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* News reporter at WBAP/KLIF…
Hundreds pack Dealey Plaza in Dallas in anticipation of return of JFK Jr. Conspiracy theorists in crowd tell me he’s expected to announce he’s running for office alongside Donald Trump. ETA was just before 12:30pm @WBAP247NEWS @570KLIF pic.twitter.com/4j0ITjRbYa
— Clayton Neville (@ClaytonNeville) November 2, 2021
This was yet another bizarro QAnon thing.
* NBC News reporter…
The QAnon people are walking up to random people they think are dead celebrities in Dallas today and introducing themselves. So far they have seen "Robin Williams" and "Dale Earnhardt."
They now think JFK Jr. will reveal himself at a Rolling Stones concert tonight. pic.twitter.com/oyu7YkRgBk
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) November 2, 2021
* The Question: Aside from Abe Lincoln, what deceased Illinois statesperson would you most like to meet? Please explain your response.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 2:56 pm
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Former Sen Everett Dirksen.
Comment by Wow Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 2:58 pm
Harold Washington, because the guy was the OG Obama type candidate decades before. I think his insights on Obama, and the subsequent Trumpian backlash would be absolutely fascinating.
Comment by SpiDem Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 2:59 pm
With Wow on this one
Sen Everett Dirksen
Would also be interested in meeting Stephen Douglas
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:01 pm
First, I can’t believe people are so gullible. My first thought was this was some sort of gag post.
Second, I agree with Wow. I would love to have dinner with Dirksen and get his views of the Republic today.
Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:01 pm
I’ve gotta go with Lincoln. I realize he’s an obvious choice but how do you not pick Lincoln.
And btw, I’m pretty sure I saw Elvis on the grassy knoll.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:02 pm
I’d sure like to meet Sen. Simon. I have a signed copy of his book Pandering.
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:04 pm
Explain, folks. Explain.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:06 pm
Definitely Gov. Altgeld. I would want to tell him how much he has been vindicated in many of his positions, even while others are still being fought for.
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:07 pm
Harold Washington. He is just a fascinating guy, flawed, but optimistic and always willing to engage with critics even as they spewed vitriol at him.
Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:08 pm
Wait, what is actually happening here? I am not clicking any hyperlink that says QAnon thing.
Comment by Just Saying Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:08 pm
Why Dirksen, well a school I attended was named after him, so there is that. His thoughts on the use of the filibuster and his viewpoint on his work on the Civil Rights Act.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:10 pm
Sidelining Lincoln, yep, Dirksen.
The Kennedy-Johnson years being Minority Leader, etc.
The *alleged* linguist who fathered the saying, “A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon, you’re talking real money”…
Also, Dirksen seemingly the father of “land voting” too;
“… Dirksen was a firm opponent of the doctrine of one man, one vote on the grounds that large cities (such as Chicago in Dirksen’s home state of Illinois) could render rural residents of a state powerless in their state governments without some form of concurrent majority. After the Warren Court imposed one-man-one-vote on all state legislative houses in the 1964 case Reynolds v. Sims, he led an effort to convene an Article V convention for an amendment to the Constitution that would allow for legislative districts of unequal population. …”
I’d like to know his thoughts now to the “Southern Strategy”, the idea of welcoming southern Dems to the GOP after the Civil Rights Act, and the irony that he and Senate Republicans were instrumental in the passage in the first place.
If no Lincoln, it’s Dirksen.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:12 pm
Since the owner of this blog ruled out Lincoln, I’ll go with US Grant. I’d be fascinated to know how he allowed himself to be surrounded by grifters.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:14 pm
If you really want to know about the real Lincoln, have a conversation with his law partner, Billy Herndon. I gotta believe Billy would have the real story.
Comment by someonehastosayit Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:14 pm
==Wait, what is actually happening here?==
This came up in a local Reddit group. A bunch of the QAnon folks believe the JFK Jr. faked his death. A fake quote from JFK Jr said that he would support Donald Trump for President. So they’ve been waiting for JFK Jr to reveal himself from the dead to act as Trump’s running mate.
