Leaders From Illinois

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Illinois has produced a number of Leaders who have made it big. These include Ronald Reagan, Hillary Clinton, Robert Todd Lincoln, Rick Scott, Rahm Emanuel and others.
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 1 
Ronald Reagan
(40th President of the United States (1981-1989))
Ronald Reagan
177
Birthdate: February 6, 1911
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Died: June 5, 2004

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.

 2 
Robert Todd Lincoln
(35th United States Secretary of War & Son of Abraham Lincoln)
Robert Todd Lincoln
4
Birthdate: August 1, 1843
Sun Sign: Leo
Died: July 25, 1926

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

 3 
Betty Ford
(Former First Lady of the United States)
Betty Ford
5
Birthdate: April 8, 1918
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: July 8, 2011

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.

 4 
Rick Scott
(45th Governor of Florida)
Rick Scott
13
Birthdate: December 1, 1952
Sun Sign: Sagittarius

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. 

 5 
William Jennings Bryan
(41st United States Secretary of State (1913 - 1915))
William Jennings Bryan
9
Birthdate: March 19, 1860
Sun Sign: Pisces
Died: July 26, 1925
William Jennings Bryan had served as the U.S. secretary of state under President Woodrow Wilson and had also been the U.S. representative from Nebraska's 1st district. He ran for president thrice, though unsuccessfully. He also banned the teaching of evolution in schools, leading to the Scopes Monkey Trial.
 6 
Herbert Sobel
(U.S. Army Officer)
Herbert Sobel
10
Birthdate: January 26, 1912
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Died: September 30, 1987

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.

 7 
Paul Tibbets
4
Birthdate: February 23, 1915
Sun Sign: Pisces
Died: November 1, 2007
 8 
Wesley Clark
(General)
Wesley Clark
5
Birthdate: December 23, 1944
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 9 
Bruce Rauner
(42nd Governor of Illinois)
Bruce Rauner
4
Birthdate: February 18, 1957
Sun Sign: Aquarius
 10 
James Stockdale
(US Navy Vice Admiral & Aviator Who was Prisoner of War for Over Seven Years in the Vietnam War)
James Stockdale
4
Birthdate: December 23, 1923
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Died: July 5, 2005

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. 

 11 
Pete Wilson
(Political Leader)
Pete Wilson
4
Birthdate: August 23, 1933
Sun Sign: Virgo
 12 
Jill Stein
(Member of the Lexington Town Meeting from the 2nd Precinct (2005 - 2010))
Jill Stein
10
Birthdate: May 14, 1950
Sun Sign: Taurus
Jill Stein is a physician who later became the presidential nominee for the Green Party in the 2012 and 2016 elections. She has also been the Green-Rainbow Party's candidate for the governorship of Massachusetts in 2002 and 2010. She believed in the Green New Deal, including climate change reforms.
 13 
Donald Rumsfeld
(Former US Secretary Secretary of Defense)
Donald Rumsfeld
11
Birthdate: July 9, 1932
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: June 29, 2021
Donald Rumsfeld served as Secretary of Defence under Gerald Ford, and George W. Bush. He was both the youngest and the oldest secretary of defence. Rumsfeld worked as U.S. Ambassador to NATO, White House Chief of Staff, U.S. Congressman, and CEO of two companies. He played a central role in the American invasion of Afghanistan and invasion of Iraq.
 14 
Arne Duncan
(United States Secretary of Education (2009-16))
Arne Duncan
4
Birthdate: November 6, 1964
Sun Sign: Scorpio
 15 
Jon Corzine
(Politician)
Jon Corzine
3
Birthdate: January 1, 1947
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 16 
Rod Blagojevich
(40th Governor of Illinois)
Rod Blagojevich
5
Birthdate: December 10, 1956
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
 17 
Dennis Hastert
(Politician)
Dennis Hastert
5
Birthdate: January 2, 1942
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 18 
Dick Durbin
(Politician)
Dick Durbin
5
Birthdate: November 21, 1944
Sun Sign: Scorpio
 19 
Adam Kinzinger
(Politician)
Adam Kinzinger
9
Birthdate: February 27, 1978
Sun Sign: Pisces
 20 
Carol Moseley Braun
(politician, diplomat, prosecutor, lawyer)
Carol Moseley Braun
4
Birthdate: August 16, 1947
Sun Sign: Leo
 21 
George Lincoln Rockwell
(American Far-right Political Activist and Commander of the American Nazi Party (1959 - 1967))
George Lincoln Rockwell
8
Birthdate: March 9, 1918
Sun Sign: Pisces
Died: August 25, 1967

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.

