Jim Thompson | |
---|---|
Chair of the Intelligence Oversight Board | |
In office February 26, 1990 – January 20, 1993 | |
President | George H. W. Bush |
Preceded by | W. Glenn Campbell |
Succeeded by | William Crowe |
37th Governor of Illinois | |
In office January 10, 1977 – January 14, 1991 | |
Lieutenant | Dave O'Neal (1977–1981) Vacant (1981–1983) George Ryan (1983–1991) |
Preceded by | Dan Walker |
Succeeded by | Jim Edgar |
Chair of the National Governors Association | |
In office August 2, 1983 – July 31, 1984 | |
Preceded by | Scott Matheson |
Succeeded by | John Carlin |
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois | |
In office November 10, 1971 – June 30, 1975 | |
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 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | (aged 84)
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 politician, lobbyist, and federal prosecutor who served as the 37th governor of Illinois from 1977 to 1991.[1] He was Illinois's longest-serving governor, having been elected to four consecutive terms and holding the office for 14 years.
Thompson was known as a "Rockefeller Republican", governing during his tenure as both a fiscal conservative and social liberal.[2][3] In later years, Thompson served as a member of the 9/11 Commission, charged with investigating the September 11 attacks.[4]