Your daily Big Jim post
Friday, Aug 21, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Jim Prescott has been speaking for Gov. Jim Thompson’s family this week, so I’ve been in contact with him almost every day. This is from an email he sent me today…
I’ve said this before, and it’s not really a new concept, but there are three parts to being governor: politics, process and policy. He was the best at all three. Other governors may have been better at one of the three, but nobody was as good across the board as JRT. Actually, he was probably better in all three than anybody.
He was right up there for sure.
* Karen Ackerman recounted her years working for Thompson…
Thompson was equally at ease working with Dr. Leon Lederman, Nobel Prize winner in physics and director of Fermilab. In response to Illinois losing its bid for the Superconductor Super Collider, Thompson and Lederman brought together Illinois’ leading research universities, national laboratories and corporate executives and created a state-funded program to compete for federal grants for science and technology projects.
During the controversy surrounding the proposed closure of the Native American burial ground at Dickson Mounds Museum, Thompson met with Native American activists. He also dropped by beauty shops in Lewistown to hear what local women thought.
Thompson listened to disparate views and made well-informed decisions. He relied on staff to prepare comprehensive bill reviews and position papers before acting on bills passed by the legislature and making other decisions. He factored in the policy issues, budgetary impacts, political implications and kept track of who were proponents and opponents.
Thompson’s environmental record earned him respect from the environmental community. He expanded funding for open space and included funding for natural areas and the environment in his large Build Illinois infrastructure program. He agreed to listen to presentations by the Illinois Environmental Council about major policy issues; this memorable meeting lasted five hours. His administration was responsible for significant environmental legislation, including the Solid Waste Management Act and Groundwater Protection Act.
Thompson was an advocate for the arts and cultural organizations. He created the Historic Preservation Agency. Thompson had a personal interest in art and antiques and hosted antique shows on the grounds of the governor’s mansion. When the Thompson Center was built in the Chicago Loop, an Illinois Art Gallery and Illinois Artisans Shop graced the second floor, thanks to Thompson. He created the Illinois Artisans Program within the Illinois State Museum to raise the visibility of the state’s talented artisans. He led many trade missions, and the gifts he gave to foreign leaders were often handcrafted items made by Illinois artisans. He requested the Illinois State Museum Society operate a second artisans shop in the Executive Mansion. A few weeks prior to leaving office, Thompson cut the ribbon opening the Southern Illinois Art and Artisans Center at Rend Lake. The center, which sadly is now closed, has a colorful history connected to wrangling votes for the White Sox Stadium.
* The IEA has also weighed in…
During his four terms as Illinois Governor, Jim Thompson acquired a deserved reputation as a builder. His legacy includes scores of crucial roads, bridges and buildings, in every part of the state, that were constructed or restored under his leadership.
But nothing Jim Thompson built, no legislation he signed into law, has had greater impact on the quality of life for millions of Illinoisans than the collective bargaining legislation he signed into law in the 1980s.
Prior to collective bargaining, public school teachers and support staff professionals were routinely treated as second-class citizens by local school boards. The boards would often dictate the terms of the employee contracts, which established not only compensation but also the teaching and learning conditions in the schools, including class size. […]
In the seven years before collective bargaining, there were, on average, 25 teacher strikes each year. This constant turmoil was bad for the teaching profession, bad for the students and bad for the communities served by public schools.
Governor Thompson realized this and told the Illinois Education Association that, if we could convince the General Assembly to pass a collective bargaining bill, he would sign it.
* He was also a proud father…
* Related…
* Here’s the plunger from which Jim Thompson drank at a WIU football game. Allegedly.
- pool boy - Friday, Aug 21, 20 @ 2:59 pm:
I couldn’t drink Balvenie 50 out of a plunger. Big Jim transcended all.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 21, 20 @ 3:06 pm:
=== there are three parts to being governor: politics, process and policy.===
Restaurant Quality. Yikes is that tasty good.
That measure, it’s tough to see others better at all three, probably because all three are do intertwined with each other. Being weak at one weakens the other two.
