Alan J. Dixon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan J. Dixon
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| United States Senator from Illinois |
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| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Adlai Stevenson III |
| Succeeded by | Carol Moseley Braun |
| 34th Secretary of State of Illinois | |
| In office January 10, 1977 – January 12, 1981 |
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| Governor | James R. Thompson |
| Preceded by | Michael Howlett |
| Succeeded by | Jim Edgar |
| 65th Treasurer of Illinois | |
| In office January 11, 1971 – January 10, 1977 |
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| Governor | Richard B. Ogilvie Dan Walker |
| Preceded by | Charles W. Woodford |
| Succeeded by | Donald R. Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Alan John Dixon
July 7, 1927 Belleville, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | July 6, 2014 (aged 86) Fairview Heights, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (BA) Washington University (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Alan John Dixon (born July 7, 1927 – died July 6, 2014) was an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Dixon served in government for over 40 years.
He was a state lawmaker in the Illinois General Assembly from 1951 to 1971. Later, he became the Illinois Treasurer from 1971 to 1977. He then served as the Illinois Secretary of State from 1977 to 1981. Finally, he was a U.S. Senator for Illinois from 1981 to 1993.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Alan John Dixon was born in Belleville, Illinois on July 7, 1927. He went to public schools in Illinois. After high school, he studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There, he earned his bachelor's degree. He then went on to get his law degree (J.D.) from Washington University in St. Louis.
During World War II, Dixon served in the United States Navy. This was before he started his long career in politics.
Serving Illinois: State Political Career
In the Illinois General Assembly
Dixon began his political career in the Illinois House of Representatives. He served there from 1951 to 1963. After that, he became a member of the Illinois State Senate. He was a state senator from 1963 to 1971. During some of this time, he was a leader for his party.
A Campaign Incident in 1970
In 1970, Alan Dixon was running to become the Illinois Treasurer. A young man named Karl Rove caused some trouble for his campaign. Rove used a fake name to get into Dixon's campaign office. He took campaign papers.
Rove then printed fake flyers that promised free food and fun at Dixon's rallies. He handed these out at concerts and shelters. This was meant to disrupt Dixon's real campaign events. Even with this prank, Dixon won the election. Rove later said he regretted this "youthful prank."
Becoming Secretary of State
In 1976, Dixon was elected Illinois Secretary of State. This was an important statewide position. He managed many public services, like vehicle registration and driver's licenses.
Dixon served as Secretary of State until 1981. He then moved on to a bigger role in the federal government.
Serving the Nation: United States Senate
In 1981, Alan Dixon became a U.S. Senator for Illinois. As a senator, he worked on national issues in Washington D.C. He was known for being a moderate politician. This means he often tried to find common ground between different political ideas.
The 1992 Election
In 1992, Senator Dixon ran for re-election. However, he lost in the Democratic primary election. This was a surprise to many people. He had a long history of winning elections.
One reason for his defeat was a vote he made in 1991. He voted to approve Clarence Thomas as a judge for the Supreme Court. This vote was controversial and upset some voters.
Another factor was the rise of Carol Moseley Braun. She was a black woman who gained strong support from black voters. She also attracted many women voters. This election year was even called "The Year of the Woman." A third candidate in the race also spent a lot of money attacking Dixon, which weakened his support.
Some people believe that Dixon's defeat in 1992 started a chain of events. They think it eventually led to Barack Obama becoming president in 2008.
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving the Senate, Dixon continued to serve the country. He led a commission that decided which military bases to close in 1994 and 1995.
He then went back to working as a lawyer. Alan Dixon lived in Fairview Heights, Illinois. He passed away on July 6, 2014, just one day before his 87th birthday.
In 2013, he published his autobiography. It was called The Gentleman from Illinois: Stories from Forty Years of Elective Public Service.
Awards
Alan J. Dixon received many honors for his public service. In 1994, he was given the Order of Lincoln. This is the highest honor awarded by the Governor of Illinois. He was recognized for his work in government.
Electoral History
- 1980 General Election - U.S. Senate
- Alan J. Dixon (D), 56.0%
- Dave O'Neal (R), 42.5%
- 1986 General Election - U.S. Senate
- Alan J. Dixon (D) (inc.), 65.4%
- Judy Koehler (R), 34.1%
- 1992 Democratic Primary - U.S. Senate
- Carol Moseley Braun (D), 38.30%
- Alan J. Dixon (D) (inc.), 34.61%
- Albert Hofeld (D), 27.09%