There is a house on a major street in East Peoria with a Trump/JFK Jr. flag in their front yard.
Comment by North Park Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:14 pm
Paul Powell…..need to see if any shoe boxes were missed.
Comment by Gordon Willis Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:15 pm
===need to see if any shoe boxes were missed===
They were finding money stashed in safety deposit boxes for years. Nobody to this day knows where it all went.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:19 pm
More “see again” than “meet”, but Judy Baar Topinka. To get her thoughts on all that has happened both in Illinois and Nationally since she left us. I’m guessing she wouldn’t be thrilled.
Comment by fs Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:23 pm
===Grant===
As Galena is arguably my favorite town in Illinois, many are “second”, my own journey to Grant over years and that Docu-Drama “Grant”, there is no one, including Lincoln, that politically or governmentally, I think of more in a historical context more than Grant.
I still wouldn’t change my answer, Dirksen is one I’d like to converse with, but Grant has my attention, even today, like no Illinois pol of our past.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:25 pm
Since Rich took US Grant- who was an incredibly fascinating and confounding person with so many layers.
I will go with Jane Byrne- I was pretty young when she was mayor. It was a crazy time in Chicago following RJ Daley’s death. She was establishment and anti establishment at the same time. SHe us stymied because she was a woman but still one of the most fascinating political figures in Illinois history and that says a lot.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:28 pm
Samuel Witwer would be my outside the box pick. It seems like you got to heard a lot of cats to create a state constitution. Don’t think it will happen again in my life, and I’m pretty young.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:33 pm
I suppose I should go with a more noble or deep choice like Grant or Dirksen (both of whom would actually be great), but as long as we could meet over dinner and drinks, I imagine William Hale Thompson would have some stories…
Comment by Wally Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:39 pm
===I imagine William Hale Thompson would have some stories===
Man, would he ever. Len Small, too.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:40 pm
Dawn Clark Netsch. Because she would still know more about fiscal policy than most living pols.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:41 pm
FDR.
It would be interesting to hear how some of his biggest plans came to fruition, as well as why he thought it was acceptable to round up Japanese Americans and put them in camps during World War II.
Comment by Techie Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:41 pm
Oops, missed the IL statesperson part. Can I pretend FDR was from IL?
Comment by Techie Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:43 pm
JBt
She was more fun and known to buy a round
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:43 pm
Hands down Judy Baar Topinka. I was not that into politics when she was around but from what I have read she strikes me as a no bull__ person.
Politicians of the last 30 years have become more worried about image management, interested in power, PR, and feeding the propaganda machine (i.e. telling lies to the public), than actually doing their jobs.
JBT strikes me as the type of politician whose sole focus as a politician was to serve the public and do her job.
Comment by Big Jer Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:44 pm
Mike Howlett. My godfather and a very humble, HONEST MAN.
Comment by flea Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:45 pm
I gotta go with the original Adlai Stevenson, Congressman, Post Master General, Grover Cleveland’s Vice President and William Jennings Bryan’s running mate. I’d like to ask him if he has any regrets about how Reconstruction went wrong, and if he accepts any blame for Illinois’ history of political corruption. I’m certain he had a unique vantage point to many historical angles that are still present in these parts.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:46 pm
Richard J. Daley to talk about the Machine, politics, governing, the Outfit, Bridgeport, the 60’s, hippies, the Nation of Islam.
Comment by So_Ill Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:47 pm
I’ll go with Dirksen as well. After hearing the conversation between him and LBJ about Nixon: LBJ: “They shouldn’t oughta be doin this Everett, it’s treason” ED: “I know, I know”.
I want to hear the rest of the story.
