Richard Buell Ogilvie (February 22, 1923 – May 10, 1988) was the
35th governor of
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
and served from 1969 to 1973. A wounded combat veteran of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, he became known as the
mafia
"Mafia" is an informal term that is used to describe criminal organizations that bear a strong similarity to the original “Mafia”, the Sicilian Mafia and Italian Mafia. The central activity of such an organization would be the arbitration of d ...
-fighting
sheriff
A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...
of
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Illinois and the second-most-populous county in the United States, after Los Angeles County, California. More than 40% of all residents of Illinois live within Cook County. As of 20 ...
, in the 1960s before becoming governor.
Education and military service
Ogilive graduated from high school in
Port Chester, New York
Port Chester is a administrative divisions of New York#Village, village in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and the largest part of the town of Rye (town), New York, Rye in Westchester County, New York, Westchester County by populat ...
, in 1940. While attending
Yale University
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...
, he enlisted in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
in 1942. As a
tank
A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engin ...
commander in France, he was wounded and received the
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, w ...
and two Battle Stars. Discharged in 1945, he resumed studies at Yale and in 1947, he earned a Bachelor of Arts majoring in American history. In 1949, he earned a
Juris Doctor
The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law
and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice law ...
(
J.D.) from
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Chicago-Kent College of Law is the law school affiliated with the Illinois Institute of Technology. It is the second oldest law school in the state of Illinois. It is ranked 91st among U.S. law schools, and its trial advocacy program is ranked in ...
. From 1950 to 1954, he practiced law in Chicago and served as an assistant
United States Attorney
United States attorneys are officials of the U.S. Department of Justice who serve as the chief federal law enforcement officers in each of the 94 U.S. federal judicial districts. Each U.S. attorney serves as the United States' chief federal c ...
from 1954–1955. From 1958 to 1961, he served as a special assistant to the
United States Attorney General
The United States attorney general (AG) is the head of the United States Department of Justice, and is the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government of the United States. The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the p ...
heading an office fighting
organized crime in Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, has a long history of organized crime and was famously home to the American mafia figure Al Capone. This article contains a list of major events related to organized crime.
Events – timeline
1830s
*1837 – Chicago became i ...
and the
Chicago Mafia
The Chicago Outfit (also known as the Outfit, the Chicago Mafia, the Chicago Mob, the Chicago crime family, the South Side Gang or The Organization) is an Italian-American organized crime syndicate or crime family based in Chicago, Illinois, tha ...
.
[1969–1970 Illinois Blue Book](_blank)
/ref>
Pre-gubernatorial political career
Ogilvie was elected sheriff of Cook County
Cook County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Illinois and the second-most-populous county in the United States, after Los Angeles County, California. More than 40% of all residents of Illinois live within Cook County. As of 20 ...
, Illinois' most populous county, in 1962; he served in this position until 1966. While sheriff, he was elected President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
The President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners is the chief executive of county government in Cook County, Illinois. They are the head of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
Office description
Officeholders
Recent election res ...
and served from 1966 to 1969, when he resigned upon being elected Governor of Illinois. , he was the last Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
to serve as the chief executive of Cook County. As sheriff, Ogilvie developed a reputation for fighting vice
A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character tra ...
and his office led roughly 1,800 police raids during his tenure. This included the Fun Lounge police raid
The Fun Lounge police raid was a 1964 police raid that targeted Louie's Fun Lounge, a gay bar near Chicago, Illinois, United States. The raid led to the arrest of over 100 individuals and is considered a notable moment in the LGBT history of ...
, which resulted in 109 arrests and is a notable event in the LGBT history of Chicago.
Governor of Illinois
In 1968, he was elected governor as a Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
, with 51.2% of the vote, narrowly beating incumbent Democrat
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
Sam Shapiro. His lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...
was Democrat and future U.S. Senator Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor whose career has spanned six decades. He is one of the most acclaimed songwriters in popular music, both as a solo artist and as half of folk roc ...
