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Julian C. D'Esposito Jr. - Governor Jim Thompson Project

Julian D'Esposito served as Governor Jim Thompson's chief counsel from 1977 to 1981 and as his director of staff, during the early years of Thompson's long tenure as Governor. Among the issues he dealt with during this period were the Thompson Proposition, the governor's handling of sentencing appeals and the Chicago school funding crisis of 1980. Following this, D’Esposito continued to be involved in governmental service, serving as a member of Thompson’s Tax Reform Commission as well as outside counsel to the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (McPier), and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA).

Interview Links

Feature Excerpt

Thompson as Manager

Abstract

Interview Session 01 (Audio)

Formative Years joining the Thompson Administration

Interview Session 02 (Audio)

Major issues during D’Esposito’s tenure as Chief Counsel (1977-1981)

Interview Session 03 (Audio)

The Post-Thompson Administration Years

Transcript

Photos

Caption
Governor of Illinois and his two successors. L-R: House Minority Leader George Ryan, Leg. liaison Jim Edgar, Deputy Gov. Jim Fletcher, Sen. Minority Leader David “Doc” Shapiro, Chief Counsel and Director of Staff Julian D’Esposito, and Gov. Jim Thompson.

Where:
Unknown

When:
1979

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo