and start with dumping the Raunerite leadership.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:57 am:
==Of curse, the taxpayers of Illinois must pay for that labor peace.==
Daley bragged about labor peace with CTU during his tenure. All it cost was not making pension payments for a decade.
- dbk - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 12:13 pm:
Really appreciating these Big Jim recollections, hope there are more in the works.
Stevenson suggested prisoners replace union workers on state highways? Wow, shades of chain gangs; that’s amazing and not in a good way.
And yes, if anybody can locate the video of that speech, I’d really like to watch it, too.
- Give Us Barabbas - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 12:36 pm:
Let’s also not forget the circus that was the Gary Dotson trial, and the Governor presiding over a hearing featuring a gigantic TV screen depicting soiled underwear. I think only Big Jim could have survived that.
- The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 12:37 pm:
This is one of my all time favorite Jim Thompson stories. Big Jim was a brilliant guy and he loved being Governor. I worked for IDOT during his tenure as Governor and those were good times having a boss that made you feel appreciated.
- IrishPirate - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 12:45 pm:
JRT was a mixed bag like any human being. This Mark Brown column gets at that.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/8/16/21371362/governor-jim-thompson-winston-strawn-greg-baise-jim-prescott-mike-lawrence-illinois-obituary
His timing was off to be a Republican on the national scene. First the party took a turn rightward and then REAGAN.
If he had been a DEM and his policies were so centrist he could have been he might have been POTUS.
Party affiliation to him almost seemed like a birth/family/ thing. Sorta like White Sox versus Cubs. Cheer for your side for the pure fun of it and choosing a side.
- Res Melius - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 1:01 pm:
True story. In October 1976, I was at Jacksonville when Gov. Dan Walker opened Interstate 72, then Route 36, right before the gubernatorial election. He seemed somewhat solemn as he rolled a barricade on wheels across the highway. He had lost the primary and was a lame duck.
Then in 1977, new Gov. Jim Thompson showed up to open up the next portion around Jacksonville. For the ceremony, Big Jim rolled a freshly painted steel construction barrel off the roadway. It was his choice. He talked to everyone, especially reaching out to the construction workers on the job. His enthusiasm was contagious.
- ajjacksson - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 2:57 pm:
Great article Rich–except for reminding us that Rauner was governor.
People in Illinois seemed happier when Jim Thompson was the governor.