Comment by Proud Sucker Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:48 pm
Ida B Wells
How she persisted with incredible courage
Comment by walker Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:48 pm
I’m with NIU Grad - John Peter Altgeld. He did the right thing, knowing it would mean the end of his political career.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:49 pm
I had the good fortune to talk to Sen. Paul Simon on several occasions. Excellent choice! That guy was so smart and kind and willing to listen and share.
I want to pick someone no one has named yet, so I’ll go for Gov. Altgeld. I’d like to know what the deal is with all of the castles on our university campuses.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 3:51 pm
Roland Libonati. Attorney to Al Capone, former state senator and congressman, and anti death penalty. I met him with my father and another gentleman when I was very young and at the time could not appreciate what a life he led. There is a recorded conversation between JFK and Daley the first. JFK complained to Daley that RL would not commit to vote for a bill JFK wanted. Daley’s response: well he better vote for whatever the hell you want.
Comment by Old Lobster Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 4:00 pm
I would like to see the Prince of Pork Ken Gray. I would enjoy hearing his stories of how he was able to get Southern Illinois money for projects and listen to deal making stories of days gone by. Sure would be nice to see that kind of horse trading between both sides today.
Comment by Fayette County Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 4:07 pm
Prescott Bloom, a/k/a Donald Crenshaw.
Comment by Platitudinus Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 4:12 pm
Gov. John Peter Altgeld, who boosted higher education; fell on his political sword by pardoning three men railroaded into prison for their alleged roles the Haymarket Riots, and refused a half million dollar bribe (some say it was $1 mil, in 1890s), when he was almost broke. The bribe was, according to good sources, put in a valise in a bank deposit box by traction magnate Charles Tyson Yerkes, who gave Altgeld the deposit box combination. He wanted Altgeld to sign legislation to provide long leases for his companies, actually reasonable legislation, which Altgeld refused to so.
Comment by Jim Nowlan Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 4:16 pm
I would love to listen to the thoughts of Zeke Giorgi. Talk about old school. The reason is simple - knowing that Zeke was Madigan’s true friend from the beginning and helped elevate Madigan to Speaker, it would be interesting to see what he thinks of the Illinois Democratic Party today compared to the way it used to be. Although, really thinking about, Zeke would probably just mumble a few sentences and know one would have any idea what he was talking about.
Comment by Carbondale Chronicle Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 4:20 pm
JFK Jr?
RFK Jr. makes much more sense.
And yet a couple of hundred people showed up. Yikes.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 4:21 pm
Definitely Paul Simon.
I’d love to hear his opinions on the current state of national politics, and what we should do to fix it.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 4:24 pm
Not a politician but covered all of them, Mike Royko. Stories about all the political old times would b fascinating.
Old man Daley to find out about all the inside scoops that Royko missed.
Comment by Frank talks Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 4:25 pm
I would invite three people I shook hands with back in the day that have passed on: Dick Ogilvie, Judy Topinka and Paul Simon. Two I met through student government and one as a state employee. Quite a range of experience but I bet they would have some great stories.
Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 4:27 pm
Either Gov. Coles (how he defeated the pro-slavery Illinois Constitution) or President Grant (how he crushed Nathan Bedford Forrest’s creation, the Ku Klux Klan). How different would Illinois (and the US) been if Illinois had been a slave state, or if in the 1870s, instead of the 1920s (Indiana 1924), the KKK politically controlled a state?
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 4:32 pm
Phil Rock. One of the most respected members of the GA and certainly knew everyone who was anyone in Illinois politics during the mid 70’s through the 90’s.
Comment by Stones Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 4:51 pm
Second choice (actually my 1st choice, sorry Gov. Altgeld): Reuben Soderstrom - He led the Illinois AFL/CIO for 40 years (1930-1970), and was a Republican State Rep for 14 years (1922-1936).
As a legislator: “During that time he earned a reputation as organized labor’s strongest advocate in the Illinois House, authoring and shepherding a series of pro-labor bills through the legislature, including the Injunction Limitation Act, the One Day Rest in Seven Act, the Old Age Pension Act, and anti-“yellow dog” contract bills, as well as increases to education funding and favorable amendments to the workmen’s compensation, occupational disease, and pension laws.”
