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There have been efforts for a while to place a statue of Ronald Reagan on the Statehouse grounds to honor the 40th president. U.S. Rep. DARIN LaHOOD of Peoria championed the effort when he was was a state senator, but he’s been in Congress since 2015. There’s still no Reagan statue.

Enter Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, who has been very active in activities surrounding the Illinois bicentennial celebration. He was approached about the idea of finally doing that Reagan statue. He discussed the idea with some others who thought it would be fitting in this bicentennial year to have a statue of not only Reagan, but also of Barack Obama. That would mean all four presidents with ties to Illinois would be represented by statues at the Capitol. (In case you didn’t realize it, there is a statue of Ulysses S. Grant, but it is inside the rotunda). […]

Then the bill started moving through the legislative process. Butler said “it was suggested” another statue be added to the mix. This one would be of James Thompson, longest-serving Illinois governor.

Done yet? Nope. Next up was Reuben Soderstrom. Who, you may ask? He was a state representative who also was president of the Illinois State Federation of Labor and later the Illinois AFL-CIO.

But wait, there’s more. The next suggestion was to add a statue of former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. And why limit the selection to people born in the 20th century, especially when you might be able to swing a discount by ordering statues in bulk? Let’s add a statue of Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, the first resident of Chicago.

* The Question: Your Statehouse statue suggestion(s)?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 11:54 am

Comments

Who I going to make statues if they don’t get paid for years?

Comment by DuPage Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 11:59 am
Let’s be realistic about our state history. Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich.

Comment by Head scratcher Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:01 pm
Bill Veeck. True Renaissance Man.

Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:02 pm
A statue like the Harry Carry statue outside Wrigley, except it’s a state pension and below are all the amorphous, tortured souls of governors-past attempting to escape its clutches.

Comment by City Zen Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:04 pm
Obama seems the most obvious.

Snarkily, I would suggest Squeezy the Pension Python.

Comment by Dee Lay Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:05 pm
Cap Streeter.

Comment by JoanP Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:07 pm
A U-Haul truck.

Comment by Ryan Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:07 pm
You could do Gov. I’m-Not-in-Charge. It could be the invisible man, cost nothing.

Seriously, pairing Obama and Reagan is a no-brainer. Surprised that they can’t get a clean bill on that.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:08 pm
The state doesn’t have the money to be doing such things unless it can generate revenue.

Two options:

1. Mike Frerichs Statue/Cell Phone Tower
2. Coin Operated Speaker Madigan Statue that swallows quarters and dispenses proportional tax benefits.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:08 pm
Lee Daniels. Last and I mean like last one ever Republican Speaker of House

Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:09 pm
Mike Madigan and Rich Miller. Both are already fixtures in the Capitol. And, Rich, I mean that in a nice way.

Comment by very old soil Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:10 pm
Jake & Elwood.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:21 pm
Will every penny come out of the $500,000 Emergency Statue Fund? I hope that someone else gets that reference to an episode of The Golden Girls.

Comment by Nishi Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:23 pm
Paul Powell and his shoebox.

Comment by Stones Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:23 pm
My vote would be Judy Barr Topinka

Comment by Broadcaster Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:23 pm
Jane Addams. Ida B. Wells. Bessie Coleman. Oprah.

Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:25 pm
We need a statue of The Pension Ramp. Plus we could use it as a skate park.

Comment by The_Equalizer Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:27 pm
The statue of Grant is easily missed unless you are looking at the dome. It is perched on a ledge quite a way up.

A Reagan statue seems to be an obvious choice as he was the only native Illinoisan to be elected President. Lincoln, Grant and Obama were all moved here later on. Reagan was born and educated here.

Comment by Practical Politics Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:28 pm
Given the state’s fiscal woes, Rauner is the easy answer.
He could just stand in place as he has been doing for three years. No expense involved.

Comment by Truthteller Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:29 pm
==Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich.==
==Paul Powell and his shoebox.==

They would be in a fenced section.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:30 pm
Rep. Jay Hoffman—how many Capital ‘s have a pumpkin head statue?

Comment by Pyrman Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:33 pm
A statue commemorating the Sam Vadalebene and John Knuppel fist fight on the Senate floor

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:34 pm
MJM if it would lead to his retirement finally.

Comment by Just Me Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:36 pm
Saul Alinsky

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:36 pm
Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Sports Illustrated Greatest Female Athlete of All-Time

Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:38 pm
The unknown lobbyist.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:40 pm
==Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich.==

==Paul Powell and his shoebox.==

I would pass on Walker. His crime was not related to service in office. I would also include Len Small, Otto Kerner, Jr., Orville Hodge. I skipped Bill Scott sine his crime did not relate to state service.

It would make for a nice meditation garden.

Comment by Bigtwich Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 12:41 pm
John Peter Altgeld

Comment by a drop in Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 1:00 pm
A Federal Indictment

Comment by Anonish Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 1:03 pm
An action hero duo: John Knuppel and the Campbell Kid.

Comment by Wallinger Dickus Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 1:12 pm
=We need a statue of The Pension Ramp. Plus we could use it as a skate park.=
The_Equalizer FTW

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 1:14 pm
===Reagan was born and educated here.===

Yes, well. Then he moved to California at the age of 26 where he remained for the rest of his long life. At least Lincoln, Grant and Obama chose to live in Illinois even if they weren’t lucky enough to be born here.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 1:17 pm
Reagan, Obama, Topinka and MJM (after he retires).

Comment by Can Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 1:43 pm
Cheap Trick

Comment by Montrose Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 1:56 pm
Paul Simon.

Comment by TominChicago Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 1:57 pm
“Your Statehouse statue suggestion(s)?”

Like Reagan, Kanye is a celebrity born and raised in Illinois prior to moving to California and taking up politics.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 2:21 pm
A perfect, Illinois based representative of many decades of Illinois’ elected officials…Bozo the Clown.

Comment by Kent Gray Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 2:26 pm
–At least Lincoln, Grant and Obama chose to live in Illinois even if they weren’t lucky enough to be born here.–

Grant not so much. Out of desperation, he took a job from his father-in-law and moved to Galena in 1860. Never really went back after the war broke out, but used it as his official residence when he ran for president.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 2:47 pm
Our Speaker. It would be super cost effective. Just Bronze him at the end of session.

Comment by A guy Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 3:15 pm
== Your Statehouse statue suggestion(s)? ==

I recommend Rich Miller. He has spent more time at the state capitol than some governors.

Comment by Mama Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 3:36 pm
If Rich were immortalized with a statue, i guess you could say he was stoned.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 4:45 pm
Sorry Anonymous at 1:14 p.m. is me; my browser keeps deleting my nickname.

Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 4:58 pm
Dan Proft, John Tillman, & Dick uihlien

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 5:44 pm
/snark/Alfred E. Neuman, representing clueless Illinois politicians at all levels, titled “What, me govern??”

On a more positive note, a tribute to the Unknown Voters who try desperately to not vote in the Neumans of our State.

Comment by revvedup Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 6:49 pm
==John Peter Altgeld ==

Only if it is atop a castle.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 8:40 pm
John L Lewis, President of the UMW from 1920 to 1960. He is buried in Oak Ridge.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 8:44 pm
Sam Vadalabene slugging Mark Q. Rhoads.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 10:31 pm
Jesse White

Comment by Ross Brown Monday, Apr 30, 18 @ 11:06 pm
A weeping Lincoln…..

Comment by Jerry Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 9:09 am
Jubilation t corn pone

Comment by Rabid Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 6:53 pm