 22 
Deval Patrick
(Politician)
Deval Patrick
4
Birthdate: July 31, 1956
Sun Sign: Leo
 23 
Michael Madigan
(Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1971-2021))
Michael Madigan
3
Birthdate: April 19, 1942
Sun Sign: Aries
 24 
Black Hawk
(Military Leader during the Black Hawk War of 1832)
Black Hawk
3
Birthdate: 1767 AD
Died: October 3, 1838
 25 
Rahm Emanuel
(31st United States Ambassador to Japan)
Rahm Emanuel
12
Birthdate: November 29, 1959
Sun Sign: Sagittarius

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.”

 26 
Bill Cassidy
(Politician)
Bill Cassidy
4
Birthdate: September 28, 1957
Sun Sign: Libra
 27 
William M. Daley
(White House Chief of Staff from 2011 to 2012)
William M. Daley
3
Birthdate: August 9, 1948
Sun Sign: Leo

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.

 28 
John Ashcroft
(Politician)
John Ashcroft
4
Birthdate: May 9, 1942
Sun Sign: Taurus
 29 
Joe J. Walsh
(Politician)
Joe J. Walsh
4
Birthdate: December 27, 1961
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 30 
Richard M. Daley
(Politician)
Richard M. Daley
3
Birthdate: April 24, 1942
Sun Sign: Taurus
 31 
Richard J. Daley
(Former Mayor of Chicago)
Richard J. Daley
4
Birthdate: May 15, 1902
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: December 20, 1976
 32 
Jo Jorgensen
(Libertarian Party's nominee for president of the United States in the 2020 election)
Jo Jorgensen
0
Birthdate: May 1, 1957
Sun Sign: Taurus
 33 
Everett Dirksen
(Former U.S. Senator)
Everett Dirksen
3
Birthdate: January 4, 1896
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Died: September 7, 1969
 34 
Penny Pritzker
(38th United States Secretary of Commerce (2013 - 2017))
Penny Pritzker
3
Birthdate: May 2, 1959
Sun Sign: Taurus

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.

 35 
Mark Kirk
(Politician)
Mark Kirk
3
Birthdate: September 15, 1959
Sun Sign: Virgo
 36 
Luis Gutierrez
(Politician)
Luis Gutierrez
3
Birthdate: December 10, 1953
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
 37 
Hillary Clinton
(Former First Lady, 67th United States Secretary of State)
Hillary Clinton
118
Birthdate: October 26, 1947
Sun Sign: Scorpio

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.

 38 
Jane Byrne
(Mayor)
Jane Byrne
3
Birthdate: May 24, 1933
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: November 14, 2014
 39 
Rhymefest
(Rapper known for his prominent songwriting credits include co–writing Kanye West's)
Rhymefest
4
Birthdate: July 6, 1977
Sun Sign: Cancer
 40 
William S. Paley
(Executive)
William S. Paley
3
Birthdate: September 28, 1901
Sun Sign: Libra
Died: October 26, 1990
 41 
Michelle Wu
(55th Mayor of Boston)
Michelle Wu
0
Birthdate: January 14, 1985
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 42 
William Proxmire
(Politician)
William Proxmire
3
Birthdate: November 11, 1915
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died: December 15, 2005
 43 
William E. Borah
(United States Senator)
William E. Borah
3
Birthdate: June 29, 1865
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: January 19, 1940
 44 
Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
(Politician who represented Wisconsin's 5th congressional district in the US House of Representatives)
Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
3
Birthdate: June 14, 1943
Sun Sign: Gemini
 45 
Henry John Hyde
(Politician)
Henry John Hyde
3
Birthdate: April 18, 1924
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: November 29, 2007
 46 
Ray LaHood
(Politician)
Ray LaHood
3
Birthdate: December 6, 1945
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
 47 
Janet Jagan
(Politician)
Janet Jagan
2
Birthdate: October 20, 1920
Sun Sign: Libra
Died: March 28, 2009
 48 
James R. Thompson
(Lawyer, Politician)
James R. Thompson
4
Birthdate: May 8, 1936
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: August 14, 2020
 49 
Jesse White
(Politician, Baseball player)
Jesse White
0
Birthdate: June 23, 1934
Sun Sign: Cancer
 50 
Patricia Roberts Harris
(Former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development)
Patricia Roberts Harris
2
Birthdate: May 31, 1924
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: March 23, 1985