Isn’t it curious that the Illinois Constitution asks–no, demands–that departing governors go to great lengths to pat themselves on the back?
It’s there in Article V, Section 13: The Governor, at the beginning of each annual session of the General Assembly and at the close of his term of office, shall report to the General Assembly on the Condition of the State and recommend such measures as he deems desirable.
Governors fulfill part of that constitutional requirement with an annual State of the State speech at the beginning of the legislative session, which serves a useful purpose. But that other part–at the close of his term in office–oh, my, they can’t resist an opportunity like that.
Former Gov. George Ryan, citing his constitutional obligation, produced a 78-minute videotape and 50-page written timeline on what a spectacular job he did as governor.
No surprise, Ryan’s rendition of Ryan’s tenure is filled with undiluted praise. “The first draft of history will not reflect the depth of George Ryan’s leadership, his compassion, his inner strength or his deep commitment to people and their welfare. But the truth will shine through,” says the video’s narrator, Robert Newtson, who also happened to be Ryan’s chief of staff.
Now, we’ve criticized Ryan as much as anyone else who gets to write the first draft of history. But it must be said that, in this case, Ryan was not as self-indulgent as he could have been.
Former Gov. Jim Edgar fulfilled his constitutional obligation to report at the close of his term in office with a hardbound, 186-page book titled “Meeting the Challenge: The Edgar Administration.” It included 182 photos of Jim Edgar, including five in which he was holding a baby, three in which he was breaking ground with a shovel, and two in which he was riding a horse.
Former Gov. Jim Thompson published a 185-page hardbound tome on his four terms in office. “Illinois State of the State: The Thompson Administration” included 127 pictures of Jim Thompson.
The Thompson book went a little heavier on groundbreakings, a little lighter on cuddling babies. Thompson was not pictured on horseback, but there was one photo of the governor cradling one of his dogs in his lap as they whooshed down a giant slide.
All right, we’ll forgive former governors for wanting to provide themselves and their supporters with a nice keepsake of their time in office. And it’s probably not worth the fuss and bother of a constitutional amendment to do some editing to Article 13.
But when it comes time for Gov. Rod Blagojevich to move on from the governor’s mansion, when he confronts his solemn constitutional obligation to report on the condition of the state at the close of his term in office, we offer this guidance: One page, double-spaced. People will thank you. Some might even read it.
