James R. Thompson - Lawyers, Family and Childhood
James R. Thompson's Personal Details
James R
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | May 8, 1936 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Republicans, Northwestern University, University Of Illinois, Lawyers & Judges, Political Leaders, Lawyers, Politician |
| Ideologies | Republicans |
| Spouses | Jayne Ann Carr Thompson |
| Known as | James Robert Thompson Jr., Big Jim Thompson |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Birth Place | Chicago, Illinois |
| Political Ideology | Republican |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Height | 169 |
| Gender | Male |
| Net Worth | $27 Millon as of May 15,2017 |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Born in | Chicago, Illinois |
| Famous as | Lawyer, Politician |
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James R. Thompson's photo
Who is James R. Thompson?
James R. Thompson was among the foremost crusaders against organized crime in Chicago. Working as a federal prosecutor, he convicted many prominent and powerful politicians of Illinois for corruption. These cases generated a lot of attention and formed the foundation for Thompson’s candidacy as ‘Governor of Illinois’. Such was his reputation that he won the elections by garnering a record number of votes. During his tenure, Thompson handled effectively the finances of Illinois at a time when the entire country’s economy was going through a difficult phase. His effective campaigns, where he used his witty and charismatic personality to full extent, were vital for the Republican Party to win in Illinois. After serving as Governor for a staggering fourteen years, Thompson quit politics and returned to his career of an advocate and joined a law firm. He always held high positions in the firm, which handled cases of both state and national importance. His standing as a successful politician and legal officer was reaffirmed as he was on an elite panel of ten people chosen to the ‘9/11 commission’. Not the one to sit back and rest, he continues to be involved in various organizations in diverse fields, providing his skills to further various important causes.
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Childhood & Early Life
James Robert Thompson was born in Chicago, Illinois, to pathologist Dr. James Robert Thompson and Agnes Josephine Thompson. James spent his childhood in the Garfield Park area and had the ambition of becoming ‘President of the US’ at a very young age.
In 1953, after graduating from high school, Thompson enrolled at the ‘University of Illinois’ in Chicago for his pre-law studies. He studied there for two years and then at ‘Washington University’ in St. Louis for a year.
He next studied at the ‘Northwestern University Law School’ and got his Juris Doctor Degree in 1959. The same year, he joined the Illinois bar and worked for five years as a prosecutor in the State Attorney’s office in Cook County.
Career
In 1964, he joined ‘Northwestern University’ as an ‘Associate Professor’ of criminal law and taught at the University for five years.
He was appointed by President Nixon as an ‘Assistant Attorney General’ in 1969, following which he fought over 200 cases in the ‘Illinois Supreme Court’.
In 1975, Thompson quit his job and became a counsel with a law firm in Chicago. The next year, due his popularity which he earned by handling high-profile cases, he was elected as a Republican candidate for the post of ‘Governor of Illinois’.
In the 1976 elections, he defeated Democratic candidate Michael Howlett by a comfortable margin, securing about 65 percent of the votes. The next year, he assumed the office of ‘Governor of Illinois’.
His first term lasted only for two years as the state of Illinois shifted the timing of gubernatorial election to coincide with the midterm Congressional election. He was re-elected three more times and served as the ‘Governor of Illinois’ for a total of fourteen years.
President George H.W. Bush appointed Thompson as the Chairman of the ‘President’s Intelligence Oversight Board’ in 1989. The board advises the President regarding the legality of workings of foreign intelligence agencies. Thompson worked in this role for four years.
In 1991, he left politics and joined a Chicago law firm called ‘Winston & Strawn LLP’. He served in various high-profile positions for the firm and is currently the Senior Chairman. Under him, the firm handled cases related to government regulations.
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on USA, he was appointed to the 9/11 Commission in 2002. The commission prepared a report on the cause and nature of the attacks and the response to be undertaken.
Thompson currently heads the Audit Committee for the Chicago-based media company ‘Hollinger International’, founded by businessman Conrad Black who was convicted of fraud.
He is a member of many public-service boards such as ‘JBT Corporation’, ‘Navigant Consulting Group, Inc.’, ‘Rare Isotope Accelerator Task Force’ and ‘ABA Committee on Sentencing Reform’.
Major Works
During his tenure as an ‘Assistant Attorney General’, he successfully tried and convicted many prominent politicians on charges of corruption, such as Mayor Richard Daley, former Governor Otto Kerner Jr. and former U.S. Senator William Rentschler. He also fought the ground-breaking ‘Escobedo versus Illinois’ case in the ‘Supreme Court of the United States’.
He served as the ‘Governor of Illinois’ for fourteen years during which he settled complicated Labor-management issues, regularly travelled abroad to further the business interests of Illinois and also organized many trade missions to Europe, Mexico, Canada, Asia and the Middle East.
Awards & Achievements
He was chosen as one of the USA’s 100 most influential lawyers by the ‘National Law Journal’ in 1997, and again featured in the list after three years.
Personal Life & Legacy
Thompson married an attorney, Jayne A. Carr in 1976 during his campaign for Governorship. The couple has a daughter, Samantha Jane.
Trivia
This respected and long-serving former Illinois Governor wanted to become ‘President of the U.S’ when he was just eleven years old and wrote in his high school yearbook, ‘1984, President of the U.S’.
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James R. Thompson biography timelines
- // 8th May 1936James Robert Thompson was born in Chicago, Illinois, to pathologist Dr. James Robert Thompson and Agnes Josephine Thompson. James spent his childhood in the Garfield Park area and had the ambition of becoming ‘President of the US’ at a very young age.
- // 1953In 1953, after graduating from high school, Thompson enrolled at the ‘University of Illinois’ in Chicago for his pre-law studies. He studied there for two years and then at ‘Washington University’ in St. Louis for a year.
- // 1959He next studied at the ‘Northwestern University Law School’ and got his Juris Doctor Degree in 1959. The same year, he joined the Illinois bar and worked for five years as a prosecutor in the State Attorney’s office in Cook County.
- // 1964 To 1969In 1964, he joined ‘Northwestern University’ as an ‘Associate Professor’ of criminal law and taught at the University for five years.
- // 1969He was appointed by President Nixon as an ‘Assistant Attorney General’ in 1969, following which he fought over 200 cases in the ‘Illinois Supreme Court’.
- // 1975In 1975, Thompson quit his job and became a counsel with a law firm in Chicago. The next year, due his popularity which he earned by handling high-profile cases, he was elected as a Republican candidate for the post of ‘Governor of Illinois’.
- // 1976In the 1976 elections, he defeated Democratic candidate Michael Howlett by a comfortable margin, securing about 65 percent of the votes. The next year, he assumed the office of ‘Governor of Illinois’.
- // 1976Thompson married an attorney, Jayne A. Carr in 1976 during his campaign for Governorship. The couple has a daughter, Samantha Jane.
- // 1989President George H.W. Bush appointed Thompson as the Chairman of the ‘President’s Intelligence Oversight Board’ in 1989. The board advises the President regarding the legality of workings of foreign intelligence agencies. Thompson worked in this role for four years.
- // 1991In 1991, he left politics and joined a Chicago law firm called ‘Winston & Strawn LLP’. He served in various high-profile positions for the firm and is currently the Senior Chairman. Under him, the firm handled cases related to government regulations.
- // 1997He was chosen as one of the USA’s 100 most influential lawyers by the ‘National Law Journal’ in 1997, and again featured in the list after three years.
- // 2002In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on USA, he was appointed to the 9/11 Commission in 2002. The commission prepared a report on the cause and nature of the attacks and the response to be undertaken.
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James R. Thompson's FAQ
What is James R. Thompson birthday?
James R. Thompson was born at 1936-05-08
Where is James R. Thompson's birth place?
James R. Thompson was born in Chicago, Illinois
What is James R. Thompson nationalities?
James R. Thompson's nationalities is American
What is James R. Thompson ideologies?
James R. Thompson's ideologies is Republicans
Who is James R. Thompson spouses?
James R. Thompson's spouses is Jayne Ann Carr Thompson
What was James R. Thompson universities?
James R. Thompson studied at Northwestern University,University Of Illinois, University of Illinois, Washington University, Northwestern University
What was James R. Thompson notable alumnis?
James R. Thompson's notable alumnis is Northwestern University, University Of Illinois
What is James R. Thompson's political ideology?
James R. Thompson's political ideology is Republican
What is James R. Thompson's religion?
James R. Thompson's religion is Presbyterian
How tall is James R. Thompson?
James R. Thompson's height is 169
What is James R. Thompson's sun sign?
James R. Thompson is Taurus
How famous is James R. Thompson?
James R. Thompson is famouse as Lawyer, Politician