I miss the days of the state Republicans that revered Thompson, Edgar, and now we have Raunerites who honestly, they honestly do, think the combative way(s) of Rauner is fighting for good governance. Someone would need to make a case that any of the 63 legislators of this Raunerite era (Note: there are zero statewide office holders of the Raunerite brand) that can say that the Thompson prism of policy and politics is something needed in the Raunerite thinking.
Oh. Sorry. Process?
“I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate”
Yeah. None of them grasp process. Not a soul. No exceptions. I have the receipts of the 99th General Assembly.
The passing of a figurative and actual giant, Big Jim Thompson, should make those who think they see the Raunerite Party as a caretaker to the name ILGOP. Policy and politics are the hard ones, as the only way to make headway is grasp and comprehend that a party needs to grasp where the state sits and how the policy and politics of that party need to attract the voters by listening and leading in ways that a majority of those same voters see a party worthy of leading, in this case Illinois.
Process is the easiest. Enough with the party of “no”, get involved in process by finding where wins are found when the easy is cry about loses.
Help me help you. Study JRT. Be honest to policy, politics, and process… decide that an old angry and regionally rural base needs suburban diverse voters who you all can agree with 80% of the time.
Sit down and listen, not just politely, listen to the Thompson folks. Hear also what Edgar folks say too. Realize how far you all must go. Realize too how far the times of Thompson are… and the need to make 21st century thinking have a bedrock of where JRT showed his greatness.
The first step is to finally admit a reset is required. The next steps need to include how Thompson saw this state and how the party needs to get back to loving ALL of Illinois… every inch of our state.
- Nearly Normal - Friday, Aug 21, 20 @ 3:14 pm:
Thanks for the memories and clearing up the plunger story. I remember getting a call from Rose Ann Kafer, a teacher at Olympia HS, to get to the Ballroom at the Bone Student Center on a July day. The IEA was having their annual Summer Leadership Academy and Gov. Thompson was going to be there. He came to Normal to sign the collective bargaining bill that gave education employees the right to bargain. He said our endorsement helped him win the election and he kept his promises. Wait, a politician that keeps his promises? Yes, he did.
- Michael Feltes - Friday, Aug 21, 20 @ 3:15 pm:
“In response to Illinois losing its bid for the Superconductor Super Collider, Thompson and Lederman brought together Illinois’ leading research universities, national laboratories and corporate executives and created a state-funded program to compete for federal grants for science and technology projects.”
They also worked together to create the Illinois Math & Science Academy in Aurora, the second such specialty school in the US.
- West Sider - Friday, Aug 21, 20 @ 3:24 pm:
I regularly voted against JRT- but I wasn’t particularly disappointed when he won. He was a leader you respected- and expected. He was both likable and intellectually curious- as our Governor, he made you happy that you came from Illinois.
- Ares - Friday, Aug 21, 20 @ 3:49 pm:
Time for Thompsonites (and Ogilvites) to take over the GOP at the State and Federal level.
- Sayitaintso - Friday, Aug 21, 20 @ 4:01 pm:
Ares: there are no Thompsonites or Ogilvites to take over. Look around. The Center collapsed some time ago. There is a mile wide opening for someone to fill that position, but what it would take seems impossible given the realities of politics today.
- OneMan - Friday, Aug 21, 20 @ 4:04 pm:
I remember when Sneed at one time mentioned he was looking for a driver, bet that was an interesting job.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Aug 21, 20 @ 4:25 pm:
===I remember when Sneed at one time mentioned he was looking for a driver===
Somewhere in his term, JRT ordered some Checker cabs (then built in Chicago) as his personal state car. One of my friends at a state garage said that the car had about 4 feet of leg room! For some reason, the Checker fell out of favor, and I think it was passed on to the warden at the now-closed Dwight correctional center.
- Been There - Friday, Aug 21, 20 @ 4:28 pm:
=== politics, process and policy. He was the best at all three. Other governors may have been better at one of the three, but nobody was as good across the board as JRT. Actually, he was probably better in all three than anybody.====
This is spot on. I would argue there were better in politics and I definitely had problems with some of his policies. But doing all three at once as a governor is a special trait that is few and far between. But he had it.