Rod Blagojevich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rod Blagojevich
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Official Congressional Portrait, c. 1997–2003
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| 40th Governor of Illinois | |
| In office January 13, 2003 – January 29, 2009 |
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| Lieutenant | Pat Quinn |
| Preceded by | George Ryan |
| Succeeded by | Pat Quinn |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 5th district |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Michael Flanagan |
| Succeeded by | Rahm Emanuel |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 33rd district |
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| In office January 6, 1993 – January 3, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Myron Kulas |
| Succeeded by | John Fritchey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 10, 1956 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Patti Mell
(m. 1990) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | |
| Signature |  |
| Public Service Record |
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| Criminal status |
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| Conviction(s) |
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| Criminal penalty | Served nearly 8 years of a 14 year sentence; commuted |
Rod R. Blagojevich (born December 10, 1956), often called "Blago", is an American politician. He served as the 40th governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. He was removed from office and later went to prison for misusing his power.
Before becoming governor, Blagojevich was a member of the Democratic Party. He worked in both state and federal government. He was an Illinois state representative from 1993 to 1997. Then, he was a U.S. representative for Illinois's 5th district from 1997 to 2003.
Rod Blagojevich grew up in Chicago. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1979 and Pepperdine University School of Law in 1983. After law school, he worked as a prosecutor in Cook County. He was elected governor of Illinois in 2002. He was the first Democrat to win that job since 1972.
During his time as governor, there was more money for public education. There were also improvements to roads and buildings. He also worked on changes to the justice system. In 2006, he was re-elected for a second term. More laws were passed about healthcare, gun control, and stopping unfair treatment.
In December 2008, a federal investigation began. Blagojevich was found guilty of misusing his power. This happened after he tried to sell a U.S. Senate seat. This seat became empty when Barack Obama became president. The Illinois General Assembly removed him from office in 2009. He was also banned from holding public office in Illinois ever again. He was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. In 2020, President Donald Trump ended his prison sentence early. Blagojevich had been in prison for almost eight years. He had also been on Trump's TV show "The Celebrity Apprentice."
Rod Blagojevich is the only Illinois Governor to be removed from office through impeachment.
Contents
Growing Up in Chicago
Rod Blagojevich was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was the second of two children. His parents were immigrants from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. They moved to Chicago in 1947. His father, Radislav, worked in a steel plant. His mother, Mila, was from a village in Bosnia.
Rod has a brother named Rob. Rob later helped Rod raise money for his political campaigns. Rod worked many small jobs when he was young. He shined shoes and delivered pizza. He also worked at a meat packing plant. To pay for college, he even worked as a dishwasher for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.
Blagojevich does not have a middle name. He uses the initial "R" to honor his father. His family nickname was "Milorad."
He went to Foreman High School in Chicago. He played basketball and trained as a Golden Gloves boxer. After high school, he went to the University of Tampa. After two years, he moved to Northwestern University. He graduated in 1979 with a degree in history. He earned his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1983.
Rod Blagojevich is married to Patricia Mell. She is the daughter of former Chicago politician Richard Mell.
Boxing as a Young Man
Rod Blagojevich was an amateur boxer for 13 months. He took part in Golden Gloves competitions. He trained in Chicago's Park District. Some of his fights were at the St. Andrews Gym in Chicago.
Early Career in Public Service
Working as a Prosecutor
After law school, Blagojevich worked for Chicago politician Edward Vrdolyak. Then, he became an Assistant State's Attorney in Cook County. He worked under Richard M. Daley. He focused on cases involving domestic abuse and serious weapons crimes.
Serving in State and Federal Government
In 1992, Blagojevich ran for the Illinois House of Representatives. He won against a long-time politician. He used his experience as a prosecutor to create new laws. These laws aimed to make the justice system stronger and reduce crime.
In 1996, Blagojevich ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. He won this election easily. He was re-elected two more times. He was known for not being a very active member of Congress. In the late 1990s, he traveled with Jesse Jackson to Belgrade. They met with President Slobodan Milošević to help release American prisoners.
In 2002, Blagojevich voted to allow the invasion of Iraq.
