Leaders From Illinois

An actor turned union leader turned politician, Ronald Wilson Reagan served as the 40th president of America. Hailed for his public speaking and communication skills, Reagan is one of the most popular Presidents of USA, mainly due to his ‘America First’ economic policies which led to a decrease in inflation and unemployment rates during his tenure.

Lawyer Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, served as the U.S. Secretary of War from 1881 to 1885 and as the U.S. minister to the U.K. from 1889 to 1893. He had served in the Civil War, too, and had also been the president of the Pullman Car Company. 

Betty Ford served as the First Lady of the US from 1974 to 1977. One of the most popular First Ladies in history, Ford was a passionate supporter of abortion rights and worked towards raising breast cancer awareness. She commented on topics like sex, drugs, abortion, and equal pay. In 1991, she was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Rick Scott is an American politician. Since 2019, Scott has been serving as the US senator from Florida. Even before becoming the senator, Scott had a major impact on Florida, serving as its 45th governor from 2011 to 2019. Scott, who had a great start to his career, was named among America's 25 Most Influential People by Time in 1996. 

Herbert Sobel was an American military man who commanded Easy Company during World War II. Although he played a key role during the war, Sobel was despised by his soldiers due to his arrogance. In the 2001 war drama miniseries Band of Brothers, Herbert Sobel was portrayed by David Schwimmer.

James Stockdale was an American aviator and US Navy vice admiral. He is best remembered for his time spent as a prisoner of war for more than seven years during the Vietnam War. His efforts during the war earned him the Medal of Honor. In 2002, James Stockdale was made an inductee of the National Aviation Hall of Fame. 

George Lincoln Rockwell was an American politician. A neo-Nazi, Rockwell was discharged from the US Navy due to his political views. He denied the Holocaust and considered Hitler 'the White savior of the 20th century'. He also joined hands with other neo-Nazi groups and led the World Union of National Socialists. He is credited with founding the American Nazi Party.

Rahm Emanuel served as the Chicago mayor from 2011 to 2019 and as the White House chief of staff, under Barack Obama, from 2009 to 2010. He has also been a U.S. representative from Chicago earlier. His aggressive and no-nonsense style has earned him the nickname "Rahmbo.”

William M. Daley is an American politician, lawyer, and former banker. He is best known for his service as the White House Chief of Staff from 2011 to 2012 when Barack Obama was the President. William M. Daley also served as the US Secretary of Commerce from 1997 to 2000.

Penny Pritzke belongs to the influential Pritzker business family of Chicago and is the daughter of Hyatt co-founder Donald Pritzker. While she initially joined her family business and co-founded ventures such as the Pritzker Realty Group and PSP Partners, she later also served as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

Married to former US president, Bill Clinton, Hilary Clinton served as the First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Thereafter, she became the first First Lady to hold US senator office. The former Secretary of State in the administration of Barrack Obama also fought and lost, as a Democratic nominee, the 2016 presidential election against Donald Trump.