Dan Walker (politician)
Dan Walker | |
---|---|
36th Governor of Illinois | |
In office January 8, 1973 – January 10, 1977 | |
Lieutenant | Neil Hartigan |
Preceded by | Richard Ogilvie |
Succeeded by | James Thompson |
Personal details | |
Born | Washington, D.C., U.S. | August 6, 1922
Died | April 29, 2015 Chula Vista, California, U.S. | (aged 92)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouses | Roberta Dowse
(m. 1947; div. 1977)Roberta Nelson
(m. 1979; div. 1989)Lillian Stewart (m. 1996) |
Children | 8 |
Education | United States Naval Academy (BS) Northwestern University (JD) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1940–1941 1945–1947 1951 |
Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
Daniel J. Walker (August 6, 1922 – April 29, 2015) was an American lawyer, businessman and politician from
Walker was perhaps best known for walking the state of Illinois in 1971 during his candidacy for governor and for being an outsider to Illinois'
Early life and career
Walker was born in
Walker moved to Illinois to attend Northwestern in 1947. He was recalled to the Navy during the
Governor of Illinois
Walker announced his candidacy for
When Walker was elected, he stopped the Illinois Department of Transportation from pursuing this expressway project. This was a direct political strike against Mayor Daley, who did not support Walker.
The enmity between Walker and Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley's political organization was deep. In 1974, Walker supported state legislative candidates against Daley allies. Walker's deputy governor, Victor deGrazia, later said: "I knew from the beginning that every time Daley looked at Walker, he saw the Church of England and the British suppression of the Irish, and when Dan would look at Daley, he would see the quintessential politician who was only interested in political gain."[16] "We never established anything even approaching a personal rapport. To some degree, this was an obvious and natural result of my independent political activity. But it went deeper – much deeper," said Walker.[17] During his tenure, Walker was often at odds with both Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature. He did obtain passage of the first law requiring disclosure of campaign contributions and issued a series of executive orders prohibiting corrupt practices by state employees.[citation needed] In 1976 Walker was defeated in the Democratic primary, losing to Illinois Secretary of State Michael Howlett,[18] the candidate supported by Mayor Daley, by a 54% to 46% margin. In the general election, Howlett was overwhelmingly defeated by James R. Thompson. A Democrat would not serve as governor of the state for the next 26 years, when Rod Blagojevich was elected in 2002.
Post-governorship
In the 1980s, Walker entered the private sector by forming Butler-Walker, Inc, a chain of self-named quick
At his sentencing, U.S. District Judge
Walker served eighteen months of his seven-year sentence and was released in 1989 after his attorneys cited his failing health.[2] Judge Williams ordered him released from prison based on "time served" and placed on probation until the two loans in question were repaid. This order eliminated the two other charges.[citation needed] During the mid-1980s Savings and loan crisis, First American was declared insolvent and taken over by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC). It continued in business as before, run by individuals brought in by FSLIC. There were no bondholders of First American and Walker and his wife were the only stockholders. When the two loans described above were repaid, Walker was released from probation and the case against him was closed. There was no cost to taxpayers for his specific loans,[1] but in 1989, First American and another Chicago area S&L were bailed out by tax payers for just under $80 million. First American had $22.2 million in negative equity at that point.[23][24] Walker became the second of four Governors of Illinois in the 20th and 21st centuries to be convicted on federal criminal charges. The others were Otto Kerner Jr., George Ryan, and Rod Blagojevich. However, unlike Kerner, Ryan, and Blagojevich, Walker's crimes were not related to his term as governor.
Later life and death
After his release from prison in 1989, Walker moved to San Diego. He found work as a paralegal.[6] Walker also began writing. In 2003, it was reported that he was writing for six hours a day and had several writing projects in the works, including a cookbook for couples.[6] By 2007, he had written several books[6] and published at least three. In January 2001, Walker requested a pardon from outgoing President Bill Clinton, but his request was not granted.[25] In 2007, he published The Maverick and the Machine, in which he discussed his political career, his experiences in prison, and his business and law troubles. Of the latter, he wrote "I knew this was against regulations, but, like most businessmen, I saw a huge difference between a law and a regulation." After his plea deal was reached in 1987, Walker stated, "I have broken the law and pleaded guilty, I have deep regrets and no excuses."[26] Walker died on April 29, 2015, at a veterans hospital in Chula Vista, California, from heart failure, aged 92.[2][27]
Personal life
Walker was married in 1947 to Roberta Dowse, a Catholic school teacher from
See also
- List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Chief Justice)
- 1972 Illinois gubernatorial election
References
Citations
- ^ ISBN 0-8093-2756-2
- ^ a b c Pearson, Rick; Secter, Bob (April 29, 2015). "Former Gov. Dan Walker, colorful populist, dies at 92". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
- ^ "Dan Walker, 92, Dies; Illinois Governor and Later a U.S. Prisoner". The New York Times. 30 April 2015.
