Illinois governors in their own words

Ah, interviews!

On the eve of electing a brand new Illinois governor, right here’s private reflections from Sneed’s gubernatorial interviews because the Seventies … and a scandal facet shot from 1970.

Let’s start on the finish.

1.) Gov. J.B. Pritzker: (2019- ) Democrat

In a 2017 interview, Pritzker, city-bred Hyatt Resorts inheritor,recalled assembly dad and mom of his Midwestern bred spouse, M.Okay., within the midst of a South Dakota winter.

J.B.: “It was 30 beneath zero! I used to be carrying a parka. Her dad was carrying a coat that regarded like Nanook of the North!

“He stated there was a “Frozen Flesh Advisory” exterior.

“Frozen flesh! I’dheard of a snow advisory, a freezing rain advisory. However not a frozen flesh advisory!

2.) Gov. Bruce Rauner (2015-2019) Republican.

In a 2017 interview, Rauner, an uber wealthy hedge fund man, claimed he beloved using his bike from city to city greeting downstaters in his white cowboy hat when dwelling on the Governor’s Mansion.

Rauner’s bike upkeep made him really feel “actually fantastic.”

“That energizes me, and I do know it sounds unusual, however my spouse (Diana, a Democrat) tells me she hasn’t seen me this completely happy in 20 years,” he stated. “I really feel completely honored and humbled to get the chance to enhance the way forward for 13 million folks.”

3. Gov. Pat Quinn: (2009-2015) Democrat.

Quinn, who treasured his position because the state’s army commander-in-chief of three,700 Nationwide guard members, often talked about his father Patrick’s service within the Navy throughout World Conflict II.

“At dinner, my dad would generally say, ‘Three years! One month! And 15 days!’ in reference to the time he served on an plane service. He was very pleased with his service earlier than returning residence and dealing for Catholic Cemeteries.

“We used to have flags in the home, put up on Memorial Day. Dad would depart on the first light to get to the cemetery to deal with enormous crowds coming with flowers and reminiscence bouquets and notes they’d depart on graves.”

Gov. Rod Blagojevich: Jan. 2003-until impeached and eliminated in 2009.

A personal chat with former Gov. Blagojevich 4 months earlier than he washauled off to jail in his jogging swimsuit by FBI SWAT crew brokers … was the head of weird.

Interviewed in Denver, the situation of the 2008 Democratic Nationwide Conference, Blago’s silver mane was nonetheless bottle brown; his demeanor gracious however frenetic, and he stored reciting poetry byRudyard Kipling.

In mild of Blago’s subsequent federal jail, the Kipling poem …“IF you possibly can belief your self when all males doubt you” — later made sense.

Gov. George Ryan:1999-2003. Republican

In certainly one of quite a few unique interviews with Ryan, a dialog in regards to the dying of his spouse, Lura Lynn, from most cancers whereas he was in jail on federal corruption prices stood out.

“I used to be informed I might both be along with her when she was dying … or attend her funeral,” he stated quickly after his jail launch. “I couldn’t do each. Once I visited her it was too late to convey her any consolation. I bought to take a seat by her mattress whereas she was dying, however she didn’t even know I used to be there. Then I used to be taken again to jail,” he stated. “I by no means noticed her once more.”

Gov. Jim Edgar: 1991-1999 two phrases. Republican

An extremely widespread governor who selected to not run for a 3rd time period, Gov. Edgar’s time in workplace was additionally famous “socially” as a “dry” time on the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield.

A teetotaler, Edgar continued to make use of the mansion as a political assembly venue with legislative dinners — however minus the booze. It grew to become a topic of fixed ribald ribbing and detrimental nabob nattering within the press.

Gov. Jim Thompson: 1977-1991. Republican.

Thompson was a person of many elements. And all of them transferring on the velocity of sunshine. The one three-term governor in Illinois historical past and one of many state’s savviest politicians,“ Huge Jim” preceded his governorship with a extremely distinguished time period as U.S. Legal professional of the Northern District of Illinois … and ended it as head of town’s most prestigious legislation companies. He additionally was recognized to drive his automobile with a siren blaring … and nothing meant extra to him than hiswife, Jayne, and daughter, Samantha, and grandchild Persephone.

Gov. Dan Walker: 1973-1977. Democrat.

Legal professional Dan Walker walked 1,197 miles throughout Illinois in a pink bandana into gubernatorial victory. An anti-machine reformer by no means afraid to talk his thoughts, Walker went to jail in 1988 for fraudulently acquiring $1.4 million in financial institution loans and was launched in 1989 for in poor health well being. Private telephone calls to this column years later had been a shock;an opportunity to redefine his legacy, and chat work on his memoir: “The Maverick and the Machine.”

Gov. Richard Ogilvie: (1969-1973) Republican

In 1970, the brand new Republican Ogilvie administration was turned the other way up by a “Shoebox” scandal that netted me a shoelace: a primary entrance web page byline. The invention of $820,000 in money present in shoeboxes and metallic containers in a Springfield resort room occupied by a Democrat: Illinois Secretary of State Paul Powell was a stunner.

As the favored Paul Powell, who died per week earlier than the money in addition to additionally 30 circumstances of whiskey in resort storage had been discovered, stated:

“There’s just one factor worse than a defeated politician, and that’s a broke one.”

Bear in mind to vote Tuesday!

Sneedlings…

Saturday birthdays: NFL starOdell Beckham Jr., 34; singer Bryan Adams, 62, and socialite Kris Jenner, 67. Sunday birthdays: basketball star Lamar Odom, 43; actress Thandiwe Newton, 50, and and actress Sally Subject, 76. … And a belated birthday to Rosebud restaurant impresario Alex Dana on his 79th birthday final week and the fiftieth anniversary of his restaurant profession in Chicago, which started in 1972 with a small luncheonette at Washington Avenue and Wacker Drive. His favourite Rosebud recipe: Rooster Parmesan!