Ten Things You Might Not Know About Illinois Governors-- Part 4: Adlai Stevenson II-- "Big Jim" Thompson

6. ADLAI STEVENSON II was an Illinois governor and two-time Democratic nominee for president and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He was also the inspiration for Peter Sellers' character of President Merkin Muffley in "Dr. Strangelove." Muffley is the mild-mannered rational "egghead" who says: "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the war room." OK, now, I'm going to have to watch the movie. //// #7. Serving from 1977-1991, Republican JAMES THOMPSON is easily Illinois' longest-serving governor. But "Big Jim's" (he is quite tall) impact on Illinois goes beyond that. In 1972-1973, as U.S. attorney, he successfully prosecuted Democrat former Gov. Otto Kerner for bribery. In 1975, still the U.S. attorney, he successfully petitioned for leniency for Kerner in part because of his ill-health. Later, as a private attorney, he would make the same plea on behalf of imprisoned former Republican Gov. George Ryan, who had served as Thompson's lieutenant governor. //// Depends Upon Which Side of the Toast Your Butter's On. --Cooter