Senator John Cullerton, a Democrat, started his career in Illinois politics in 1979 in the IL House of Representatives after cutting his teeth as a public defender in Chicago. In 1991 he moved to the Illinois Senate, and in late 2008 his colleagues elected him to serve as Senate President, a position he held until his retirement in January 2020. Highlights of his career included leading redistricting efforts following the 2010 census, driver safety initiatives, marriage equality legislation, abolishing the death penalty, pension reform and school funding reform. He worked closely with then State Senator Obama and was an enthusiastic supporter of Obama's run for the U.S. Senate and presidency.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Bobby Rush’s district & Obama’s house
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early life, college education and military experiences
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Law school, public defender years & 1976 Democratic Conv
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Cullerton’s first campaign in 1978 for IL House and first term
Interview Session 04 (Audio)
Cutback Amendment, ERA fight in IL House and IL House years to 1983
Interview Session 05 (Audio)
Career in the IL House from 1983-1990, and appointment to IL Senate
Interview Session 06 (Audio)
Senate career from 1991 through 1995
Interview Session 07 (Audio)
Run for U.S. Congress in 1994 and IL Senate career through 1998
Interview Session 08 (Audio)
Senate career from 1999 to Gov. Blagojevich election in 2002
Interview Session 09 (Audio)
Cullerton’s experiences with Barack Obama thru Obama election in 2008
Interview Session 10 (Audio)
Cullerton on President Obama and on Gov. Blagojevich’s first term
Interview Session 11 (Audio)
Blagojevich administration & Sen. Emil Jones decision to step down
Interview Session 12 (Audio)
Election as Senate President and Blagojevich arrest and impeachment
Interview Session 13 (Audio)
Blagojevich Senate trial and early Quinn administration
Interview Session 14 (Audio)
The early years of the Gov. Quinn administration
Interview Session 15 (Audio)
Senate President experiences during Quinn administration, post 2010
Interview Session 16 (Audio)
Management of legislative & congressional redistricting
Interview Session 17 (Audio)
2020 election & Quinn administration from 2011-2012 legislative year
Interview Session 18 (Audio)
Legislative years 2012 through 2014 & election of Bruce Rauner
Interview Session 19 (Audio)
First year of the Gov. Rauner administration & failure to pass a budget
Interview Session 20 (Audio)
Gov. Rauner administration thru 2018 election of J.B. Pritzker
Interview Session 21 (Audio)
Gov. Pritzker, budget negotiations, Fair Tax and revenue increases
Interview Session 22 (Audio)
2019 legislation during Gov. Pritzker administration and retirement
Photos
Caption:
Senator Paul Simon met with John Cullerton and his two boys, John III and Garritt.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
October 1988
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Unknown, John Cullerton, Gov. Jim Thompson and Dick Ehlenfeldt during taping of Cullerton Countdown, Cullerton’s TV show, in Springfield, Illinois.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa 1990s
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senator John and Pam Cullerton with Governor Jim Edgar, Brenda Edgar and Representative Judy Irwin during the Gov. Edgar administration.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa mid-1990s
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senator Cullerton looks over the shoulder of Gov. Jim Edgar during a bill singing in 1992. Others present included Ellis Levin and Ann Stephen.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
1992
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Senator Cullerton makes a point during a Senate debate, date unknown.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
John and Pam Cullerton.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Governor Jim Thompson, Springfield Mayor Karen Hasara, Representative Cullerton and Senator James Pate Philip. Also present for the IL Department of Commerce and Community Affairs event were Ted Lechowitz, Bob Bugulski, Kay Wojick, Dick Luft, and Stan Weaver.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
During the Gov. Thompson administration
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Barack Obama addresses a crowd at the Illinois State Fairground in 2003 during an event where several of the Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate in 2004 were present.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2003
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
During Illinois State Senator Obama’s run for the U.S. Senate, he met with his colleague Senator Cullerton as well as Ann Ryan, twins Pete and Andy, and Josephine Ryan in John Cullerton’s Chicago home on July 17th, 2004, one month before Obama became nationally known after delivering the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
July 17th, 2004
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Then Illinois Senator Barack Obama and Senator Cullerton share a light moment during an informal fund raising event on July 17, 2004, early in Obama’s U.S. Senate campaign. The event was held in John Cullerton’s back yard in the Ravenswood Manor neighborhood of Chicago.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
July 17, 2004
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
A constituent chatted with U.S. Senate candidate Obama at the July 2004 fund raising event in Senator Cullerton’s back yard in Chicago.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
July 2004
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
It was early in Barack Obama’s campaign for U.S. Senator when he spoke to a small group of donors from the deck of John Cullerton’s Chicago home in July 2004. A month later, he became known nationally after delivering the keynote address at the Chicago National Convention.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
July 2004
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Illinois Senators Obama and Cullerton on July 17, 2004 during a fund raising event for U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama in Senator Cullerton’s back yard.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
July 17, 2004
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
John Cullerton with his Illinois Senate colleague, Senator Barack Obama. The photo was taken in Cullerton’s back yard during a fund raising event for Obama during his run for the U.S. Senate.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
July 17, 2004
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Illinois State Senator Obama chats with Pam Cullerton during his July 2004 fund raiser on the back deck of her Chicago home. to start their own businesses.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
July 2004
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Barack Obama, along with several others, including two of his former Democratic opponents for the U.S. Senate in 2004, Blair Hull and Jerry Chico, relax at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield in August 2004.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
August 2004
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Portrait photo of Senator Cullerton in 2009 at the time he became Senate President.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2009
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Speaker Mike Madigan and Senator Cullerton chat during an appearance by Governor Bruce Rauner during a joint session of the legislature in 2015.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2015
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
When President Barack Obama returned to Springfield on February 10, 2016, he took time out for this photo of many of his former Illinois Senate colleagues in the Capitol building.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 10, 2016
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
During President Barack Obama’s visit to Springfield on February 10, 2016 to meet with his former Senate colleagues, John and Pam had the chance to meet personally with President Obama in Cullerton’s office.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 10, 2016
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Governor J.B. Pritzker reaches out his hand to House Speaker Mike Madigan while Senate President John Cullerton looks on. Gov. Pritzker was the in the legislature to present his proposed FY 2020 budget.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
February, 2019
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator. From a February 20, 2019 Chicago Tribune article.