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* Bernie…
A lawyer representing former state historian Samuel Wheeler said Wheeler was never told of any problems with his job performance before being fired this month.
Chris Wills, spokesman for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, said Tuesday that Wheeler was “terminated for performance.” Wheeler’s last day was July 15.
“Dr. Wheeler was never informed of any performance issues, and from my understanding of the facts, what he did was what he was asked to do,” said Springfield attorney Carl Draper, who represents Wheeler. “He wrote the reports he was asked to report, and he tried to fulfill his obligations that relate to his job duties.”
Meanwhile, Ray LaHood, ALPLM chairman of the board – the state agency for which Wheeler worked – said Tuesday that the governor’s office wants a different role for the state historian. That is one of two titles Wheeler held in his $88,080-a-year job — the other being director of research.
“I think it was clear from the governor’s office that they wanted to go in a different direction with the position of historian and make it more like the poet laureate,” said LaHood, a former member of Congress and U.S. secretary of transportation. He said the position would be subject to a term appointment and the historian would travel the state giving speeches at schools and universities, and also lecture at the Lincoln library and museum in Springfield.
So, which is it? Or is it both?
…Adding… Good questions…
A ceremonial, talking-head "state historian" and a pared-down research division at ALPLM, for what reason? What problem would this major shift–one that will need approval from the General Assembly–supposedly solve?
— Devin V. Hunter (@dvhunter) July 29, 2020
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 10:16 am
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Given what is going on in Illinois and world right now, I don’t think the Governor’s Office could possibly care any less on the status of the State Historian’s job description. The issue is that Wheeler couldn’t perform magic, go back in time, plop that hat on Lincoln’s head, and snap a picture.
Comment by Sangamo Girl Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 10:26 am
So they want a traveling sideshow, and not an actual historian. Or, they wanted an excuse to plug someone in who was asking for a job, so they made Mr Wheeler the fall guy.
Comment by fs Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 10:28 am
Politics, pure and simple. What do you expect from the place.
Comment by bowwow Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 10:30 am
So he wrote a report that was somewhat critical of the infamous $25 million purchase of items from the politically connected Friend of Cellini, Ms. Taper, including the hat that seems to be fake, and then he was ordered to stop his research, then he was fired? This organization is an absolute mess even by Illinois standards.
Comment by natty lite Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 10:32 am
So have we checked if a certain Chicago newspaper employee needs a new gig? Does the George Ryan friends and family employment program still work at the ALPLM?
Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 10:35 am
–historian would travel the state giving speeches at schools and universities, and also lecture at the Lincoln library and museum in Springfield–
Umm, wasn’t Wheeler doing that already? If so, what really is the justification for firing him?
Comment by Steve Rogers Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 10:38 am
I wonder if he ever put the hat on a bed?
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 10:42 am
The problem this solves is the hat being proven to be a fake. They can still pretend they don’t know “for sure” one way or the other. Pretty obvious they know it’s fake and are trying to avoid the inevitable fallout from that being proven. Typical Illinois.
Comment by Captain Obvious Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 10:47 am
Putting the “diss” in “dysfunctional.”
Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 10:47 am
” He said the position would be subject to a term appointment”
So they want this to be another patronage job it sounds like?
Why should the sate historian be in the same class as high level policy advisors i.e. political positions?
Comment by Hoping for Rational Thought Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 10:55 am
==So have we checked if a certain Chicago newspaper employee needs a new gig?==
Or a random Channel 20 employee?
Comment by Chatham Resident Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 11:01 am
It is plausible of course that someone could be so difficult, disruptive, narcissistic and unwilling to work with others that the rest of the working world sees the need for change. Maybe there’s not always a stunning conspiracy. Maybe some people promote a public image that doesn’t square with reality. Maybe a lot of ALPLM employees lived too long with the toxicity and quietly appreciate the move.
Comment by Honest Abe Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 11:03 am
=So they want this to be another patronage job it sounds like?=
State Historian is already on the State Exempt List. If anything, it sounds like the opposite.
Comment by Anon62704 Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 11:05 am
I worked with Sam on a project and know him professionally. Found him to be highly intelligent in his field and a person of integrity. And not unimportantly for his position, IMHO, he loves this state and A. Lincoln. He did seem uncertain of the politics at times–which appear to have now chewed up another good and honorable person. I wish him the best.
Comment by Our Joe Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 11:21 am
I hope Sam Wheeler sues and eats them alive.
Comment by Stella Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 11:39 am
IL Poet Laureate is also an open position.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 11:41 am
The astounding thing to me is the apparent total lack of investigation before dropping $6.5 million on a hat.
Maybe I should approach them. I have a log cabin in my backyard that once belonged to Abe Lincoln which the foundation can have for the low low price of $10 million. Just need to take my word for its origins. Why would I lie or make up a story, I’m just a guy with a historic cabin who would also like to be paid $10 million for it.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 12:01 pm
=he historian would travel the state giving speeches at schools and universities, and also lecture at the Lincoln library and museum in Springfield.=
Why is this controversial? It’s what the State Historian has always done, should do, and what Wheeler did. What else does one imagine a State Historian does?
Comment by LakeCo Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 12:49 pm
The dominant narrative on this subject connects the dots between the hat and Wheeler’s firing. As someone with inside information into this situation, I can say that those dots are connected in error.
Comment by GenX Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 12:54 pm
In addition to the Wheeler firing, the ALPLM is also facing controversy for paying $70K for a now-cancelled temporary travelling exhibit which included racist and provocative displays. Bruce Rushton in last Thursday’s Illinois Times:
“An exhibit from a Washington, D.C., museum has been canceled by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum due to concerns about Ku Klux Klan robes and other displays.
“Spies, Traitors, Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America,” created by the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., has been on tour since at least 2012 . . .
The ALPLM, which paid $70,000 to show the artifacts through January 2021, will not open the exhibit to the public after receiving negative reviews from African Americans who recently were invited to take an advance look. Museum officials say that historians and the institution’s staff agreed with the decision.”
https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/alplm-cancels-exhibit/Content?oid=12399698
Comment by Chatham Resident Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 1:06 pm
I saw Garrison Keillor at Union Station about a year ago buying bottled water at the bar in the Great Hall that I was getting a beer at (getting a train beer is different working at home) I bet he is available.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 1:24 pm
I would agree with GenX, I think the narrative between the hat and the firing is misguided. I would bet that the political hacks running the agency didn’t like Wheeler and wanted him gone. If the hat report were the reason, then wouldn’t Wheeler have been fired in January? I think the larger issue is the political hacks vs. professional historians. Historians, by their training and nature, are taught to question everything. Methinks that political hacks don’t like to be questioned.
Comment by Steve Rogers Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 1:33 pm
Sam Wheeler, the Researcher, certainly changed when he became Sam Wheeler, State Historian…perhaps he got a little too big for his britches. He’s was an at will, double-exempt employee - they serve at the will of the Governor and therefore have no recourse. While true he may be a scapegoat for the stovepipe hat fiasco, karma may have shown up after his complacency while the Looking For Lincoln Project was decimated.
Comment by Irma Gerd Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 1:41 pm
First, he was a double-exempt employee. He has zero grounds for a lawsuit. He can be fired for wearing the wrong shoes. It’s the risk you take being an exempt employee.
Second, I personally know people at the ALPLM and this guy was an absolute nightmare to work with. Google “narcissistic sociopath” and you’ll have an idea of what people were dealing with. He may be an expert in his field but he pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes. This has absolutely nothing to do with the hat and everything to do with him constantly creating conflict.
Comment by Jim Lahey Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 1:51 pm
Mr Lahey must be on the sauce. According to the OEIG report on Alan Lowe and the Hat Report, Dr Wheeler seemed to only ruffle feathers when standing up for the institution’s integrity. Unfortunately for him, he spoke the truth and lost his job over it. I’m sure someone like that would be a nightmare for non-museum professionals. There’s a reason the board was unaware of the move. They wouldn’t have approved it. The board was finally put in place after the Lowe firing so that the ALPLM had oversight. If the acting director with zero museum/history experience, other than hiring temps (including her then fiancé and a make up artist) to fill in as librarians in an important research library, is permitted to go around the board for approval to do something like this, what is the purpose of having a board? It’s just another state agency run by hacks.
Comment by Earl Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 9:31 pm
Bruce Rushton has a follow-up in today’s Illinois Times. Including comments from Lincoln scholar and board member Harold Holzer with some interesting viewpoints (e.g., updating exhibits, more transparency, new director should still have history background but Lincoln expertise doesn’t have to be essential):
https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/getting-real/Content?oid=12421271
Comment by Chatham Resident Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:13 am