Thompson Governor

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James R. Thompson—also known as Big Jim by his constituents—was the longest serving governor of Illinois and held office from 1977 to 1991. As a Republican politician, he was fiscally conservative and tough on crime, but took a liberal stance when it came to the working class. Thompson’s greatest achievement as governor was Build Illinois, a sweeping construction project that helped modernize state buildings and improve highways. He also spearheaded the creation of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Policies aside, Thompson was a larger-than-life character who was often clad in casual clothing and rode horses around the Capitol Rotunda during holiday parades. After serving his time in office, Thompson worked as a high-profile attorney and later served on the 9/11 Commission.