Dawn Clark Netsch began her political career as an assistant to Governor Otto Kerner from 1961-1965, served as a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention in 1969-1970, and in 1972 was elected as an Illinois State Senator. For the next 18 years, she was one of Illinois's most influential Senators, and championed many progressive causes. In 1990 she was elected as the Illinois state Comptroller, and in 1994 was the Democrat's candidate for governor. She lost to incumbent Jim Edgar after a spirited campaign.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt 01
Netsch to Kerner
Feature Excerpt 02
Campaign to Educate
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early life thru work with Stevenson presidential campaigns
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Service as an assistant with the Otto Kerner administration, 1961-1965
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Teaching career at Northwestern U. Law School and 1970 Con Con
Interview Session 04 (Audio)
1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention
Interview Session 05 (Audio)
Netsch’s 1972 and 1974 elections for service in the IL Senate
Interview Session 06 (Audio)
Early experiences in the Illinois Senate
Interview Session 07 (Audio)
Senator Netsch’s involvement with the IL ERA fight, 1972 – 1982
Interview Session 08 (Audio)
The 1980s – Politics & Legislative initiatives, esp. budget & finance
Interview Session 09 (Audio)
Senator Netsch’s run for and service as Illinois’s comptroller, 1991-95
Interview Session 10 (Audio)
The Gubernatorial election campaign of 1994
Interview Session 11 (Audio)
The 1994 general election campaign for governor against Jim Edgar
Interview Session 12 (Audio)
Netsch's life beyond politics, 1995 - 2011
Transcript Volume 01
Transcript Volume 02
Photos
Caption
Senator Netsch was one of a group of independent-minded Senate Democrats in the mid ‘70s known as the ‘Crazy 8’. From left to right are Senators Netsch, Wm Morris, Vivian Hickey, Don Wooten, Jerome Joyce, Vince DeMusio, Terry Bruce and Ken Buzbee.
Where:
January, 1976 edition of Illinois Issues magazine
When:
January, 1976
Ownership:
May be restricted: This caricature appeared in the January, 1976 edition of Illinois Issues magazine.
Caption
Portrait of Senator Dawn Clark Netsch.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Senator Dawn Clark Netsch addresses the Illinois Senate sometime in the late 1980s.
Where:
Illinois State Senate Chamber
When:
1980s
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
1991’s Gridiron Dinner invite for the Illinois Legislative Correspondents Association (ILCA) took a gentle jab at an unlikely couple, state Comptroller Netsch and Governor Jim Edgar, as they struggled to tame the state’s budget.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1991's
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Primary gubernatorial candidate Dawn Clark Netsch hoists a pool cue high when celebrating her victory over a crowded Democratic primary field.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Springfield State Journal Register Cartoonist Mike Thompson lampooned Senator Netsch in this cartoon during the 1994 gubernatorial campaign. The main issue during the campaign was whether to raise the state income tax while lowering property taxes.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1994
Ownership:
Springfield State Journal-Register, Nov 9, 1994. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Cartoonist Mike Thompson’s cartoon labeling Edgar the Teflon governor hearkens back to the famous attribution for Ronald Reagan.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1994
Ownership:
Springfield State Journal-Register, Nov 3, 1994. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Dawn Clark Netsch, with her distinctive hair style and glasses, was easy for cartoonist Mike Thompson to parody.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1994
Ownership:
Springfield State Journal-Register, Oct 20, 1994. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch and Governor Edgar painted two very different pictures of Illinois’s fiscal health in 1993. Mike Thompson always portrayed Governor Edgar with a price tag attached to his hair.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1993
Ownership:
Springfield State Journal-Register, Apr 5, 1993. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Mike Thompson’s political cartoon from October 5th, a full month from the election. Edgar had consistently held a commanding lead in the polls over Democratic challenger Dawn Clark Netsch.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Springfield State Journal-Register, Oct 5, 1994. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Dawn Clark Netsch preferred to abolish the state’s death penalty, an issue that Governor Edgar was able to use as a potent campaign issue.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Springfield State Journal-Register, Jan 9, 1995. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.