- ^ a b DePue, Mark (August 21, 2007). "ISG-A-L-2007-015 Interview # 1 of 3" (PDF). Interview with Dan Walker via rebootillinois.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Jenkins, Logan (March 6, 2003). "Projects keep former Illinois Governor from S.D. Moving Along". Union-Tribune. San Diego. Archived from the original on September 7, 2006.
- ^ a b Walker, 2007 p. 125.
- ^ Walker, 2007 p. 111.
- ^ a b "Dan Walker, 1945". United States Naval Academy. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Biography of Illinois Governor Daniel Walker". Illinois Blue Book: 16. 1973–1974.
- ^ KaiElz (2015-05-01). "Illinois Gov. Dan Walker dies at 92". The Chicago Defender. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
- ^ "Walker Report summary – History of the Federal Judiciary: The Chicago Seven Conspiracy Trial". fcj.gov.
- ^ "Quinn Would Face $2 Billion Budget Gap as Blagojevich Successor". Bloomberg News. 2008-12-15. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- Daily Herald.
- ^ Perry, Tony (May 4, 2015). "Dan Walker dies at 92; ex-Illinois governor worked to regain reputation". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Victor deGrazia Oral History" (PDF). Oral History Project at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2006.
- ^ Walker, 2007 p. 85.
- ^ "Michael Howlett, Ex-secretary Of State". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. 5 May 1992. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
- ^ "Five last Walker lube centers to Jiffy Lube". Chicago Sun-Times. August 26, 1986.
- ^ a b Hidlay, William C. (November 20, 1987). "Former Governor Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison". Associated Press.
- ^ a b "Former Illinois governor gets 7-year prison term". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. UPI. November 20, 1987. p. C-9.
- ^ "Plea Agreement" document issued by the United States District Court (USDC ND Ill)[verification needed]
- ^ "New owner takes control of ailing savings and loan". Business, Section 3. Daily Herald. Suburban Chicago. February 7, 1989. p. 1.
- ^ "U.S. is bailing out two failing S&L's". Post-Dispatch. St. Louis. February 5, 1989.
- ^ Brown, Mark (January 17, 2001). "If Rosty gets pardoned, why not Walker?". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ^ "Former Illinois Governor Guilty in Bank Fraud Case". Sentinel. Milwaukee, WI. Associated Press. August 6, 1987.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Schoenburg, Bernard (2015-04-29). "Former Gov. Dan Walker dead at 92". State Journal-Register. Springfield, IL. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ISBN 9780809327560.
roberta.
- ISBN 9780809327560.
divorce.
- ^ Rackl, Lori (December 2006). "Obituary, Roberta Dowse Walker 1924–2006". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ^ a b "The Maverick – Former Illinois governor Dan Walker writes of fall from high office to federal prison". North County Times. May 26, 2007. Archived from the original on December 14, 2008.
Works cited
- Military law. New York: Prentice-Hall. 1954. OCLC 742315383.
- Rights in Conflict : Convention Week in Chicago. New York: Dutton. 1968. OCLC 650910029.
- The First Hundred Years A.D. 1–100: Failures and Successes of Christianity's Beginning. Lincoln, NE: Authors Choice Press. 2001. ISBN 0-595-19634-9.
- San Diego : home base for freedom. San Diego, CA: Premier Pub. 2003. ISBN 978-1-928905-03-5.
- Thirst for Independence: The San Diego Water Story. Sunbelt Publications. 2004. ISBN 0-932653-62-6.
- The Maverick and the Machine: Governor Dan Walker Tells His Story. ISBN 978-0-8093-2756-0.
External links
- "Dan Walker Oral History" (PDF). Oral History Project at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- "Victor deGrazia Oral History" (PDF). Oral History Project at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2006. (former campaign manager and deputy to governor Dan Walker)