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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
Way back in 1996, I spent a few minutes walking around the Chicago-based Democratic National Convention with then-House Minority Leader Michael Madigan.
Madigan at the time was working to regain his chamber’s majority after the 1994 national Republican wave combined with the Republican-drawn legislative district maps to knock the speaker’s gavel out of his hand.
But even with his lessened official status, Madigan was still hugely powerful within his party, and he was clever enough that many figured he’d somehow find a way back.
At some point that evening, Cook County Recorder of Deeds Jesse White approached Madigan. White had served 18 years in the House with Madigan, so the two knew each other well.
White told Madigan he was seriously considering running for secretary of state. Madigan was polite but non-committal in response.
After White walked away, Madigan turned to me, chuckled, shook his head “no” and sighed, “Jesse.” He clearly had other plans for the office, which had been held by the Republican Party for 15 years by that time and was likely to be an open seat if incumbent George Ryan did as expected and ran for governor.
Long story short, Madigan ended up supporting Tim McCarthy, a former Secret Service agent who took a bullet to his chest while protecting President Ronald Reagan during a 1981 assassination attempt. White ended up winning the 1998 Democratic primary by 13 points. Madigan, by then the House speaker, brought a large campaign check to his first post-primary meeting with the winner and supported White from that point on.
White went on to win the 1998 general election against former state Rep. Al Salvi, whose spouse Kathy is currently running for U.S. Senate, by 13 points.
From that election forward, White became a singularly unifying force in Illinois politics. He routinely managed to win areas where no other Democrat could even hope to compete. In 2002, he won all 102 Illinois counties, raking in 68% of the vote and cementing his legendary status. He won 63% of the vote four years later, then won subsequent elections with 70%, 66% and 68%.
A determined worker, White had gone all-out to defeat Madigan’s candidate in 1998, campaigning everywhere, and he was not happy he lost a few counties in 2006 after sweeping them four years earlier, so he made sure to ramp up his efforts in 2010.
Over six elections, White outpolled his party’s candidate for governor by an average of 13.8 percentage points.
In 2018, he lost just two of Illinois’ 59 state Senate districts, according to the Illinois Elections Data website.
Nobody has ever tried to quantify White’s impact on down-ballot races. Did crossing over for White help nudge Republican-leaning voters to maybe support a Democrat for the legislature or local office? There’s no data to prove such an hypothesis, but I gotta figure he helped, and nobody can ever doubt that White has been a strong net-positive for his party.
And when his preferred candidate to replace him as secretary of state failed after innumerable problems were exposed with how she has run her current Chicago office, the Democratic nominee Alexi Giannoulias was quick to embrace the longtime incumbent White, knowing he’ll be an asset in the fall campaign.
When White leaves office in January, I just don’t see how we’ll ever see another politician like him. His appeal not only crosses party lines, but he showed Madigan and others in 1998 that people of all colors and origins would eagerly support him.
In 1998, I wrote White was an American hero and predicted Illinois voters would pick up on that. He recruited kids out of neighborhoods that many folks are afraid to even drive through to his eponymous Tumblers team and helped shape them into solid citizens. He’s run that team since 1959, and over all those decades only a tiny handful have ever had serious trouble with the law. His fellow party members aren’t the only ones who owe him a debt of gratitude.
White’s retirement may or may not make a difference for Democrats on Election Day going forward. We simply don’t know what actual impact his huge wins have had on other races.
What we do know is we are losing an elected official whose consistently unifying appeal has no equal in this state’s politics. And we will be the lesser for that loss.
* Meanwhile, from a brand new press release…
Today, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White endorsed Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot’s re-election campaign for Mayor of Chicago. Secretary White announced his support in a video testimonial.
The video is here.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:33 am
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I don’t see the advantage for White in making this endorsement. He’s never running for anything again.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:44 am
When I would look at election data, the votes the GOP candidate got running against him was what I considered the ‘vote for the GOP no matter what’ number.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:44 am
I have voted every election for Jesse. I will not be voting for Giannoulis.
Comment by Blue Dog Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:45 am
Alot of us remember the SOS office when Jesse White was sworn in. Chaotic and corrupt.
License for bribes, George Ryan’s boyhood friend
/ IG Dean Bauer pleading guilty to obstruction of justice, Scott Willis tearfully asking for then Gov Ryan to take responsibility (”I do believe that there is enough evidence to show that the governor had knowledge of this and that he hid that knowledge.”).
What did Jesse do on day one as SOS ?
He appointed Jim Burns the new IG and told the former US Attorney to do what needed to be done and backed him up.
Thank you, Secretary White.
Comment by Scott Fawell's Cellmate Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:06 pm
Jesse White is truly unique and the SOS office is well suited to him. The closest the Dems have to someone like Jesse is Susana Mendoza; she goes everywhere in the state, is empathetic, very nice, and relates well to almost everyone.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:10 pm
Dan Brady will make a fitting successor to Sec. White. He is a public servant who, like White, understands the meaning of service to the people. The other guy is just working for his own greater glory.
