Jim Thompson Governor

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James “Big Jim” Thompson was the longest-serving governor of Illinois from 1977 to 1991. He reintroduced the death penalty to Illinois during his first year and became known for being tough on crime. He did not show much support for education or human services. “He was national co-chair of the Campaign to Protect Our Children in 1986 and a member of the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality from 1987 to 1988. He also served as vice-chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission.” He did support construction. Thompson wanted to build the area up and approved of the Art-in-Architecture Program. His image was a casual one. He traveled and met constituents in casual clothes.