Running for Governor
The 2002 Election
In 2002, Blagojevich ran to become the governor of Illinois. He won a close primary election for his party. He got strong support from the southern part of Illinois.
During the election, state Senator Barack Obama supported him. Future Obama advisor David Axelrod had worked with Blagojevich before. However, Axelrod did not think Blagojevich was ready to be governor.
In the main election, Blagojevich ran against Jim Ryan. Blagojevich's campaign was helped by his father-in-law, Richard Mell. The previous governor, George Ryan (no relation to Jim Ryan), had faced ethics problems. Blagojevich promised to "end business as usual" in state government. He won with 52% of the votes.
The 2006 Re-election
From 2005 to 2006, Blagojevich worked for the Democratic Governors Association. He also led the Midwestern Governors Association in 2005.
Many problems caused his approval rating to drop. By early 2006, five Republicans wanted to run against him. Judy Baar Topinka won the Republican nomination.
Blagojevich started his re-election campaign on February 19, 2006. He won his party's primary election with 72% of the votes. He was supported by many Democratic leaders, including then-Illinois Senator Barack Obama. The state's Sierra Club also supported him. However, a large union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, did not support him. They were concerned about jobs he cut from the state's park system.
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In 2004, Blagojevich ordered 32 signs to be put up on the Illinois Tollway. These signs said "Open Road Tolling. Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor." They cost $480,000. In 2006, people criticized the signs. They said the signs looked like campaign ads and cost too much.
In the general election, Blagojevich defeated Topinka. He spent much more money on his campaign. He won by 11%.
Governor of Illinois (2003–2009)
After the 2002 elections, Democrats controlled the Illinois House and Senate. They also held almost all statewide offices. As governor, Blagojevich signed many new laws. These included laws about ethics, the death penalty, and health programs. He also signed a law in 2005 that stopped unfair treatment based on sexual orientation.
Blagojevich continued to support stopping executions for inmates on death row. His predecessor, George Ryan, had already changed all death sentences.
He also signed a strict new ethics law. He said this law would have prevented problems like those of former governor George Ryan. Blagojevich also signed a death penalty reform bill. This bill was written by then-Senator Barack Obama.
Education Initiatives
Blagojevich increased funding for education every year. He did this without raising general sales or income taxes. Some people criticized him for using money from the state pension system to pay for other things.
In 2006, he proposed "PreSchool for All." This program would offer preschool to all three- and four-year-old children in Illinois. The law for this program was passed in 2007.
Plans for State Improvements
On January 10, 2006, Blagojevich suggested a new plan. It would spend $3 billion on Illinois roads, public transport, and schools. This money would come from new taxes and gambling. Many politicians did not like this idea. They thought it was just a plan for the election year.
By 2008, Blagojevich had not been able to agree on a plan to improve Illinois's roads and buildings. In March 2008, he announced a group to create a construction plan. This group suggested a $34 billion plan. It would use money from leasing the Illinois Lottery and expanded gambling. The plan passed the Senate but stopped in the Illinois House.
Calling Special Meetings
Blagojevich called the Illinois General Assembly into special meetings 36 times. This was half of all special meetings called since 1970. These meetings were criticized for taking up lawmakers' time. Blagojevich himself did not attend these meetings.
Views on State Issues
State Spending Habits
Blagojevich was criticized for using what opponents called "gimmicks" to balance the state budget. Some said he was just passing problems to future generations by borrowing money. For example, in 2005, the state budget paid bills by not fully funding a pension fund.
In 2008, Blagojevich suggested borrowing $16 billion. This money would help meet pension fund needs. He once said his budget ideas were "on the side of our Lord."
His 2008 budget proposed a 5% increase from the year before. To save money, he tried to close 11 state parks and 13 historic sites. His spokesman said Blagojevich had never visited any of them. He also suggested selling or mortgaging the James R. Thompson Center to fill budget holes.
In 2003, over 1,000 Illinois judges sued Blagojevich. He had stopped their pay raises due to budget cuts. The judges won the case in 2005. The court said Blagojevich's action was against the state's constitution.
