People We’ve Lost: Gov. Jim Thompson, RBG, John Prine

From August 24: Jim Thompson was the longest serving Governor in Illinois. The moderate Republican was elected in 1976, and then was elected three more times, ending his time in office in January of 1991. Standing at 6 foot 6, he was known to the press as ‘Big Jim.’ Governor Thompson passed away Aug. 14 in Chicago at the age of 84. The 21st is joined by two people who worked with Thompson to talk more about who he was and his political career.

Guests:

Karen Witter, Assistant to Governor Jim Thompson for Natural Resources 

Kirk Dillard, Legislative liaison for Governor Jim Thompson, RTA Chairman

From September 21: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the demure firebrand who in her 80s became a legal, cultural and feminist icon, died on September 18. For some perspective on her legal legacy, and how her passing could affect future court cases, particularly reproductive rights, we were joined by two guests. 

Guests:

Brigid Leahy, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Director of Public Policy, Planned Parenthood of Illinois

Alicia B Uribe-McGuire, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

From July 8: Acclaimed singer-songwriter John Prine died in Nashville on April 7, 2020. He was actually from Maywood, Illinois and worked as a mailman, which inspired his songwriting. This year, Governor J.B. Pritzker named Prine the honorary poet laureate of Illinois, and he is the first person to receive the honor posthumously. To talk more about Prine’s songwriting and how his roots in Illinois inspired his music, we’re joined by the author of the biography, John Prine: In Spite of Himself.

Guest:

Eddie Huffman, journalist and author of the John Prine biography, John Prine: In Spite of Himself