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Bill Morgan - Governor Pat Quinn Project
William 'Billy' Morgan was a young Dunn Fellow, fresh out of the University of Chicago, when he began working for the Governor Pat Quinn administration in 2013. He was assigned to the governor's press office, and then to the press office of Governor Quinn's unsuccessful bid for reelection in 2014. From that perspective Billy learned a great deal about the way both government and politics works in Illinois. He gives insights into the election debates against Bruce Rauner, Quinn’s management and campaign style, his work on the minimum wage, pension reform, marriage equality, on clemency and many other issues.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Madigan and Quinn
Abstract
Interview Session 1 - Audio
Early life through selection for Dunn Fellowship to work w/Quinn Admin
Interview Session 2 - Audio
Experiences with the Gov. Quinn administration
Interview Session 3 - Audio
Gov Quinn election campaign of 2014, and life as aid after Quinn’s defeat
Photos
Caption:
Governor’s office and other staff members gathered around the Lincoln desk on the University of Illinois at Chicago campus where Governor Quinn signed the Marriage Equality bill.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
November 20, 2013
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
The first photo of Gov. Pat Quinn and Billy Morgan together, taken at an Institute of Politics event in Chicago. David Axelrod had started the Institute following his departure from the Obama administration.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
2013
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Governor Quinn’s press aides posed outside the airport at Landstuhl Air Force Base following Gov. Quinn’s departure with cards for wounded soldiers at Christmas time. Quinn always went out of his way to show support for the military.
Where:
Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
When:
2013
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Billy Morgan, a University of Chicago student, met Brooke Anderson at an event at the Institute of Politics in 2013. Morgan had accepted a Dunn Fellowship but had not begun working for the Quinn administration. Anderson served as Quinn’s press secretary.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
2013
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Gov. Pat Quinn met with David Axelrod at an Institute of Politics event at the University of Chicago in 2013. Axelrod had stepped down as Pres. Barack Obama’s senior advisor by that time. Morgan took the photo with his cell phone.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
2013
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Billy Morgan poses with other former Dunn Fellows Erin Sharkey, Ashley Lepse, and Anthony Cefali on election night.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2014
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
A collection of Dunn Fellows, past and present, posed in Governor Quinn’s offices at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago in 2014.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
2014
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Billy Morgan and Grant Klinzman helped with a Quinn press conference along the Chicago River in 2014.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
2014
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Gov. Pat Quinn gladly took time for a photo with participants in Chicago’s 2014 Hunger Walk, with Billy Morgan in the background, third from left.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
2014
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Governor Quinn staffer Billy Morgan attended a Hunger Walk event in 2014, somewhat overdressed.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
2014
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Billy Morgan and Jeff Tolman, both press aides for Governor Quinn, at an event.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2014
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Gov. Pat Quinn participated in a rally to end violence in Chicago in 2014.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
2014
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Gov. Pat Quinn participated in a National Hispanic Heritage Month event at the James R. Thompson Center.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
September 2014
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
A cell phone photo taken by Morgan of Gov. Pat Quinn announcing his selection of Jerry Stermer as the Illinois state Comptroller.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
December 19, 2014
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Gov. Pat Quinn attended a National Latino Education Institute event in 2014. Several aides, who walked through a downpour to get there, appear in soggy attire in the background.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
2014
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Gov. Pat Quinn’s press team gathered for a Mansion Party in January 2015, near the end of Quinn’s administration. Press Secretary Brooke Anderson and David Blanchette flank the governor, with Billy Morgan next to Blanchette.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
January 2015
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Billy Morgan and Gov. Pat Quinn took a moment to take this photo at the Governor’s Mansion shortly before Gov. Bruce Rauner took office in January 2015.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
January 2015
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Gov. Pat Quinn was participating in an Autism Awareness Month event at the Brookfield Zoo in 2014 when Morgan took this cell phone photo.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
April 13, 2015
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Several of Gov. Quinn’s press aides, with Morgan on the left, gathered outside the Illinois Capitol Building in 2015. Quinn’s administration gave many young people a start in their professional careers.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2015
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Billy Morgan and Nick Desideri took a moment for a photo shortly after the end of Pat Quinn’s governorship.
Where:
Unknown
When:
January 12, 2015
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo