Neil Hartigan
General Counsel to the Governor of Illinois
Incumbent
Assumed office January 7, 2020
Governor	J.B. Pritzker
Preceded by	Lloyd Peters
Judge of the Illinois Court of Claims
In office May 2, 2013 – July 22, 2019
Appointed by	Pat Quinn
Preceded by	Norma F. Jann
Succeeded by	Paul Morgan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 5th district
In office December 23, 2008 – April 3, 2009 (acting)
Appointed by	Rod Blagojevich
Preceded by	Rahm Emanuel
Succeeded by	Mike Quigley
Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court for the First District
In office December 2, 2002 – June 1, 2004
Preceded by	Robert Chapman Buckley
Succeeded by	P. Scott Neville Jr.
Attorney for The City of Chicago
In office January 1, 1994 – August 14, 2001
Appointed by	Richard M. Daley
Preceded by	Vacant
Succeeded by	Office Abolished
38th Attorney General of Illinois
In office January 12, 1983 – January 14, 1991
Governor	James R. Thompson
Preceded by	Tyrone C. Fahner
Succeeded by	Roland Burris
40th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
In office January 8, 1973 – January 10, 1977
Governor	Daniel Walker
Preceded by	Paul Simon
Succeeded by	Dave O'Neal
13th Chief of Staff to The Mayor of Chicago
In office June 4, 1967 – January 8, 1973
Appointed by	Mayor Richard J. Daley
Personal details
Born	(1938-05-04) May 4, 1938 (age 83) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Marge Dunne
Education	Georgetown University (B.S.) Loyola University (J.D.) University of Notre Dame

Neil Hartigan

University of Notre Dame – No. 84
Position	Tight end
Class	1956-1960
Major	Law

Neil F. Hartigan (born May 4, 1938) is an American lawyer, politician, and former collegiate football player from Illinois. He served as the Attorney General of Illinois, the 40th Lieutenant Governor, and a justice of the Illinois Appellate Court who also served as a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives after the resignation of Rahm Emanuel. Hartigan was also the Democratic nominee for governor in 1990, but lost the close race to Republican Jim Edgar. Hartigan currently serves as the General Counsel to The Governor of Illinois. Hartigan is a famous moderate Democrat from Illinois.

Background and Collegiate Football Career[]

Hartigan grew up poor in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, in an Irish Catholic family. His father David was Alderman of the 49th Ward.^[1] Hartigan graduated from Loyola Academy. After high school, Hartigan attended University of Notre Dame and their undergraduate law program. At Notre Dame, he played Tight End from 1956 to 1960. Hartigan only recorded 2 touchdowns during his years with Notre Dame.

Upon graduation, He went on to attend and graduate from Georgetown University^[2] in Washington, D.C. with a bachelor's degree. He received a juris doctor degree from Loyola University College of Law^[3] in 1966.

Upon completion of law school Hartigan worked for a couple years for the city of Chicago. Besides serving as Chief of Staff to The Mayor of Chicago, he also served in various roles: as the city's legislative counsel in Springfield, as attorney for the Chicago Board of Health and as general counsel for the Chicago Park District. Hartigan was elected the Democratic Committeeman for the 49th ward in 1968 and served in the position until stepping down in 1980. Former state legislator defeated Hartigan's choice, Cook County Treasurer Edward J. Rosewell in the Democratic primary.

The Hartigan Group[]

In 1969, Hartigan founded a law firm named The Hartigan Group. Despite holding political office, Hartigan was still quite poor, so the law firm started out of a janitor’s closet in Downtown Chicago. In 1971, Hartigan worked a deal with his boss, Mayor Richard J. Daley, to have The Hartigan Group do legal work for The City of Chicago. At that time, the company only had 3 employees (including Hartigan). In the next 10 years, the company expanded to 50 employees, took on major clients, and Hartigan transitioned to a more administrative role.^[4]

During his first run for Attorney General in 1982, the company had 102 employees and 256 clients. After his election to that office, Hartigan stepped down as CEO of The Hartigan Group but remained President and sole owner of the company.

By 1989, the Hartigan Group was the fourth largest law firm in Chicago and had 288 employees with 1,356 clients. Citing his political ambitions, Hartigan stepped down as President of the board in 1990. Hartigan controversially received a 230,000 dollar check for his retirement from the board.^[2]

In 1992, Hartigan sold 32% of the company to a group of investors for an undisclosed price. That same year, Hartigan sold 11% of the company to future Governor and billionaire J.B. Pritzker. In 1995, Hartigan decided to sell the rest of his controlling interest (57%) to another regional law firm for 10 million dollars. The law firm bought out Pritzker and the other investors in 1996 and merged The Hartigan Group with the other firm.^[2]

Some critics contributed the law firm’s success to Hartigan’s political power. A formal complaint was made against Attorney General Hartigan in 1986 that he had used his political position and background as a college football player to intimidate companies and individuals into working with The Hartigan Group. A court investigated the claim a year later, in 1987, and found no illegal use of Hartigan’s power. A majority of Hartigan’s wealth today can be contributed to The Hartigan Group.

Lt. Governor of Illinois[]

In 1972, Hartigan, then Chief of Staff to The Mayor of Chicago, was selected as the running mate to the party's endorsed candidate, then-lieutenant governor Paul Simon. Hartigan’s sports background, charismatic demeanor, and moderate political views propelled him to the top. Simon lost the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to Dan Walker, while Hartigan beat Walker's hand-picked running mate, Carbondale mayor Neal Eckert. Walker and Hartigan won the general election, making Hartigan, at age 34, the youngest lieutenant governor in the nation. Following his election Time magazine named him as one of 200 future leaders of the country.

Hartigan, bolstered again by his likable image and moderate policies, won renomination in 1976, but Michael J. Howlett ousted Walker at the top of the ticket. In the general election James R. Thompson and Dave O'Neal soundly defeated the Democratic team of Howlett and Hartigan.

Post service as Lt. Governor of Illinois and Popularity[]

For a time, Hartigan left public life for the business world and his law firm. He returned in 1982, to run as Illinois attorney general. Running on a strong moderate platform made Hartigan not likely to win the Democratic nomination. However, Hartigan announced he would back some more progressive views if he won nomination. Hartigan went on to win Democratic support and win election as Illinois attorney general. In 1986, he briefly sought the Democratic nomination for governor but withdrew when Adlai Stevenson III entered the race. Hartigan then ran for reelection as attorney general, and won with the highest number of votes of any statewide office that year. A 1987 poll showed that Hartigan had a 93% approval rating; making him the most liked state politician in the United States that year.

During his extreme popularity, he was drafted to run for Mayor of Chicago. Polls even indicated that Hartigan was likely to win the Democratic nomination. However, Hartigan made a speech saying he would not actively pursue the mayors office. Despite not officially running a campaign, Hartigan still received 2% of the vote in the Democratic primary for Mayor of Chicago.

In 1988, a group called People for Hartigan was established to again draft Neil Hartigan into political office. Hartigan again said he only wanted to be Attorney General and wouldn’t accept election to any other office. Hartigan’s popularity was so strong, he preformed very well. In the races he was drafted on the ballot: he won 2% of the vote for U.S. Congressman in Illinois 5th District and 22% of the vote for a seat on the Cook County Court.

Hartigan was finally pushed to run for higher office in 1990. When announcing his run for Governor, Hartigan stated that the “will and love of the people have Illinois have compelled me to run for this office and work to change it”. Hartigan won the Democratic nomination for Illinois Governor easily. During the race, it was predicted that Hartigan would win the governorship with 65% of the vote. However, the Republican’s painting of Hartigan as a machine politician worked. Hartigan was narrowly defeated in the General Election by Illinois Secretary of State Jim Edgar.

After the close loss and still strong popularity, Hartigan went into political retirement. Hartigan again was called into political office as City Attorney 3 years later by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Hartigan served for 7 years as the Attorney for The City of Chicago. As City Attorney, Hartigan played a role in prosecuting many gang members. While serving in this role, The Chicago Tribune called him “the most powerful man in Chicago behind the mayor”. His tough stance on law and his newfound influence in Chicago made him lose some of his popularity. A 1997 poll showed that only 52% of Chicagoans approved of his job compared to 66% when he first took that office. He stepped down from that role when it was abolished by The Chicago City Council in 2001. ^[5]

In 2002, Hartigan won election to the Illinois Appellate Court from the First District, which is composed of Cook County, Illinois to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Robert Chapman Buckley.^[6][7]

After two years, Hartigan chose to retire voluntarily from the bench. Hartigan's retirement date was June 1, 2004. He was succeeded by P. Scott Neville Jr.^[8]

Hartigan was a member of Hillary Clinton's Illinois Steering Committee and February 5 Rapid Responders.

After Rahm Emanuel joined the cabinet of Barack Obama, Governor Blagojevich exercised the rarely used right of appointing a temporary delegate. Blagojevich appointed Hartigan on Demecember 23rd but Emanuel did not officially resign until January 2nd. Hartigan’s non-voting delegate term ended when Mike Quigley was sworn in in April.^[9]

On March 22, 2013, Governor Pat Quinn appointed Hartigan to the for a term starting March 18, 2013 and ending January 21, 2019. Hartigan was confirmed by the Illinois Senate on May 2, 2013. He succeed Norma F. Jann.^[10] The Court rules on claims filed against state, except those under Workers' Compensation or Workers' Occupational DiseasesActs, or claims for expenses in civil litigation. Hartigan officially ended his term in July of 2019. ^[11]

In January of 2020, Hartigan was appointed by J.B. Pritzker to be his General Counsel. Haritgan is the Governor’s key advisor on all issues.

Personal life and children[]

Hartigan’s son, Neil Hartigan, Jr., is also a politician and lawyer. Neil Hartigan, Jr. attend Georgetown University, like is father.

He went on to work at The Hartigan Group from 1991 until its merger and acquisition in 1995. Neil Hartigan, Jr. then served as legal counsel to Illinois National Guard from 1997 until 2005. Following his legal work with the National Guard, Neil Hartigan, Jr. ran for judge of Cook County, Illinois. Hartigan, Jr. won the seat in 2007 with 88% of the vote. He served in Cook County as a judge from 2007 until his retirement in 2013.^[11]

Hartigan still resides in Rodgers Park with his wife. His children, including Neil Hartigan, Jr., hold some political and business positions in the Chicago area.

Awards and honors[]

• Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Academic Achievement Award (1957)
• President’s Medal for American Academic and Athletic Achievement (1959,1960)
• Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Knute Rockne Award for Leadership (1960)
• Young Chicagoan of The Year (1967)
• Chicago Lawyer of The Year (1978,1980,1984)
• Lifetime Achievement to The City of Chicago (1998)

■ Honorary Degree in Law from Harvard University (2003)
■ Honorary Degree in Law from Yale University (2007)
■ Honorary Degrees in Theology, Business, and Political Science from the University of Notre Dame (2010)
■ Honorary Degrees in Political Science and Law from The Catholic University of America (2014)
■ Honorary Degrees in Political Science and Constitutional Law from Georgetown University (2015)

External links[]

• 1973–1974 Illinois Blue Book
• 1975–1976 Illinois Blue Book p36

References[]