, the only time that Illinois elected a Governor and Lt. Governor of different parties. (However, on at least two other occasions there was an acting Lt. Governor from a different party.)
Bolstered by large Republican majorities in the state house, Ogilvie modernized state government. He successfully advocated for a state constitutional convention, increased social spending, and secured Illinois' first state income tax
An income tax is a tax imposed on individuals or entities (taxpayers) in respect of the income or profits earned by them (commonly called taxable income). Income tax generally is computed as the product of a tax rate times the taxable income. Tax ...
. The latter was particularly unpopular with the electorate, and Ogilvie lost a close election to Daniel Walker in 1972, ending his career in elective office.
Ogilvie had many accomplishments during his term as governor. He proposed and successfully pushed for passage of the Illinois state income tax, a vital necessity for rescuing the state from a looming fiscal crisis. He created the Bureau of the Budget to ensure the governor's control of the state budgeting process, called for and obtained Illinois General Assembly approval for a record increase in state aid to public education.
Ogilvie campaigned vigorously for successful voter approval of the Illinois Constitution of 1970. He improved management of the Illinois State Fair, and in so doing eliminated irregularities in the handling of concession contracts. Ogilvie established the Illinois Department of Corrections to modernize the state penal system. He directed an expanded role for the Illinois Housing Development Authority, a key agency for combating urban decay. He also established the Illinois Department of Local Government Affairs to assist or advise county and municipal officials in the discharging of their duties. In addition, Ogilvie created the Illinois Department of Law Enforcement to revamp the state's policing functions; set up under the Illinois Bureau of Investigation, the state's "Little FBI". He broadened the scope of gubernatorial press conferences by allowing broadcast media to join the print media in coverage of the sessions. He also established the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to protect air and water resources. One of the first comprehensive environmental protection agencies in the nation, the Illinois EPA became a model for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Ogilvie set up the Illinois Department of Transportation, obtained legislative approval for a major upgrading of the state’s highway network, and built the East-West toll road linking Chicagoland to Western Illinois.
At Governor Ogilvie's request, the General Assembly authorized an experimental junior college in East St. Louis—the State Community College—which did not require a local tax. Also, Ogilvie passed through the Illinois legislature and the City of St. Louis a bi-state airport authority. He significantly upgraded the Illinois Information Service, the state news agency, and revitalized the state General Services Agency.
Post governorship
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...
considered Ogilvie as a nominee to become Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a United States' federal law enforcement agency, and is responsible for its day-to-day operations. The FBI Director is appointed for a single ...
.
In 1979, Governor Ogilvie was appointed as Trustee
Trustee (or the holding of a trusteeship) is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, is a synonym for anyone in a position of trust and so can refer to any individual who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility to t ...
for the Milwaukee Road
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (CMStP&P), often referred to as the "Milwaukee Road" , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States, Midwest and Pacific Northwest, Northwest of the United States fr ...
, a railroad that had entered bankruptcy. He oversaw its sale to the Soo Line Railroad
The Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , one of seven U.S. Class I railroads, controlled through the Soo Line Corporation. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sa ...
, a U.S. division of the Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...
.
Oglivie was the publisher of a revived ''Chicago Daily News
The ''Chicago Daily News'' was an afternoon daily newspaper in the midwestern United States, published between 1875 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.
History
The ''Daily News'' was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty ...
'' in 1979, 18 months after its demise in 1978.
In 1987, he was appointed by then-Secretary of Transportation
A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a wh ...
Elizabeth Dole
Mary Elizabeth Alexander Hanford Dole (née Hanford; born July 29, 1936)Mary Ella Cathey Hanford, "Asbury and Hanford Families: Newly Discovered Genealogical Information" ''The Historical Trail'' 33 (1996), pp. 44–45, 49. is an American attorn ...
to chair a committee studying the proposed termination of Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak () , is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates inter-city rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
's federal subsidy
A subsidy or government incentive is a form of financial aid or support extended to an economic sector (business, or individual) generally with the aim of promoting economic and social policy. Although commonly extended from the government, the ter ...
