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Mike Lawrence - Journalists View

Mike Lawrence began his journalistic career in the mid-1960s, spending much of it with the Quad City Times-Democrat while reporting on Illinois' political scene. In 1987 Lawrence went to work as Press Secretary for Secretary of State Jim Edgar, and followed Edgar when he became Governor in 1991. Lawrence resigned in 1997, and moved to Carbondale to work at the Southern Illinois University Public Policy Institute

Interview Links

Abstract

Interview Session 03 (Audio)

Early years with Sec of State Jim Edgar

Interview Session 04 (Audio)

Press Secretary for Edgar's first term

Interview Session 05 (Audio)

Related Materials

Governor Jim Edgar Series.


Photos

Caption

Mike, age 14, catches up on the news in the living room of the family home at 843 Greenleaf Street in Galesburg, Illinois.

Where:

Galesburg, IL

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s Photo

Caption

Standing at age 11 near the Galesburg grocery store where his family shopped in the 1950s.

Where:

Unknown

When:

1950s

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

The 17-year-old editor of his high school newspaper shakes hands with Gov. William G. Stratton, the first of several Illinois governors he interviewed and reported on.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

As a young news editor for the Quad-City Times in the early 1970s, he enjoys a moment of relaxation with fellow editor Randy Heuston.

Where:

Unknown

When:

early 1970s

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Then the Springfield bureau chief for the Chicago Sun-Times, he interviews Illinois Gov Jim Thompson after he and other state chief executives had met at the White House. In the background the late Jerome Watson, Washington bureau chief for the Sun-Times.

Where:

Washington D.C.

When:

1987

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Mike, on the right, joins other journalists on the grounds of Sen. Paul Simon’s Makanda home in the spring of 1987 on the evening before he officially announced for president.

Where:

Makanda, Illinois

When:

spring of 1987

Ownership:

Unknown

Caption

Governor-elect Edgar, Brenda and he are all smiles after a long election night that capped a grueling 1990 campaign.

Where:

Unknown

When:

1990

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Mike and one of his deputies, Gary Mack (on the right), enjoy a light moment during an Edgar interview with CBS’ Ed Bradley on the floor of the 1988 Republican National Convention.

Where:

Unknown

When:

1988

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

The governor and his pipe-smoking press secretary during a reflective moment in the press office.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

A moment of levity during an Edgar encounter with the media in the governor's Executive Mansion office.

Where:

governor's Executive Mansion office

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

The television cameras chronicle an Edgar session with the media in his Capitol office.

Where:

Springfield, Illinois

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Mike concentrates on the questions and answers as the governor and the news corps have an exchange in the State House press room.

Where:

State House press room

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

A big moment for Mike (in the background) as Governor Edgar chats at ADM headquarters in Decatur with a man who changed the world, Mikhail Gorbachev, after his ouster as Soviet president.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Mike, associate director Simon Institute, at Governor Edgar's approval of institute-engineered campaign finance reform legislation. From right, U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, the institute's founding director, the Governor and Ted Sanders, president of SIU.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Governor Edgar and Mike chat during an Edgar visit to southern Illinois after Mike joined the University. “I’m sorry, there isn’t any money in this bill for S.I.U.,” the Governor quipped in signing the photo for Mike.

Where:

Southern Illinois

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s Photo

Caption

An honorary doctorate from Knox College, his alma mater, brings a big smile in 1998.

Where:

Knox College

When:

1998

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Mike's official photograph while serving as associate director and then director of the Simon Institute.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Mike Lawrence's official photo from the 1974-1974 Illinois Blue Book.

Where:

Illinois Blue Book, 74-74

When:

1973-1974

Ownership:

Unknown



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