Thompson, James Robert, 1936-2020

James R. Thompson, Illinois’ 39th governor, held the record for being Illinois’ governor with the longest term in office. Thompson, a Republican, was elected for a two year term in 1976, and reelected for 3 four year terms. After 14 years in office, Thompson did not run for another four year term in 1990.

Thompson was born in Chicago on May 8, 1936. From 1959 to 1964 Thompson was a prosecutor for the Cook County States Attorney’s Office. In 1969 he was appointed Chief of the Department of Law Enforcement and Public Protection, Illinois Attorney General’s Office. In 1970 he was appointed First Assistant United States Attorney and in 1971 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. It was in this position that Thompson acted as federal prosecutor in the tax evasion, perjury and bribery case against former Illinois governor and then Appeals Court Judge Otto Kerner.