History of Rod Blagojevich in Timeline
Rod R. Blagojevich, nicknamed "Blago," was the 40th governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, he served in the Illinois State Legislature and as a U.S. Representative before becoming governor. His governorship ended abruptly with his impeachment, removal from office, and subsequent conviction on federal corruption charges, for which he served eight years in prison. The charges stemmed from attempts to profit from his position, including allegedly trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat.
1947: Blagojevich's Parents Move to Chicago
Rod Blagojevich's parents emigrated from Yugoslavia and moved to Chicago in 1947.
December 10, 1956: Birth of Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich was born on December 10, 1956.
1970: Special Sessions of the Illinois General Assembly
Since 1970, there have been several special sessions of the Illinois General Assembly.
1972: Last Democrat Governor Before Blagojevich
The last Democratic governor of Illinois before Blagojevich was elected in 1972.
1979: Graduation from Northwestern University
Blagojevich graduated from Northwestern University in 1979.
1979: Graduation from Northwestern University
Blagojevich graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in history in 1979.
1980: Voted for Ronald Reagan
In 1980, Blagojevich voted for Ronald Reagan in the presidential election.
1983: Graduation from Pepperdine University School of Law
Blagojevich graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1983.
1983: Graduation from Pepperdine University School of Law
In 1983, Blagojevich graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law.
1984: Voted for Ronald Reagan's Re-election
In 1984, Blagojevich voted for Ronald Reagan's re-election.
1992: Wins Democratic Primary for State House
In 1992, Blagojevich won the Democratic primary for the 33rd state house district in Illinois.
1993: Start of Illinois State Representative Career
Blagojevich's career as an Illinois State Representative began in 1993.
1994: Rostenkowski Loses Re-election
Dan Rostenkowski lost his re-election bid for Illinois's 5th congressional district in 1994 after pleading guilty to mail fraud.
1996: Events in 1996
No specific event details provided for 1996.
1996: Runs for Illinois's 5th Congressional District
Blagojevich ran for Illinois's 5th congressional district in 1996.
1997: Start of U.S. Representative Career
Blagojevich started serving as a U.S. Representative for Illinois's 5th district in 1997.
1998: Re-elected to Congress
Blagojevich was re-elected to Congress in 1998.
1998: Events in 1998
No specific event details provided for 1998.
2000: Re-elected to Congress (Second Time)
Blagojevich was re-elected to Congress for a second time in 2000.
2000: Events in 2000
No specific event details provided for 2000.
October 10, 2002: Votes to Authorize Invasion of Iraq
On October 10, 2002, Blagojevich voted in favor of authorizing the invasion of Iraq.
2002: Obama Advises Blagojevich's Campaign
Barack Obama served as an advisor for Rod Blagojevich's 2002 gubernatorial campaign.
2002: Obama Supports Blagojevich's Gubernatorial Campaign
Barack Obama supported Blagojevich's gubernatorial campaign in 2002, after initially backing Roland Burris.
2002: 2002 Illinois Gubernatorial Election
Blagojevich ran for and won the 2002 Illinois gubernatorial election.
2002: Election as Illinois Governor
Blagojevich was elected as Governor of Illinois in 2002.
2002: Campaigns for Governor Nomination
During 2002, Blagojevich campaigned for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Illinois.
2002: Democrats Gain Control in Illinois
Following the 2002 elections, the Democratic Party gained control of the Illinois House, Senate, and almost all statewide offices.
2002: Gubernatorial Campaign Contributions
In 2002, Trump and his organization contributed to Blagojevich's gubernatorial campaign.
2003: Blagojevich Continues Death Penalty Moratorium
Upon taking office in 2003, Governor Rod Blagojevich maintained the moratorium on executions of death row inmates, a policy that continued throughout his administration.
2003: Beginning of Governorship
Rod Blagojevich began serving as the 40th Governor of Illinois in 2003.
2003: Judges' Lawsuit Over Pay Increases
In 2003, over 1,000 Illinois judges filed a class-action lawsuit against Blagojevich for halting constitutionally mandated cost-of-living pay raises due to budget cuts.
2004: "Morning-After" Pill Executive Order
In 2004, Blagojevich issued an executive order requiring pharmacists to dispense "morning-after" birth control, regardless of moral or religious objections. This order faced legal challenges.
2004: Flu Vaccine Importation Controversy
In 2004, during a flu vaccine shortage, Blagojevich purchased 260,000 doses from overseas distributors despite FDA warnings. The FDA blocked the importation, and the expired vaccines were eventually donated to, and then destroyed by, Pakistan.
2004: Blagojevich Erects Tollway Signs
In 2004, then-Governor Rod Blagojevich ordered the Illinois Tollway to install signs announcing "Open Road Tolling", including his name.
2004: Blagojevich Does Not Endorse Obama for Senate
Rod Blagojevich did not endorse Barack Obama in the 2004 United States Senate race.
2004: Blocked Drug Importation Website
Blagojevich's 2004 initiative to establish a website for Illinois residents to import cheaper medications from Canada and the UK was blocked by the FDA.
October 2005: Announcement of All Kids Healthcare Plan
Blagojevich announced the All Kids program in October 2005, aiming to provide state-subsidized healthcare for all children in Illinois.
November 2005: All Kids Signed into Law
In November 2005, Blagojevich signed the All Kids program into law, making Illinois the first state to attempt to legally mandate universal healthcare for children regardless of income or immigration status.
2005: Chair of Midwestern Governors Association
In 2005, Blagojevich served as Chair of the Midwestern Governors Association.
