James R. Thompson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James R. Thompson
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Thompson in 1987
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| Chair of the Intelligence Oversight Board | |
| In office February 26, 1990 – January 20, 1993 |
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| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Glenn W. Campbell |
| Succeeded by | William Crowe |
| 37th Governor of Illinois | |
| In office January 10, 1977 – January 14, 1991 |
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| Lieutenant | Dave O'Neal George Ryan |
| Preceded by | Dan Walker |
| Succeeded by | Jim Edgar |
| Chair of the National Governors Association | |
| In office August 2, 1983 – July 31, 1984 |
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| Preceded by | Scott Matheson |
| Succeeded by | John Carlin |
| United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois | |
| In office 1971–1975 |
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| President | Richard Nixon Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | William J. Bauer |
| Succeeded by | Samuel K. Skinner |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Robert Thompson Jr.
May 8, 1936 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | August 14, 2020 (aged 84) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Jayne Carr |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Illinois, Chicago Washington University (BA) Northwestern University (JD) |
James Robert Thompson Jr. (May 8, 1936 – August 14, 2020) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as the 37th governor of Illinois from 1977 to 1991. He was a Republican who often held moderate views.
Thompson was Illinois's longest-serving governor. He was elected to four terms and held the office for 14 years. Later in his life, he was part of the 9/11 Commission. This group investigated the September 11 attacks.
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Early Life and Education
James R. Thompson Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois. His father, James Robert Thompson, was a doctor. His mother was Agnes Josephine Swanson. His family had roots in Sweden and early American history.
Thompson went to North Park Academy, which is now North Park University. He also studied at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Washington University in St. Louis. He earned his law degree (J.D.) from Northwestern University in 1959.
Becoming a Public Servant
After law school, Thompson worked in the Cook County State's Attorney's office. He also taught at Northwestern University's law school. Later, President Richard Nixon appointed him as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
As a federal prosecutor in the early 1970s, Thompson worked on important cases. He helped convict former Governor Otto Kerner, Jr. for using his influence unfairly. He also prosecuted several top aides to Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley. These cases helped Thompson become well-known.
Thompson was known for fighting corruption, no matter the political party. He prosecuted both Democrats and Republicans. His work as a prosecutor made him famous, which helped him run for governor.
Serving as Governor of Illinois
In the 1976 election, Thompson won with a large number of votes. He received over 3 million votes, which was a record for a governor in Illinois. His first term was for two years. This was because Illinois changed its election schedule.
He was re-elected for a full four-year term in 1978. In 1982, he won again by a very small number of votes. He defeated U.S. Senator Adlai E. Stevenson III by only 5,074 votes.
A close election was expected again in 1986. However, the Democratic Party faced problems. Thompson won easily in the general election that year.
Key Actions as Governor
In 1980, Governor Thompson put a hiring freeze on many state jobs. This meant that new state employees had to be approved by his office. This practice was later found to be against the law.
In 1989, Governor Thompson agreed to a plan for retired state workers. This plan gave them a small increase in their pensions each year. Years later, this plan was seen as a major reason for Illinois' public employee pension challenges.
In 1993, a building in Chicago was named the James R. Thompson Center. This was done to honor him for his service as governor.
After Being Governor
After leaving public office, Thompson joined a law firm called Winston & Strawn in Chicago. He served as chairman of the firm for many years. He worked on government relations and regulatory affairs.
He also served on the 9/11 Commission in 2002. This commission investigated the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The commission's findings were published in the 9/11 Commission Report in 2004.
During the 2008 presidential election, Thompson supported Rudy Giuliani. He believed Giuliani was the best Republican candidate for Illinois.
Death
James R. Thompson Jr. passed away on August 14, 2020, at the age of 84. He had been dealing with heart problems. Many people remembered him as a very smart and strong politician.
Awards
In 1991, James R. Thompson was honored by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. He received the Order of Lincoln. This is the highest award given by the state of Illinois. He received it for his work in government.
See also
In Spanish: James R. Thompson para niños
