James R. Thompson
James Robert Thompson (born May 8, 1936), also known as "Big Jim Thompson", was the longest-serving Governor of Illinois. A Republican, he held office from 1977 to 1991. He now serves on the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9-11 Commission).
Before becoming governor, he worked in the Cook County state's attorney's office, taught at Northwestern University's law school, and served as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. As a federal prosecutor in the early 1970s, he obtained a conviction against former Governor Otto Kerner for his use of improper influence on behalf of the racetrack industry. This high-profile case gave Thompson the celebrity which helped his run for governor in 1976.
In the 1976 election, he won 65 percent of the vote over Democratic Secretary of State Michael Howlett. Thompson was reelcted in 1978 with 60 percent of the vote, defeating State Superintendent Michael Bakalis. In the next election, Thomspon was very narrowly reelected in 1982 against former U.S. Senator Adlai Ewing Stevenson III, and then won decisively against him in a rematch four years later.
He is currently serving on the 9/11 Commission, where he aggressively questioned Richard Clarke. Thompson is the head of a law firm that lobbies for American Airlines, and he has previously represented United Airlines. Some critics believe this may prevent him from impartially deciding whether these airlines were negligent in the attack. He is also a director and head of the Audit Committee for Hollinger International, the media company founded by Conrad Black and now the subject of an SEC investigation.