Healthcare Plans
In 2004, during a possible shortage of flu vaccine, Blagojevich ordered 260,000 doses from other countries. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had warned these would not be allowed into the U.S. The vaccine cost the state $2.6 million. The FDA did not allow them in. A year later, they were given to earthquake survivors in Pakistan. However, the vaccines had expired and were destroyed.
Also in 2004, Blagojevich planned a website for Illinois residents. It would allow them to import medicine from Canada and the United Kingdom. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration blocked this plan. Imported medicine would have saved people 25 to 50 percent on costs.
In October 2005, Blagojevich announced "All Kids." This plan would give state-supported healthcare to every child in Illinois. He signed it into law in November 2005. Illinois became the first state to try to provide affordable healthcare for all children. This was regardless of their family's income or immigration status.
In March 2007, Blagojevich promoted his universal healthcare plan, "Illinois Covered." The plan was discussed in the Illinois State Senate but did not pass. He suggested paying for it with a large tax increase on businesses. This tax would raise $7.6 billion. The money would go to healthcare, education, and building projects. It would also help reduce the state's debt. The plan was defeated by a vote of 107–0.
Blagojevich also proposed a new tax on businesses. This tax would apply to companies that do not offer health insurance to their employees.
Another plan, "FamilyCare," did not get approved by lawmakers. This plan would give healthcare to families making up to $82,000. Blagojevich tried to start it anyway through an executive order. Two courts later said his order was unconstitutional. In October 2008, pharmacies that followed his order were told they would not be paid.
Business and Regulations
Blagojevich pushed for a law to ban selling certain video games to minors. A federal judge said the law went against the First Amendment. The state had to pay $520,000 in legal fees.
He also stopped three bills that would let trucks drive faster outside Chicago. He said these bills would "compromise safety."
Blagojevich threatened to stop state business with Bank of America Corp. This was because of a factory closing in Chicago. On December 8, 2008, he ordered all state agencies to stop working with the bank. He wanted to pressure the company to give loans to Republic Windows and Doors.
Gun Control Views
Blagojevich was a strong supporter of gun control. In 2006, he said the state should ban semi-automatic firearms. As a state lawmaker, he suggested raising the cost of a gun owner's ID card from $5 to $500.
In 2005, he stopped three gun bills. These bills would have deleted gun records, removed waiting periods for certain gun trades, and overridden local gun laws.
Personal Style
Blagojevich was known for his fancy clothes, especially his expensive ties. After his arrest, his hairstyle became a topic of jokes in the media. Blagojevich always wanted his aides to carry a hairbrush for him. He called it "the football," like the term for the nuclear launch codes.
Removal from Office and Trial
On December 9, 2008, the FBI arrested Blagojevich at his home. He was charged with misusing his power. The government said he tried to gain money by using his power. This included trying to get something in return for appointing someone to the U.S. Senate seat. This seat was left empty by Barack Obama when he became president. Blagojevich later appointed Roland Burris to the seat.
The Illinois House and Senate quickly moved to remove the governor from office. On January 8, the Illinois House voted 114–1 to impeach Blagojevich. The charges focused on his misuse of power. They also included his attempts to sell legislative approvals and appointments.
On January 27, 2009, Blagojevich started talking to the media. He appeared on many TV shows. He said he was innocent and would be proven right.
On January 29, 2009, the Illinois Senate voted 59–0 to remove Blagojevich from office. They also banned him from ever holding public office in Illinois again. His lieutenant governor, Patrick Quinn, then became governor.
Being removed from office did not stop his federal charges. Impeachment is a political action, not a criminal one.
After Being Removed from Office
After being removed, Blagojevich appeared on TV shows like Late Show with David Letterman. He continued to say he was innocent. He claimed his removal was political because he did not want to raise taxes.
Blagojevich tried to join a reality TV show called I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me out of Here! He asked the judge to let him travel to Costa Rica for the show. He said his family needed money. The judge denied his request. His wife took his place on the show.
In June 2009, Blagojevich performed in a musical called Rod Blagojevich Superstar. He did this to support a charity for people with cancer. His autobiography, The Governor: The Truth Behind the Political Scandal That Continues to Rock the Nation, was released in September 2009.
