Title Page & Abstract
An Interview with Gregory Baise
Part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Illinois Statecraft Oral History project
Interview # IST-A-L-2013-062
Gregory Baise, who held numerous positions in the Gov. Jim Thompson administration including personnel director and Director of the Dept. of Transportation, was interviewed on the date listed below as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Illinois Statecraft-Gove Jim Thompson Oral History project.
Interview dates & location:
Date: Aug 6, 2013 Location: IL Manufacturer’s Association office, Oak Brook, IL
Date: Aug 7, 2013 Location: IL Manufacturer’s Association office, Oak Brook, IL
Date: Aug 19, 2013 Location: IL Manufacturer’s Association office, Oak Brook, IL
Interview Format: Digital audio
Interviewer: Mark R. DePue, Director of Oral History, ALPL
Transcript being processed.
Transcription by: _________________________
Edited by: _______________________________
Total Pages: ______ Total Time: 2:22 + 2:23 + 1:58 / 2.37 + 2.38 + 1.97 = 6.72 hrs
Session 1: Volunteering for 1976 Thompson campaign & subsequent work as travel aid
Session 2: Experiences as Gov. Thompson’ scheduler, then as Personnel Director
Session 3: Director of Dept. of Transportation and campaign manager experiences
Accessioned into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Archives on November 21, 2013.
The interviews are archived at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.
© 2013 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Abstract
Gregory Baise, Illinois Statecraft, IST-A-L-2013-062
Biographical Information Overview of Interview: Gregory Baise was born on April 13, 1952 in Jacksonville, Illinois, and grew up on the family farm nearby. He was fascinated with politics at an early age, and following graduation from Triopia High School in 1970, he attended Illinois College in Jacksonville. He spent his last two summers interning at the U.S. Congress during a time when the Watergate hearings were going on. Following graduation he was elected as an alderman in Jacksonville, and worked at the college in the admissions department. In 1976 he volunteered to help with Jim Thompson’s first campaign for governor.
Following the election, Baise was hired to serve as the travel aid for the Governor. He worked in that capacity for two years, and in 1979 became the governor’s scheduler, essentially managing the governor’s schedule for the next two years. In 1981 he became Governor Thompson’s Personnel Director, where he also oversaw the governor’s patronage related hires. In 1984 he managed Ronald Reagan’s Illinois presidential campaign, and following that election became the Director of the Illinois Department of Transportation, where he managed a multi-billion dollar budget and oversaw construction and maintenance projects throughout the state. Baise commented on both the 1982 and 1986 gubernatorial campaigns; in 1988 he served as an advisor for Vice President George H.W. Bush’s presidential campaign in Illinois. After the 1988 election he decided to run for office himself, ultimately deciding to run for Treasurer in 1990, with Pat Quinn as his Democratic opponent. Following Quinn’s victory, Baise became the President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, a position he still held at the time of this interview.
Subject Headings/Key Words: Governor Jim Thompson; Director of Dept. of Illinois Transportation; patronage director for Gov. Thompson; traveling with Gov. Thompson; 1982 Illinois gubernatorial campaign; 1986 Illinois gubernatorial campaign; Cutback Amendment; Illinois Manufacturers’ Association; Equal Rights Amendment fight in Illinois; George H.W. Bush; Ronald Reagan
Note to the Reader: Readers of the oral history memoir should bear in mind that this is a transcript of the spoken word, and that the interviewer, interviewee and editor sought to preserve the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein. We leave these for the reader to judge.
COPYRIGHT
The following material can be used for educational and other non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. “Fair use” criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. These materials are not to be deposited in other repositories, nor used for resale or commercial purposes without the authorization from the Audio-Visual Curator at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. 6th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. Telephone (217) 785-7955