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Today in Chicago History: Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years in prison

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his wife Patti face a group of reporters after he was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Dec. 6, 2011, at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune)
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his wife Patti face a group of reporters after he was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Dec. 6, 2011, at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune)
By | krumore@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune
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Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Dec. 7, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Shock then resolve after the attack on Pearl Harbor: ‘We’ll whip ’em, but it’ll take a few months.’

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

  • High temperature: 64 degrees (1916)
  • Low temperature: Minus 6 degrees (1882)
  • Precipitation: 1.12 inches (1980)
  • Snowfall: 6.9 inches (1978)
Shoppers on Christmas Eve in 1935 paused at State and Madison Streets to listen to horse-drawn carolers that were making a tour of the Loop. The carols were sung by musicians on a wagon drawn by the famous six horse team of Wilson & Co. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) dated Dec. 24, 1935.
Shoppers on Christmas Eve in 1935 paused at State and Madison streets to listen to horse-drawn carolers that were making a tour of the Loop. The carols were sung by musicians on a wagon drawn by the famous six horse team of Wilson & Co. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

1934: Santa Claus arrived on State Street in a caravan of decorated trucks loaded with fresh items from retailers lining his path. It’s considered the very first Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago.

Deputy Coroner Joseph Tigerman inspects the charred lead car of a four-car "L" train after flames flashed through it as it traveled south past the Howard Street Station on Dec. 7, 1956, trapping and killing the motorman. (Jack Mulcahy/Chicago Tribune)
Deputy Coroner Joseph Tigerman inspects the charred lead car of a four-car "L" train after flames flashed through it as it traveled south past the Howard Street Station on Dec. 7, 1956, trapping and killing the motorman. (Jack Mulcahy/Chicago Tribune)

1956: One person was killed and 34 more were injured when a wooden CTA train caught fire and burned at the Howard Street station.

Th view looking eastward along the CTA elevated railway at the Indiana Avenue station on Dec. 7, 1966, after the two rear cars of the southbound train, traveling through steady rain, plunged off the tall structure. The other derailed car smashed a parked car when it fell near 40th Street and Indiana Avenue in Chicago. (Jack Mulcahy/Chicago Tribune)
Th view looking east along the CTA elevated railway at the Indiana Avenue Station on Dec. 7, 1966, after two rear cars of a southbound train, traveling through steady rain, plunged off the tall structure. The other derailed car smashed a parked car when it fell near 40th Street and Indiana Avenue in Chicago. (Jack Mulcahy/Chicago Tribune)

1966: Two people were killed and 25 others were injured when two cars of a CTA train derailed and fell to the ground near 40th Street and Indiana Avenue.

2006: While hospitalized for chest pains in Orlando, Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry signed pitcher Ted Lilly.

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich returns to his home after being sentenced to 14 years in his corruption trial on Dec. 7, 2011. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich returns to his home after being sentenced to 14 years in his corruption trial on Dec. 7, 2011. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

2011: A contrite former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison — the second-longest term ever delivered in federal court in Chicago for a public corruption case.

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Pardon me — Chicagoans who received clemency from a US president

President Donald Trump, convicted of felonies himself, commuted Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence to about eight years served on Feb. 18, 2020.

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