James R. Thompson

James R. Thompson
Thompson in 1985
Chair of the Intelligence Oversight Board
In office February 26, 1990 – January 20, 1993
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Glenn W. Campbell
Succeeded by	William Crowe
37th Governor of Illinois
In office January 10, 1977 – January 14, 1991
Lieutenant	Dave O'Neal George Ryan
Preceded by	Dan Walker
Succeeded by	Jim Edgar
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office August 2, 1983 – July 31, 1984
Preceded by	Scott Matheson
Succeeded by	John Carlin
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
In office 1971–1975
President	Richard Nixon Gerald Ford
Preceded by	William J. Bauer
Succeeded by	Samuel K. Skinner
Personal details
Born	James Robert Thompson Jr. (1936-05-08)May 8, 1936 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	August 14, 2020(2020-08-14) (aged 84) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Jayne Carr
Children	1
Education	University of Illinois, Chicago Washington University (BA) Northwestern University (JD)

James Robert Thompson Jr. (May 8, 1936 – August 14, 2020) was an American politician, lobbyist, and federal prosecutor who served as the 37th governor of Illinois from 1977 to 1991.^[1] He was Illinois's longest-serving governor, having been elected to four consecutive terms and holding the office for 14 years.

Thompson was known as a "Rockefeller Republican", as he took more liberal stances on certain issues during his tenure.^[2] In later years, Thompson served as a member of the 9/11 Commission, charged with investigating the September 11 attacks.^[3]