.
Until his death in 1988, he was a partner in the distinguished Chicago law firm of Isham Lincoln & Beale, one of whose founders was Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln.
Death and legacy
After his death in Chicago on May 10, 1988, Governor Ogilvie was cremated and interred in Rosehill Mausoleum, Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago
Rosehill Cemetery (founded 1859) is an American garden cemetery on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, and at , is the largest cemetery in the City of Chicago. According to legend, the name "Rosehill" resulted from a City Clerk's error – the ar ...
.
In 1997, Chicago & North Western
The Chicago and North Western was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was also known as the "North Western". The railroad operated more than of track at the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states befor ...
Station, the downtown terminus for Metra
Metra is the commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, and other railroads. The system operates 242 stations on 11 rail lines. I ...
commuter trains to many of Chicago's northern and western suburbs, was renamed Ogilvie Transportation Center
The Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center (; formerly Chicago and North Western Terminal) is a commuter rail terminal in downtown Chicago, Illinois. It is the terminus for the three commuter rail lines of Metra's Union Pacific District to Chica ...
in his honor, two years after the C&NW's assets have been purchased and incorporated into Union Pacific
The Union Pacific Railroad , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and often called simply Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Paci ...
. The modern railroad station uses the former C&NW trainshed. Wisconsin Central Ltd.
Wisconsin Central Ltd. is a railroad subsidiary of Canadian National. At one time, its parent Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation owned or operated railroads in the United States, Canada (Algoma Central Railway), the United Kingdom (DB ...
also had an EMD SD45
The SD45 is a six-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between 1965 and 1971. It has an EMD 645E3 twenty-cylinder engine generating on the same frame as the SD38, SD39, SD40, and SDP40. As of 2022, mos ...
locomotive named in his honor (WC 7513). Ogilvie had been a longtime supporter of rail transport, and had created the Regional Transportation Authority, Metra's parent agency.
Awards
Richard B. Ogilvie was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois
The Lincoln Academy of Illinois is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to recognizing contributions made by living Illinoisans. Named for Abraham Lincoln, the Academy administers the ''Order of Lincoln'', the highest award given ...
and awarded the Order of Lincoln (the State’s highest honor) by the Governor of Illinois in 1973 in the area of Government.
In popular culture
Ogilvie is referenced in the news broadcast that serves as a backdrop for Simon & Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of the singer-songwriter Paul Simon and the singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music groups of the 1960s, and their biggest hits—including the electric remix of " ...
's "7 O'Clock News/Silent Night
"7 O'Clock News/Silent Night" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their third studio album, ''Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme'' (1966). The track is a sound collage juxtaposing a rendition of the Christmas carol "Silent Night ...
," which reports that Ogilvie, in his position as Cook County Sheriff, asked Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 ...
to call off an open-housing march in the Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
suburb of Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, and academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the estab ...
. The track was conceived by musician Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor whose career has spanned six decades. He is one of the most acclaimed songwriters in popular music, both as a solo artist and as half of folk roc ...
, who coincidentally shares his name with the man who served as lieutenant governor of Illinois under Ogilvie's gubernatorial tenure and later represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate.
In the first-season episode "Home Again" of the alternate history science fiction TV series '' For All Mankind'', Ogilvie is referenced as being the governor of Illinois in 1974 and that his support for the Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Proponents assert it would end legal distinctions between men and ...
plays a role in the state's ratification of it.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ogilvie, Richard B.
1923 births
1988 deaths
Politicians from Kansas City, Missouri
Military personnel from Missouri
United States Army personnel of World War II
American people of Scottish descent
Burials at Rosehill Cemetery
Republican Party governors of Illinois
Illinois Institute of Technology alumni
Sheriffs of Cook County, Illinois
Presidents of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
Politicians from Chicago
Yale University alumni
American Presbyterians
20th-century American politicians
Chicago-Kent College of Law alumni