Comment by Eastsider Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:27 pm
@ Eastsider:
In agreement…
Comment by Pizza Man Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:49 pm
Jesse white is so amazing due to his genuine honest approach – he has no pretense. His appeal is truly bipartisan and he appreciates listening to others whom he finds genuine. He has been loved in what was once a solidly red DuPage county for decades. He picked the right frequency to connect with voters – organ donation, his tumblers (fixtures at any parade), and his military and baseball careers. All were hugely positive in creating his popularity. The funny thing is I still think the driver services facilities are stuck in the 1990s and provide poor customer service – but somehow that never hurt Jesse. He is a one-of-a-kind dude and will be sorely missed.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:51 pm
Jesse White was/is a great politician. He also didn’t have to take any votes, which makes it easier to be popular.
Comment by Hamlet on the Potomac Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:53 pm
Nice article.
The author had me thinking about Mr. White’s career in politics as well as his community service.
I have seen the Jesse White Tumblers at least 15 times over the years and each time I am amazed at how incredible that show is. The work he has done with young people and the integrity he has brought to his elected office is a model other political figures should use as a model.
Going to miss Jesse White.
Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:54 pm
I met Jesse White in 1992 when he was running for Cook County Recorder of Deeds. Subsequently, I worked for Mr White and played softball with him. No finer gentleman than Jesse White.
Comment by "A Horse is a Horse" Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 1:05 pm
We need more candidates and elected officials like Jesse White - the first political party to drive out all of their Jesse Whites will be the first political party to go into decline.
Comment by Ares Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 1:12 pm
Jesse drives the Tumblers van.
Nuff said.
Comment by Scott Fawell's Cellmate Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 1:15 pm
Jesse White gave me my first “formal” statehouse role when he sponsored me to be page for a day and I wasn’t even a constituent. Great man who’s done more good for his community than he has for government, which is saying a lot.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 1:44 pm
trying to remember with whom Jesse served in his first GA in the multi member district. Houlihan? R?
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 2:12 pm
I came to Illinois in 1995. Mr. White has been a fixture in my life as an Illinoisan - not because his time in office overlaps my time in residence, but because his service to our state always gave me hope that Illinois could transcend politics. I will miss Mr. White. He made Illinois a better place for all of us.
Thank you for your service, Mr. White.
Comment by H-W Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 2:41 pm
Jesse would have won 1998 anyways, I stress, but it helped that Al Salvi committed a political own-goal (even though, I also stress, he was absolutely right on his merits) that the Secretary of State’s office under George Ryan had become a culture of corruption.
This did not please George Ryan, needless to say, and by the end of 1998 he was also all but campaigning to Republicans for Jesse White to win that race.
But if Jesse was lucky, he was also very, very good. He will be missed.
Comment by ZC Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 4:28 pm
Amalia, thanks to Jesse White, according to the 1975 Illinois Blue Book (https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/bb/id/36716/rec/61) he served with Houlihan and the Republican was Paul J. Randolph.
Comment by MyTwoCents Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 4:49 pm
How much of Jesse White’s appeal can be attributed to him being a genuinely nice person?
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 4:53 pm
I waited and wanted some time to digest all that Rich wrote before I commented.
Rich’s historical context, perspective, the real time recollection and reflection of that. Good stuff. Can’t be touched.
For me, to this post?
I can’t recall anyone in government or the craft of governing and politics that has left me speechless to their uniqueness… than one Jesse White
Here’s the thing;
White needs not smooze, cajole, White needs not to be something he’s not, White only needs to be authentic.
You can’t quantify authenticity.
In all things… people, product, idea… the most authentic to its own “circle”, the authentic will always stand alone.
We all like… authentic
It’s authentic.
There’s never a doubt to authentic, comparables realize they can’t compete… with authentic. Authentic only exists in its own orbit, and truth be told, you can’t *be* in that orbit, you can only orbit… the authentic itself. It’s a different plane, it’s a different level or stratosphere where authentic breathes… and all it does is take our breath away.
Authentic.
You know why you can’t create, emulate, copy Jesse White? Because Jesse White has nothing to prove and you have everything you’re trying to create. Authentic.
What’s not to like? White is warmly distant, like a hero… and cooly strong, lifting up everything around him. Authentic
White is fun, but not cheaply funny. White is perfect for all that not makes him a mere politician.
There will be no one like him… because “like a Picasso that’s a geometric proof… that has a heart of gold”… those type of ingredients aren’t found anymore. Authentic.
I’ll miss you, Secretary White.
You leave the stage as one…
…who never acted.
You are authentic. Bless you, and thank you.
Oswego Willy
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 8:48 pm
=Jesse White was/is a great politician. He also didn’t have to take any votes, which makes it easier to be popular=
He cleaned up the office and didn’t use this as a platform to shop around for something higher up the food chain.
Not many Illinois politicians can say that.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 9:55 pm
I am already missing Jesse White.
Voting for Alexi is a hard sell, establishment Dems.
I read a quote about Lightfoots tenure as Mayor that said she has alienated any constituency she has worked with.
She is not a leader that brings people together.
She demonizes anyone who disagrees with her…not a leader.
Comment by Loop Lady Thursday, Sep 8, 22 @ 8:04 am