James R. Thompson, a Republican referred to as Huge Jim who used his enthusiasm for campaigning and his canny understanding of state politics to gr
James R. Thompson, a Republican referred to as Huge Jim who used his enthusiasm for campaigning and his canny understanding of state politics to grow to be the longest-serving governor of Illinois, died on Friday in Chicago. He was 84.
His daughter, Samantha Thompson, confirmed his demise. She stated Mr. Thompson had been recovering from an undisclosed sickness at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab when his coronary heart stopped.
On social media, Democrats and Republicans praised Mr. Thompson’s talents as a politician who so loved assembly with constituents that he would march parade routes twice, even in off-election years.
His relentless model of campaigning overwhelmed Democrats, who constantly failed to search out an opponent who may beat Mr. Thompson, the primary Republican endorsed for governor by the Illinois A.F.L.-C.I.O.
He served from 1977 to 1991.
“Attempt as we’d, we Democrats simply couldn’t beat Huge Jim,” Senator Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, stated on Twitter.
Mr. Durbin stated he and Mr. Thompson “had been political adversaries but private associates again within the day when that was not unusual.”
David Axelrod, the previous senior strategist for President Obama who lined Mr. Thompson as a governor when he was a reporter at The Chicago Tribune, described Mr. Thompson on Twitter as “one of many smartest and most formidable politicians I’ve ever recognized.”
In a press release, the Illinois governor, J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, stated Mr. Thompson would “be remembered and revered as one of many titans within the historical past of state authorities.”
James Robert Thompson was born on the West Aspect of Chicago on Could 8, 1936. His father, additionally James Robert Thompson, labored as a morgue attendant whereas learning to grow to be a health care provider. His mom, Agnes Josephine Swanson, was a homemaker, Mr. Thompson stated in a 2013 interview with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.
He’s survived by his spouse, Jayne Carr Thompson, a retired lawyer; his daughter and his son-in-law, Anastasios Tomazos; and his granddaughter, Persephone.
Mr. Thompson was politically formidable from an early age and signed his highschool yearbook, “Jim Thompson, Pres. of U.S. 1984-1992.”
As U.S. legal professional for the Northern District of Illinois, he prosecuted a number of distinguished political figures, together with Otto Kerner, a federal appeals decide who was convicted of accepting a bribe as governor. In 1976, Mr. Thompson received election to a particular two-year time period by the most important margin in state historical past, with greater than 64 % of the vote.
At 6 toes 6 inches, Mr. Thompson was bodily imposing and pleased with his peak, as soon as boasting that he was “the tallest governor” within the nation.
Any candidate who tried to oppose him was overwhelmed by Mr. Thompson’s preparedness. His workers at all times had an up to date briefing e book itemizing current information occasions in any county he visited, the names of distinguished native folks and their birthdays and his final go to there.
He would put on a unique native workforce jacket every time on parade routes and would step out of the parade to sip a beer on an onlooker’s porch.
“He beloved being governor,” Ms. Thompson, his daughter, stated. “God, did he love being governor.”
A reasonable Republican, Mr. Thompson pushed for a $2.three billion undertaking to rebuild the state’s infrastructure. Often known as Construct Illinois, it was a sprawling, formidable undertaking that aimed to broaden highways, restore sewer strains, clear up poisonous websites and fund faculty and college constructing initiatives.
An avid artwork collector, he created the Illinois Historic Preservation Company and helped save the Dana-Thomas Home in Springfield, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Mr. Thompson was additionally credited with serving to maintain the White Sox in Chicago. In 1988, he labored with lawmakers to place collectively a deal to get the workforce a brand new stadium, stopping a possible transfer to Florida.
After he left workplace, he returned to the legislation and served as chairman of Winston & Strawn, a Chicago legislation agency. He served on the fee that investigated the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist assaults. As a non-public lawyer, he helped defend former Gov. George Ryan throughout his federal corruption trial.
Ms. Thompson stated the final time she had heard from her father was when he wrote a WhatsApp message commenting on an image his spouse had despatched of Persephone.
“Stunning,” he wrote.
She stated her father had bemoaned the vitriolic state of political discourse within the nation and the current violence in Chicago.
“That was very exhausting for him,” Ms. Thompson stated. “As a result of he beloved folks. He beloved all types of individuals, and to see divisiveness in your nation, in your metropolis, is basically exhausting.”