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William Downey Memoir University of Illinois at Springfield Norris L Brookens Library Archives/Special Collections William Downey Memoir D758. Downey, William "Smokey" (1910-1987) Interview and memoir 3 tapes, 212 mins., 59 pp., plus index ILLINOIS STATECRAFT Downey, a former member of the administration of Illinois Governor William G. Stratton, discusses his work as a journalist, press agent, and legislative liaison for the governor. He recalls some of the legislative events and personalities in Illinois politics, Governor Stratton's 1952 campaign, political appointees, the Orville Hodge scandal, political issues, and the governor's relationship with Chicago politicians. He also describes Springfield in the 1920's and 30's and legislative technique. Reference is made to numerous Illinois politicians including Adlai E. Stevenson, Richard J. Daley, and Paul Powell. Interview by Marylin H. Immel, 1982 OPEN See collateral file: interviewer' notes, copies of correspondence between Downey and Edward Pree, Jr., and Downey and Governor Stratton. Archives/Special Collections LIB 144 University of Illinois at Springfield One University Plaza, MS BRK 140 Springfield IL 62703-5407 © 1982 University of Illinois Board of Trustees PREFACE This oral history of William "Smokey" Downey's participation in the administration of Governor William G. Stratton is a product of "Eyewitness Illinois," a program of the Oral History Office of Sangamon State University. The project was made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Council in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional financial support was provided by Caterpillar Tractor Company, Arthur Andersen & Co., Canteen Corporation, Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation, Susan Cooke House Trust and the MacArthur Foundation. Central to this program is a conviction that the business of the governor deserves larger and better public understanding, and that oral history offers a distinctive way of supplying it. William "Smokey" Downey was assistant to Governor William Stratton from "• ' 1952-1959. As a former newspaperman, Smokey Downey acted as press agent and legislative liaison for the governor. In that capacity he was in a position to be an eyewitness to the operations of the executive and the legislative branches of Illinois government. Prior to Mr. Downey's political appointment, he worked as a journalist covering State House activities and statewide campaigns. He was a successful public relations person for William Stratton in 1946 and worked for Stratton again in his 1950 campaign for treasurer and the gubernatorial campaigns of 1952 and 1956. From his association with Governor Stratton both before and after his election, Downey is in a key position to comment on the Stratton administration. Readers of the oral history should bear in mind that it is a transcript of the spoken word. Its informal, conversational style represents a deliberate attempt to encourage candor and to tap the narrator's memory. However, persons interested in listening to the tapes should understand that editorial considerations produced a text that differs somewhat from the original recordings. Both the recordings and this transcript should be regarded as a primary historical source, as no effort was made to correct or challenge the narrator. The conclusions and assertions do not necessarily represent the views of the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Sangamon State University, or other sponsors, nor are these institutions responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir. The tape recorded interviews were conducted by Marilyn H. Immel during July and September, 1982. Ms. Immel was born in 1943 in Wichita, Kansas. She received a bachelor's degree in Russian language and literature from Northwestern University in 1965. While raising two children she was actively involved with the League of Women Voters in Springfield, Illinois, working primarily in the areas of election laws and government. In 1977 she returned to school in order to pursue a master's degree in political science. She was associated with the Oral History Office of Sangamon State University from January of 1981 until August, 1983. Linda Jett transcribed the tapes and, after the transcriptions were edited by Francie Staggs and Judy Haynes and reviewed by Mr. Downey, Linda Jett prepared the typescript. Florence Hardin compiled the index. Francie Staggs and Carol Marshall assisted in the pre-interview research. Marilyn Immel supervised the artwork, photographic layout and production. The Illinois State Historical Library provided valuable assistance in the research effort. This oral history may be read, quoted and cited freely. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the Oral History Office, Sangamon State University, Springfield, Illinois 62708. _/··--- ------· ----~----~ TABLE OF CONTENTS From Journalism to Politics • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 News background--The Illinois State Journal-- Covering the State House--Father's Political Background-­ The Legislators and Prohibition--The Lake Club--Senator Bill "Botchy" Connors--Dick Lyons Covering the 1938 Campaign in Illinois. • • • • • • • • • • • • • 5 Congressmen Simon Lance and Steven A. Day-- Bill McCaully--Traveling the State--Speaker Hugh Cross The World War II Years. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 7 University of Illinois--Navy Commission--Vice Presidential Candidate Frank Knox--Press Work During the War Postwar Assignments • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9 -I Governor Dwight Green--Hugh Cross--Adlai Stevenson-­ William G. Stratton and the 1950 Treasurer's Campaign William Stratton's 1952 Campaign. • • • • • • • • • • •••••• 12 Treasurer Stratton--Television Advertising-­ Campaigning Around the State--Orville Hodge-­ Democrats Nominate Stevenson for President Governor Stratton • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •••••••• 16 The Governor and the Press--Stratton and Agency Directors--Vera Binks, First Woman Director-- Joe Bibb, First Black Director--Mort Hollingsworth-­ Ed Rosenstone--The Tollroad--Dr. Bettag--Glen Palmer-­ Joe Bibb--Willard Ice--Dick Lyons Governor Stratton and Other Officers. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 20 secretary of State Charles Carpentier--State Auditor Orville Hodge--Bob Barrett--Attorney General Latham Castle--The Hodge Scandal-- Treasurer Elmer Hoffman--Warren Wright--Vern Nickell Smokey Downey's Position with Governor Stratton • • • • • • • • • 23 Assistant to the Governor--Press Relations-­ Legislative Liaison--Press Conferences Described-­ Bloomington Pantagraph Endorses Stratton Mr. Downey, the Governor, and the Legislature • • • • • • • • .29 Morgan Finley--Richard J. Daley--Johnny Kluczynski-­ The Toll Road Commission--Reapportionment--The Budgetary Commission--Speaker Davis Shanahan--The Governor and Chicago Other Legislators and Officers. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .35 Warren Wood--Arthur Bidwell--Bill Clark-- Charles Carpentier--Ab Mikva--Benjamin Adamowski-­ Bill Pollack--Paul Powell--Bill Lynch--Ed Laughlin-­ Walker Butler--Jacob Arvey The Broyles Commission. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .37 Adlai Stevenson and Alger Hiss--Loyalty Oaths-­ The Broyles' Bill Impact of Reapportionment • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .38 Mayor Daley and Governor Stratton Confer-­ Chicago Legislative Districts Change Stratton and Legislative Achievements • • • • • • • • • .40 The Tollways--The Budget Other Legislative Personalities and Events. • • • • • • • • • .41 Warren Wood--Johnny Lewis--Frank Stransky-­ The Race for Speaker of the House, 1959-- Joe de la Cour and Paul Powell--Bob Burhans-­ Chicago versus Downstate Views of the Administration • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .47 The Judiciary--The Sales Tax--The Personnel Code-­ Patronage--Advisors--Security--Monthly Open House-­ Speed Limit Reduction I:llinois Race Tracks. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .51 Cahokia Downs--Chicago Downs--Governor Stevenson-­ The Land Trust--Governor Stratton--Governor Kerner Public Welfare. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .54 Governor Stratton and Education • • • • • • • • • • • • • . .ss Governor Stratton Considers a Third Term. • • • • • • • • • • • .56 The I.R.s. Investigation. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .57 The Stratton Legacy • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .58 Index • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .61 WILLIAM •sMOKEY" DOWNEY July 21, 1981, Tape 1, Side 1 Q: I'd like for you to go into your background and give me an idea of how you got to the Stratton administration in 1952. A: The reason I got to the Stratton administration in 1952 was because I was with the Stratton administration in 1950 when he was elected state treasurer, and he went right from the office of state treasurer to the office of governor. So that 1 s the simple reason why I was with it in 1952. Q: But What is your political background? A: Well, I was a newspaperman and went to work at the Illinois State Journal in 1928. And one of my first assignments was police reporting, and then I covered the courts. And political editor at that time on the Illinois State Journal was a man by the name of George Marney, M-A-R-N-E-Y. He had been political editor there for years and he was really beloved by everyone in the state house. Of course, in those days the legislature was in session. Four Chicago papers sent a man down, the Tribune, the Daily News, the Chicago Journal was in existence
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