As a Labor leader: “He rebuilt the organization (ISFL) through the lean years of the 1930s, rallied behind the policies of the New Deal and then committed his members to a big domestic push to win World War II, including a No-Strike Guarantee during those years. Following the war, Soderstrom guided his membership in Chicago and downstate Illinois into unprecedented industrial productivity, helped forge the great merger between the national AF of L and CIO, and persistently and presciently pushed for Civil Rights protections at both the state and federal level. Due to his large membership base in a swing state, he was constantly courted by US Presidents and was an important presence in many Washington DC leadership councils.”
So much more here: http://www.reubengsoderstromfoundation.com/rgs.html
What he knew and what he accomplished…we could learn so much from this remarkable leader both in politics and Labor.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 5:00 pm
I’d like to meet John A. Logan. What was his thought process in going from a man who supported slavery to one who didn’t? How did he deal with family and friends turning against him as evolved? What advice would he have for our current circumstances? Civil War era people fascinate me.
Comment by Don't Bloc Me In Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 5:01 pm
My grandparents. I spent a lot of free pandemic time doing a family genealogy and I have a LOT of questions.
Comment by Banish Misfortune Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 5:04 pm
Henry Horner. he governed at a very difficult time. Along with associates whom did not appreciate his strong ethics.
Comment by publius Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 5:14 pm
When Paul Simon woukd sit at the table with my Dad, i was of the age where i didnt care about much. Especially politics. I didnt realize it til decades later, but it shaped my allegiance to the union worker. I still hold that belief, but Paul might be surprised how conservative i have become on many issues. But i woukd love to bread with him like my pops did.
Comment by Blue Dog Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 5:14 pm
Paul Powell, who else.
Comment by 618DEM Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 5:17 pm
Ronald Reagan. To hear his thoughts on politics today.
Comment by SOIL M Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 5:22 pm
I met him but didn’t get to really talk
Congressman Lane Evans
Comment by Publius Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 5:25 pm
John Logan I would be interested to here his stories about Grant and how he went from pro states rights to a union supporter. and his campaigns both on the battle field and political
Comment by top hat Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 5:38 pm
Stones - love the Phil Rock one. Great man. Saw him 25 years ago and thanked him for coming to my grandfather’s wake. He said, “I would have come back from the dead to be there.”
My vote? Richard J. Daley.
Comment by Paddyrollingstone Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 5:47 pm
I realize he was not a statesperson, but I would like to talk to the late Dr. Edward Kelleher, the Director of the Cook County Psychiatric Institute just to see if he would agree with me that the QAnon people are all totally certifiable. Or as Arthur King of the Britons would say to the Black Knight: “You’re a loony.”
Comment by West Side the Best Side Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 5:53 pm
Judge Kenesaw mountain landiis
US District court judge and first commissioner of MLB
Comment by Skinny Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 6:53 pm
Abe
Comment by danray Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 7:02 pm
Judy Baar Topinka. I miss her very much. So much to follow up on since her death.
Pepi
Comment by Joseph Baar Topinka Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 7:12 pm
Would love to listen to a discussion between Judy and Everett on the current state of politics. Would probably hear more unfiltered truth in no holds barred plain language.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 7:55 pm
I’ve heard Dirksen was a great talker, and also Harold Washington. I thought the same thing about Judy Barr as everybody above. I bet she’d have some really interesting things to say.
Comment by Quizzical Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 9:00 pm
Jon A Logan, just to ask him what happened south of I-70.
Comment by Glengarry Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 9:24 pm
Sen Everett Dirksen so he could explain how the Republicans had a higher percentage of Republican Senators compared to Democratic Senators voting for the 1964 Civil Rights Act which is the reason LBJ was able to pass the legislation
Comment by Grant Thursday, Nov 4, 21 @ 11:42 am