In July 2009, Blagojevich started hosting a weekly radio talk show. The show was put on hold when his corruption trial began. He also appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2010.
In an interview in 2010, Blagojevich made a comment about President Obama. He later said he chose his words poorly.
Blagojevich appeared at a comic convention in August 2010. He talked to fans and took pictures. He charged money for autographs and photos.
Federal Trial and Prison Time
A federal grand jury charged Blagojevich in April 2009. Most charges were about trying to sell the Senate seat. On August 17, 2010, he was found guilty of lying to the FBI. The jury could not agree on 23 other charges. A new trial was ordered for those charges.
On June 27, 2011, he was found guilty of 17 more charges. These included all charges about the Senate seat. He was also found guilty of trying to get money from a children's hospital and a race track.
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He went to prison on March 15, 2012. He was at Federal Correctional Institution, Englewood, Colorado. If his sentence had not been ended early, he would have been released in March 2024.
While in prison, Blagojevich was the lead singer for a prison band. It was called "The Jailhouse Rockers." He was the fourth Illinois governor to go to federal prison.
Appealing His Case
Blagojevich tried to appeal his conviction. He said the jury was not fair. He also said important evidence was not shown during the trial.
In July 2013, he appealed to a higher court in Chicago. He challenged his conviction and the length of his prison term. In July 2015, the court removed five of his convictions. These included the charges about trying to sell the Senate seat. However, the rest of his convictions remained. The court sent the case back to the lower court.
In August 2016, a new sentencing hearing was held. The judge gave him the same 14-year sentence. The judge understood his family's suffering. But he felt Blagojevich's actions still deserved the 14-year sentence. Blagojevich appealed again, but it failed. In November 2017, he appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but they refused to hear his case.
Sentence Ended Early
President Donald Trump said in May 2018 that he was thinking about ending Blagojevich's sentence early. Trump called Blagojevich's sentence "unfair." He said Blagojevich's comments about getting rich were "stupid." But he also said many other politicians say similar things. Blagojevich officially asked President Trump to end his sentence.
On February 18, 2020, President Trump ended Blagojevich's 14-year prison sentence. This ended his time in prison but did not remove his conviction. Trump said Blagojevich had served eight years and it was a long time. Some news sources noted that Trump and his group had given money to Blagojevich's political campaigns.
Blagojevich was released from prison that day. He flew home to Chicago. He thanked President Trump and called him "a man who's not only tough and outspoken, strong, but he has a kind heart." He called himself a "Trump-ocrat." On February 19, Blagojevich held a press conference. He said he was a "political prisoner" and would use his experience to fix the justice system.
Some politicians criticized Trump's decision. The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission found that Blagojevich had been dishonest. They suggested he should no longer be a lawyer. On May 18, 2020, the Supreme Court of Illinois officially removed his license to practice law.
In August 2020, it was announced that Blagojevich would speak at a fundraising event. This event was for a Republican state senate candidate.
After Politics
In May 2020, Blagojevich started a politics podcast called The Lightning Rod. It was on WLS-AM 890. The podcast ran until September 2021.
Elections He Won
House of Representatives
1996
- Rod Blagojevich, Democratic: 64%
- Michael Flanagan (inc.), Republican: 36%
1998
- Rod Blagojevich (inc.), Democratic: 74%
- Alan Spitz, Republican: 24%
2000
- Rod Blagojevich (inc.), Democratic: 87%
- Matt Beauchamp, Libertarian: 13%
Gubernatorial Elections
2002 gubernatorial election, Illinois
- Rod Blagojevich, Democratic: 1,818,823, 52.0%
- Jim Ryan, Republican: 1,582,604, 45.2%
- Cal Skinner, Libertarian: 73,404, 2.1%
- Marisellis Brown, Independent: 22,803, 0.7%
2006 gubernatorial election, Illinois
- Rod Blagojevich (inc.), Democratic: 1,736,219, 49.8%
- Judy Baar Topinka: Republican: 1,368,682, 39.3%
- Rich Whitney, Green: 361,163, 10.4%
- Other Write-ins: 1,587, 0.0%
See also
In Spanish: Rod Blagojevich para niños
