Dave Gilbert was a Chicago Tribune reporter in 1975 when Jim Thompson asked him to become his press secretary early in his first run for governor. Gilbert continued as Thompson's press secretary for the next ten years and three gubernatorial election campaigns, helping to craft the public face of one of Illinois's most colorful and popular governors. Gilbert discusses the 1982 gubernatorial campaign against Senator Adlai Stevenson III in detail, a race that was mired in allegations of vote fraud and was decided by the IL Supreme Court only a week before Gov. Thompson's inauguration.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Thompson in Cardinals Country
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early life and journalistic career with the Chicago Tribune
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Jim Thompson’s 1976 gubernatorial campaign
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
First two years of the Thompson administration: 1977-1978
Interview Session 04 (Audio)
The election of 1978, and Thompson administration in 1979-1981
Interview Session 05 (Audio)
Thompson reelection campaign in 1982 and his administration thru 1985
Transcript
Related Materials
See Also
The video clip to which Mark DePue referred to in session 4 of David Gilbert's interview, the Thompson years as rendered in a Gilbert and Sullivan spoof.
Photos
Caption
Dave Gilbert, while a Chicago Tribune Political Reporter, covered the re-election of U.S. Senator Charles Percy in 1972.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1972
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Dave Gilbert and Jim Thompson are strategizing in the campaign RV during the 1976 gubernatorial election.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1976
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
During the 1976 gubernatorial campaign, Jim Thompson and Dave Gilbert traveled the length and breadth of Illinois on the campaign’s RV.
Where:
Illinois
When:
1976
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Governor Thompson and Dave Gilbert, circa 1976. “For David R. Gilbert, Esq., who laid back until just the right moment and then, in unflappable fashion, proceeded to fool 1,395,000 people
Where:
Unknown
When:
Circa 1977
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Governor Thompson wrote down his initial slate of appointees on a note pad shortly after his first election in 1976. The Transition Team worked in a suite apartment in the John Hancock building in Chicago.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1976
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
This report card of Gov. Thompson’s first year and a half in office appeared in The Thompson Insider, published in April, 1978 by the Thompson campaign.
Where:
The Thompson Insider
When:
April, 1978
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
In the midst of the 1978 gubernatorial campaign, Gov. Thompson got his picture taken riding a trick horse in his capitol building office, upstaging Michael Bakalis, who was holding a press conference on the capitol steps.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1978
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Dave Gilbert and Jim Thompson are at work in the Governor’s Chicago office, circa late 1970s.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
Circa late 1970s
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Governor Thompson, Dave Gilbert (holding card in the air), and members of the press corps gather under the Illinois banner at the Republican National Convention in in July, 1980. George Ryan is in the background.
Where:
Detroit, Michigan
When:
July, 1980
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Governor Thompson, surrounded by members of the press and the Illinois delegation, prepares for an interview with Garrick Utley, NBC News while at the GOP National Convention, in Detroit, Michigan in July, 1980.
Where:
Detroit, Michigan
When:
July, 1980
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Thompson being interviewed by Bob Kieckhefer, of the UPI, during the Republican National Convention in Detroit, Michigan in July, 1980.
Where:
Detroit, Michigan
When:
July, 1980
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Dave Gilbert and Greg Baise at the 1980 Republican Convention discussing dinner plans for the evening.
Where:
Detroit, Michigan
When:
July, 1980
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Dave Gilbert and Gov. Thompson review the governor’s speech before an Illinois Tourism event on the expansion of McCormick Place in Chicago in the mid 1980s. Linda Simon, Director of Tourism, can be seen in the background.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
Mid 1980's
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Lieutenant Governor George Ryan, Governor Thompson, and Dave Gilbert relax in the Governor’s office, circa 1981.
Where:
Illinois
When:
Circa 1981
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Candidate Jim Thompson parties with a group of potential supporters while on the campaign trail in 1982 in southern Illinois. The photo illustrates the populist approach Thompson took toward campaigning, adapting his image and style for each group.
Where:
Southern Illinois
When:
1982
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Secretary of State Jim Edgar and Dave Gilbert circa mid 1990s. “Who's Kidding Who,” at the Hilton Hotel in Springfield was the caption written on the back of the photo by Gilbert.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa mid 1990s
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The self-styled “Bad Boys” are together again at a Citizen for Thompson reunion for campaign workers at the Bismarck Theater in Chicago in 1995: Dave Gilbert, Governor Jim Thompson, and Greg Baise.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
1995
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
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Caption
Dave Gilbert at the executive mansion in Springfield with his press office staff: From left to right are David Fields, Woody Mosgers, Dave Gilbert, Jim Presscott, Susan Mogerman, and kneeling in front, Jim "Skilby" Skilbeck.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
David Gilbert, and his father, Robert Lee Gilbert, celebrated Robert’s 97th birthday in 2008 at the Centralia Manor.
Where:
Centralia, Illinois
When:
2008
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Press secretary Gilbert had given Thompson a quick lesson on milking cows (with two hands) before this photo was taken in at the Jersey County Fair while on the campaign trail. It was a rare occasion when Thompson didn’t take Gilbert’s advice.
Where:
Jersey County Fair, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain