Rising Star

by David J. Garrow

  28. “Senate Democratic FY ’01 Member Project Authorization Form,” 28 July and 9, 17, and 31 August 2000, Illinois DCEO FOIA; “$2 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for Chicago,” Illinois Governor’s Office Press Release, 30 January 2001 ($450,000 for Kennedy-King); Leon Tripplett, “Obama Talks Education and Politics with Chamber,” HPH, 2 August 2000, p. 6; Chinta Strausberg, “Predatory Lending Reform Near,” CD, 10 August 2000, p. 1; Joe Ruklick, “Obama Pushes to Eliminate Mortgage Loan Sharks,” CD, 14 August 2000, p. 3; Billy Poorten, “State Sen. Obama Targets Predatory Lending Rules,” HPH, 16 August 2000, p. 2; “Assembly Urged to Aid Affordable Housing,” JHN, 16 August 2000; Monique Smith, “City and State Reps. Go After Predatory Mortgage Loans,” HPH, 6 September 2000, pp. 1–2; Kyriaki Venetis, “Senator Seeks New Rules,” Origination News, October 2000, p. 12; Smith, “Ald. Hairston Lobbies for Drug Bill in Washington,” HPH, 4 October 2000, p. 2; Malcolm Bush and Daniel Immergluck, “Research, Advocacy, and Community Reinvestment,” in Gregory D. Squires, ed., Organizing Access to Capital (Temple University Press, 2003), pp. 154–68; Jennifer Loven, “Illinois Democrats Wishing for Durbin Gubernatorial Bid,” AP, 14 August 2000; JCAR Minutes, 15 August 2000 (Obama absent); Monique Smith, “Fresh Off Election Year, State Legislators Ring It Up,” HPH, 16 August 2000, p. 3; Obama, commencement address at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, 2 June 2006; Obama, TAOH, pp. 354–55; Christi Parsons, “Michelle Obama’s Mission,” CT, 20 April 2008; “Senator Barack Obama Issues Committee Meeting,” 21 August 2000; Dan Shomon e-mail to Andrew Gruber et al., “Obama Issues Committee—Update!,” 10 September 2000, Will Burns e-mail to Shomon, 11 September 2000, Gruber e-mail to Shomon, “Issues Committee,” 22 September 2000, and Shomon e-mail to Gruber, 29 September 2000, all AGP; Friends of Barack Obama, Form D-2, Report of Campaign Contributions and Expenditures, 1 July–31 December 2000, 31 January 2001; Ruiz in Robin I. Mordfin, “From the Green Lounge to the White House,” UCLS Record, Spring 2009, pp. 2–9; DJG interviews with Jesse Ruiz, John Rogers Jr., Rob and Lisa Fisher, Julius Genachowski, Hasan Chandoo, James Clayborne, Dan Shomon, Will Burns, Andrew Gruber, Mike Marrs, and Bill Fuhry.

  29. JCAR Minutes, 19 September 2000; Obama, “Education First; Funding Key to Property Tax Reform,” HPH, 27 September 2000, p. 4; Robin Washington, “Civil Rights Lawyers Honored,” Boston Herald, 24 September 2000, p. 7; Lewis Rice, “School Hosts First Celebration of Black Alumni,” Harvard Law Bulletin, Fall 2000; [Sandy O’Donnell], “Hope Center Retreat: Notes on Discussion on Purposes, Identity, Niche, and the Mission of the Hope Center Going Forward,” 30 September 2000, “Proposal for the ‘New’ Hope Center’s Identity, Niche, Purposes,” n.d. [post 30 September 2000], SOP; UCLS Announcements 2000–01, pp. 40, 45; UCLS, The Glass Menagerie 2000–01, esp. p. 19; “Constitutional Law III Prof. Obama—Autumn 2000 Syllabus,” Martin Chester Papers; Obama, Constitutional Law III Final Examination, December 2000; “Current Issues in Racism and the Law—Fall 2000,” Peter Steffen Papers; Jodi Kantor, “Barack Obama, Forever Sizing Up,” NYT, 26 October 2008; DJG interviews with Kenny Smith, Cynthia Miller, Will Burns, John Eason, Sokoni Karanja, Marty Chester, Daniel Lin, Stacy Monahan Tucker, Peter Steffen, Dan Sokol, and Rachael Pontikes.

  30. “Senate Democrat FY 01 Member Project Authorization Form,” 19 September and 4 October 2000, Illinois DCEO FOIA; “Ryan: $215,000 in Illinois FIRST Projects for Chicago’s Southeast Side,” 13 October 2000, “Ryan: $1.4 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for Chicago South,” 31 October 2000, “$1.5 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for South Chicago,” 20 November 2000, “Ryan: $1.4 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for Chicago,” 29 November 2000, “$1.7 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for Chicago,” 15 December 2000, Illinois Governor’s Office Press Releases; “Currie, Obama Bring It Home,” HPH, 29 November 2000, p. 3; “Senate Democrat FY 01 Member Project Authorization Form,” 19 December 2000, Illinois DCEO FOIA; “$2 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for Chicago,” Illinois Governor’s Office Press Release, 30 January 2001 ($100,000 for the Englewood Botanical Garden); Kenny B. Smith to Carla Needham, 31 December 2002, Smith to Paula Vehovic, 14 October 2003, Illinois DCEO FOIA; Obama for Congress 2000, FEC Form 3, Report of Receipts and Disbursements, 1 October–31 December 2000, 22 November 2002 (five 7 October donors: Margaret A. Davis, J. Archie Hargraves, Fred Morrison, Shirley Newman, and Alvin Shields); “$5.6 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for Chicago,” Illinois Governor’s Office Press Release, 28 February 2001 (including $75,000 to FORUM “to provide infrastructure, training and support maintenance for computer technology and internet access for inner city, low income families”); Ray Gibson and David Jackson, “State Pork to Obama’s District Included Allies, Donors,” CT, 3 May 2007; Dan Morain, “Obama: A Fresh Face or an Old-School Tactician,” LAT, 8 September 2007; Christopher Wills, “Obama Says Illinois Earmarks Are Public,” AP, 13 March 2008; Chris Fusco and Dave McKinney, “Obama’s $100,000 Garden Grant Wasted,” CST, 11 July 2008; Bob Secter and Gibson, “Obama Has Long Backed Faith Charities,” CT, 12 July 2008; Chris Fusco et al., “Obama’s Goodie Bag,” CST, 17 July 2008, p. 9; Fusco and McKinney, “Obama Grant Being Probed,” CST, 25 September 2008; DJG interview with Dan Shomon.

  31. CF, 29 September 2000, Congressional Record, 4 and 5 October 2000, pp. S9800–08, 9812, 9814–15, 9818–20, 9896–98; Mike Dorning, “Library Feud Spurs Fitzgerald Filibuster,” CT, 5 October 2000; Steve Rhodes, “Party Pooper,” Chicago Magazine, May 2001, pp. 98–101, 120–26; Geoffrey Johnson, “The Lincoln Crusade,” Chicago Magazine, April 2005; Obama, Youth Government Day address, Southern Illinois University, 21 October 2000; Simon to Obama, 26 October 2000, PSP.

  32. JCAR Minutes, 17 October 2000; [Will Burns] to Senator Obama Issues Committee, “Education Policy,” 17 October 2000, “Obama Issues Committee Meeting,” 18 October 2000, Fran Tobin e-mail to Leslie Corbett, “Obama Issues Committee,” 19 October 2000, Tracy Occomy e-mail to Corbett, “Obama Issues Committee,” 23 October 2000, all AGP; Obama, “By George, Gore and Bush Are Different,” HPH, 1 November 2000; “Around Town,” CDLB, 19 October 2000, p. 3; “In the Law Schools,” CDLB, 1 November 2000, p. 3; CARPLS Annual Meeting 2000, 2 November 2000, CARPLS Papers; Bonnie McGrath, “After Hours,” CDLB, 14 November 2000, p. 3; Bill Fuhry e-mail to Dan Shomon and Obama, “Issues,” 3 November 2000, AGP; “DCP 14th Annual Victory Convention” sign-in sheet, 3 November 2000; Chicago Tonight, WTTW, 6 November 2000; John R. Weinberger e-mail to Shomon, “Obama Issues,” 9 November 2000, AGP; Chicago Tonight, WTTW, 13 November 2000; Andrew Gruber e-mail to Shomon, “Obama Issues Committee Meeting,” 13 November 2000, Burns e-mail to Shomon, 14 November 2000, AGP; JCAR Minutes, 14 November 2000; Dean Olsen, “Proposal to Halt Payday Loan Abuses Blocked,” SJ-R, 15 November 2000, p. 28; “Obama Issues Committee Meeting,” 15 November 2000, AGP; Senate Floor Transcript, 15 November 2000, pp. 2 (SJR 75), 5–28 (SB 1426), 51–61 (SB 1867); Woods Fund of Chicago, 1999 Annual Report, pp. 4–6; Paul Merrion, “Taxpayer Champion Emerges,” CCB, 27 November 1999; Senate Floor Transcript, 30 November 2000, pp. 7–8 (HB 1511), 8–14 (HB 1991 passes 51–3–1 and is signed into law 11 January 2001 as PA-91-0937); Joe Biesk, “New Law Extends Life of Economic Enterprise Zones,” CT, 12 January 2001; CF, 1 December 2000; Stephen S. Morrill, “Client Report for 2000 Veto Session,” Morrill and Associates, December 2000; Billy Poorten, “Local Officials Vote ‘Yea’ on Soldier Field Plan,” HPH, 6 December 2000, p. 3; “General Assembly Maintains Status Quo,” C-WR 16 #6, 8 December 2000, p. 2; Chicago Tonight, WTTW, 8 December 2000; “Loan Battle Brews Anew,” CCB, 11 December 2000, p. 4; JCAR Minutes, 12 December 2000; Shomon e-mail to Gruber et al., “Obama Issues Committee Meeting,” 12 December 2000, AGP; CAC Board of Directors Minutes, 14 December 2000; “Veto Session Wrap Up,” C-WR 16 #7, 15 December 2000, p. 2; Melissa Allison, “State Takes on Predatory Lending,” CT, 15 December 2000; Randy Blaser, “Payday Loan Rules Go Back to Legislature,” Lake Zurich Courier, 21 December 2000 (and eleven additional newspapers, 21
December 2000 through 4 January 2001); JCAR 1997–2001 Annual Reports, ca. 2002, p. 69; [Debbie] Lounsberry, “Barack Obama—The Record: A Summary,” 10 May 2004, p. 4, JRORF (highlighting above all other Senate floor votes Obama’s voting present on HB 1511, a tougher-sentencing measure, which passed 54–2–2, on 30 November 2000); Nesbitt in Kevin McDermott, “Unlikely Competitors: Years as Outsider Gave Obama the Ability to Relate, Friends Say,” SLPD, 24 October 2004, p. A1, in Mendell, Obama, pp. 151–54, and in Wolffe, Renegade, pp. 122, 330; DJG interviews with Dan Shomon, Andrew Boron, Judy Byrd, Bernardine Dohrn, James Clayborne, Ray Harris, Steven Mange, Will Burns, Warren Chain, Leslie Corbett, Mike Marrs, Bill Fuhry, Desta Houston, and Lisa Madigan.

  33. Scott Lynch-Giddings diary entry, 15 December 2000; Melissa M. Bernardoni, “Robinson to Lead Diversity Affairs,” GSB Magazine, Winter 2000; James B. Arndorfer, “Minority Funds Seek More Pension Work,” CCB, 26 March 2001, p. 58; Jim Reynolds to Robert Newtson, 11 June 2001, ISBI Papers; Hermene D. Hartman, “Barack and Black Enterprise,” N’Digo, 7–13 June 2007, p. 3; Obama, remarks at National Urban League Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO, 27 July 2007; Christopher Drew and Raymond Hernandez, “Loyal Network Backs Obama After His Help,” NYT, 1 October 2007; Hartman, “Barack’s Friends Were ABLE!,” and Reynolds in David Smallwood, “Genesis of the Grassroots Movement,” N’Digo Profiles, December 2008, pp. 10–11, 44; Obama for Congress 2000, FEC Candidate Summary Report, 31 December 2000; Todd Spivak, “No Money? State Reps Say It’s No Sweat,” HPH, 21 February 2001, pp. 1–2; Chuck Neubauer and Tom Hamburger, “Obama Donor Received a State Grant,” LAT, 27 April 2008; Peoria Public Schools, Staff News Weekly, 4 February 2009, p. 1; Raoul V. Mowatt, “Sport of Table Tennis Gets a Local Spin,” CT, 2 January 2003; Robert Blackwell Jr.’s 2012 interview with John Page; DJG interviews with Scott Lynch-Giddings, David Wilhelm, David Spiegel, Hermene Hartman, Janis Robinson, John Rogers Jr., Stephen Pugh, Eugene Morris, Les Coney, Martin King, Dan Shomon, Mike Lieteau, Carol Harwell, John Schmidt, Robert Blackwell Jr., and Raja Krishnamoorthi.

  34. Dave McKinney, “Partisan Rumble,” II, January 2001, pp. 12–28; UCLS Announcements 2000–01, p. 84; JCAR Minutes, 9 January 2001; Dean Olsen, “Lawmakers Slow Down Ruling for Special Education Changes,” SJ-R, 10 January 2001, p. 6; Corey H. v. Board of Education, 995 F. Supp. 900, 903, 912 (N. D. Ill.), 19 February 1998; Michael Martinez, “State Board Ripped Over Disabled Kids,” CT, 24 February 1998; Stephanie Banchero, “State Board OKs Special-Ed Change,” CT, 17 March 2000; Banchero, “State Appeals U.S. Ruling on Special Education,” CT, 13 October 2000; Order, Corey H. v. Board of Education, 27 February 2001; Reid L. v. Illinois State Board of Education, 289 F. 3d 1009 (7th Cir.), 13 May 2002; CF, 10 (noting a $10,000 annual increase in Senate district office allotments), 11 and 12 January 2001; Senate Floor Transcript, 10 January 2001, pp. 11–12 and 24; John S. Sharp, “New Rules for DUI Blood Test Approved by Legislative Panel,” CDH, 11 January 2001, p. 10; JCAR Minutes, 11 January 2001; James Fuller, “Bill Would Inform Voters How to Fix Ballot Mistakes,” CST, 15 January 2001, p. 12; Obama, “How to Keep Cool Over the Rising Heating Costs,” HPH, 17 January 2001, p. 4; Barbara Sherlock, “Legislators, Groups Praise Fight Against Predatory Lending,” CT, 11 March 2001; “Leadership and Committee Assignments,” C-WR 16 #8, 19 March 2001; Jodi Kantor, “As Professor, Obama Held Pragmatic Views on Court,” NYT, 3 May 2009; DJG interviews with Kristen Seeger, Nathaniel Edmonds, Alleza Strubel, Mark Warnick, Denny Jacobs, John Cullerton, and Miguel del Valle.

  35. Chicago Tonight, WTTW, 17 January 2001; Gretchen Helfrich, “The Court and Civil Rights,” Odyssey, WBEZ Radio, 18 January 2001; Jane R. Patterson and Michael L. Mory to Governor George H. Ryan and Members of the General Assembly, “Report on Emerging Investment Managers Fiscal Year 2000,” 31 August 2000, “Presentation of Requests to Jane Patterson, Executive Director,” 20 December 2000, “Presentation of Requests to the Illinois State Board of Investment by African-American Owned Investment Management and Broker/Dealer Securities Firms,” [19 January 2001], Joseph P. Cacciatore, Minutes, Illinois State Board of Investment, 19 January 2001, Keith Cardoza to Board Members, “Minority Brokers and Money Managers,” 21 February 2001, ISBI Papers; Keith Bozarth, “Minutes of the Investment Committee,” and Bozarth, “Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees,” Teachers’ Retirement System, 15–16 February 2001, TRSI Papers; Obama’s remarks at the National Urban League Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO, 27 July 2007. On WTTW, Barack also volunteered that “I, for example, don’t agree with a missile defense system.”

  36. Chinta Strausberg, “Vouchers Will Hurt Public Schools,” CD, 24 January 2001, p. 1; Dan Shomon e-mail to Andrew Gruber, “Draft Release,” 26 January 2001, AGP; Curtis Lawrence and Scott Fornek, “After Washington, Several Figures Fill Political Voice,” CST, 28 January 2001, p. 11; “Obama, Aldermen Announce State Legislation to Guarantee Faster Assistance for Laid-Off Workers,” Press Release, 28 January 2001, AGP; Strausberg, “Sen. Obama Bill to Aid Laid-Off Workers,” CD, 29 January 2001, p. 3; Courtney Challos, “Legislators Pushing Plan to Aid Unemployed,” CT, 29 January 2001; “Bills Would Aid Laid-Off Workers,” CST, 29 January 2001, p. 16; Shomon to Cheryl Howard (Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence) and Tom Mannard and Chris Boyster (Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence), “Legislation on Gun Control and Domestic Violence,” 30 January 2001, AGP; Senate Floor Transcript, 31 January 2001, pp. 6–7 (Obama introducing SBs 33, 41, 51, 59, 61, and 62); AP, “Reactions to Ryan’s Address,” 31 January 2001; Senate Floor Transcript, 1 February 2001, p. 3 (Obama introducing SBs 123, 124, 125, and 126); Pam Belluck, “Illinois Governor Dogged by Inquiry into Corruption,” NYT, 3 February 2001; Steve Neal, “Battle for Attorney General’s Office Already Taking Shape,” CST, 5 February 2001, p. 29; Barbara Flynn Currie, Leslie Hairston, Barack Obama, and Toni Preckwinkle, “No Secret Meetings Here!,” HPH, 7 February 2001, p. 4; Henry Bayer (AFSCME) to Illinois State Board of Investment, 9 February 2001, ISBIP; Shomon e-mail to Gruber and Gruber e-mail to Shomon, “Layoffs,” 13 February 2001, AGP; Obama and Preckwinkle, “State Government Must Protect Laid-Off Workers,” HPH, 14 February 2001, p. 4; Gruber e-mail to Shomon, “WARN,” 28 February 2001, AGP; Lisa B. Song, “Senate Democrats Seek to Close Gun Loopholes,” CT, 14 February 2001; Sean Noble, “Senate Democrats’ Proposals Take Aim at Weapons Control,” SJ-R, 15 February 2001, p. 7; Richard Goldstein, “Florida Election Fallout Still Being Heard,” QCT, 19 February 2001 and as “Funding May Derail State Election Reform,” DHR, 20 February 2001, p. A1; Strausberg, “Jones, Obama Dare Pate to Bring Gun Bill to Floor,” CD, 20 February 2001, p. 6; CF, 21 February and 7 March 2001; Obama’s February 2001 interview with Julieanna Richardson; Baim, Obama and the Gays, pp. 13, 194. To Richardson, Barack further asserted, “I think that the civil rights movement probably had the biggest influence on my life, the participants in that. Not just Dr. King or Malcolm X, but Bob Moses and Fannie Lou Hamer and Rosa Parks and E. D. Nixon.”

  37. “Obama, Davis, Leading Pastors Announce Legislation to Study Racial Profiling in Illinois,” Obama Staff Press Release, 19 February 2001; Chinta Strausberg, “End Racial Profiling,” CD, 20 February 2001, p. 1; Senate Floor Transcript, 20 February 2001, pp. 10, 17 (Obama introducing SBs 266 and 375); JCAR Minutes, 21 February 2001; Order, Corey H. v. Board of Education, 27 February 2001; Sean Noble and Dean Olsen, “Judge Allows Hearings on Changes in Training, Work of Special-Ed Teachers,” SJ-R, 28 February 2001, p. 26; Reid L. v. Illinois State Board of Education, 289 F. 3d. 1009 (7th Cir.), 13 May 2002; Senate Floor Transcript, 21 February 2001, pp. 8, 11, 22 (Obama introducing SBs 578, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, and 801); Senate Floor Transcript, 22 February 2001, pp. 2, 16, 31–32 (Obama introducing SBs 893, 894, 1111, 1112, 1322, and 1338); Bridget M. Kuhn, “KidCare Becomes a Healthy Success,” DS, 26 January 2000, p. A3; Strausberg, “Ryan Urges Lawmakers to OK Health, Heating Bill,” CD, 27 February 2001, p. 8; Gretchen Helfrich, “The Right to Vote,” Odyssey, WBEZ Radio, 27
February 2001; Todd Spivak, “Obama Lobbies for State Racial Profiling Legislation,” HPH, 28 February 2001, pp. 1–2; Strausberg, “No Gambling at O’Hare,” CD, 28 February 2001, p. 3; Senate Floor Transcript, 28 February 2001, pp. 11–35 (SR 63 adopted 35–22) and 35 (Obama introducing SJR 14); CF, 1 March 2001; Rick Pearson, “Some See a Hidden Motive in Philip’s Bipartisan Move,” CT, 1 March 2001; “Senate Democrat FY 01 Member Project Authorization Form,” 2 March 2001, DCEO Papers FOIA; “Obama ‘Booked for Lunch,’” SJ-R, 4 March 2001, p. 45; Obama remarks, Illinois State Library, 7 March 2001; Daniel C. Vock, “Panel Votes to End Defense of Intoxication,” CDLB, [8] March 2001, pp. 1, 22; Monica Davey and E. A. Torriero, “Jackson Group Defends Its Links to State Grant,” CT, 17 March 2001; Pearson, “State Hopefuls Test Waters for 2002 Primary,” CT, 19 March 2001; “On the Air,” CDLB, 19 March 2001, p. 3; JCAR Minutes, 20 March 2001; DJG interviews with Brad Burzynski, Beverly Helm-Renfro, David Wilhelm, and Scott Kennedy.