2005: Blagojevich Vetoes Gun Bills and Proposes FOID Card Price Increase
In 2005, then-state legislator Rod Blagojevich proposed increasing the cost of an Illinois Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card from $5 to $500. He also vetoed three gun-related bills during the same year.
2005: Blagojevich Receives Early Obama Endorsement
In early 2005, Barack Obama endorsed Rod Blagojevich for his re-election campaign as Governor of Illinois. However, Attorney General Lisa Madigan declined to endorse him, citing a conflict of interest due to her office's investigation into Blagojevich. Blagojevich also received an endorsement from the state's Sierra Club.
2005: Resolution of Judges' Lawsuit
The lawsuit filed by Illinois judges against Blagojevich in 2003 was settled in their favor in 2005. Blagojevich's veto of the pay increases was deemed unconstitutional.
2005: Budget Gimmicks and Pension Underfunding
In 2005, Blagojevich faced criticism for allegedly using "gimmicks" to balance the state budget, including underfunding the state employees' pension fund by $1.2 billion. Republicans accused him of postponing fiscal problems to future generations.
2005: Drop in Approval Ratings
Blagojevich's approval rating dropped as low as 36% towards the end of 2005 due to numerous scandals.
2005: Blagojevich Signs Anti-Discrimination Bill
In 2005, Governor Rod Blagojevich signed a bill into law that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit.
January 10, 2006: Blagojevich Proposes Infrastructure Spending Plan
On January 10, 2006, Rod Blagojevich announced a $3 billion spending plan for Illinois' roads, transit, and schools, funded by increased taxes and new gambling proposals. The plan was met with resistance from both Republicans and Democrats.
February 2006: Blagojevich on The Daily Show
In February 2006, Rod Blagojevich appeared on The Daily Show to discuss his executive order mandating pharmacists to dispense all valid prescriptions, including birth control. The interview, with correspondent Jason Jones, was marked by Jones's repeated mispronunciation of Blagojevich's name and comedic questioning of the order. Blagojevich later claimed unawareness of the show's satirical nature.
February 2006: Blagojevich Proposes Ban on Semi-Automatic Firearms
During his State of the State address in February 2006, Governor Rod Blagojevich advocated for a ban on semi-automatic firearms in Illinois.
February 19, 2006: Blagojevich Launches Re-election Campaign
On February 19, 2006, Rod Blagojevich officially began his campaign for re-election as Governor of Illinois. He secured a victory in the Democratic primary on March 21, 2006, with a significant 72% of the vote against his challenger, Edwin Eisendrath, whom he refused to debate.
August 2006: Blagojevich Receives Endorsements and Faces Criticism
In August 2006, during his re-election campaign, Rod Blagojevich received endorsements from several key figures, including then-Illinois Senator Barack Obama. However, he also faced criticism from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, who declined to endorse him due to job cuts in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
2006: Blagojevich on Ethics and Death Penalty Reform
During his 2006 re-election campaign, Rod Blagojevich highlighted his enactment of a strict ethics law and a comprehensive death penalty reform bill, co-authored by then-Senator Barack Obama.
2006: Tollway Signs Draw Criticism
In 2006, the tollway signs erected in 2004 under the direction of Governor Rod Blagojevich were criticized for resembling campaign signs and being excessively expensive.
2006: Republican Primary for Gubernatorial Challenge
In 2006, multiple Republicans campaigned in the primary for the chance to challenge Blagojevich in the general election.
2006: Education Funding Increase and "PreSchool for All" Proposal
In 2006, Rod Blagojevich oversaw record increases in education funding without raising sales or income taxes, although his use of pension funds to achieve this drew criticism. He also proposed the "PreSchool for All" initiative for three- and four-year-olds in Illinois.
2006: Re-election as Governor
Blagojevich was re-elected as Governor of Illinois in 2006.
2006: Federal Liaison for Democratic Governors Association
Blagojevich served as federal liaison for the Democratic Governors Association from 2005-2006.
2006: 2006 Illinois Gubernatorial Election
Blagojevich ran for and won the 2006 Illinois gubernatorial election.
March 2007: Illinois Covered Healthcare Plan and Gross Receipts Tax Proposal
In March 2007, Blagojevich campaigned for his Illinois Covered universal healthcare plan, proposing to fund it through a significant gross receipts tax increase. The plan narrowly failed in the state senate. The proposed tax increase was overwhelmingly rejected by the legislature.
September 2007: Partial Removal of "Morning-After" Pill Order
In September 2007, a partial settlement was reached regarding Blagojevich's "morning-after" pill executive order. Pharmacists were allowed to refuse dispensing the medication if they provided information about alternative providers. This followed the Illinois Supreme Court's decision to hear an appeal challenging the order.
2007: Last Communication Between Blagojevich and Quinn
The last time Rod Blagojevich and Pat Quinn spoke was during the summer of 2007, as reported by Quinn in December 2008. They had disagreements about Blagojevich's proposed Gross Receipts Tax.
2007: "PreSchool for All" Legislation Adopted
Legislation authorizing the "PreSchool for All" program was adopted as part of the fiscal year 2007 budget.
2007: Blagojevich's Alleged Outburst at Senator Jacobs
Following a 2007 meeting with State Senator Mike Jacobs about health insurance proposals, Jacobs claimed that Governor Rod Blagojevich had an outburst.
2007: 2007 Budget and Veto Controversy
In 2007, Blagojevich's handling of the state budget drew criticism, particularly his use of line-item and reduction vetoes to eliminate political opponents' "member initiatives" from the budget.
March 2008: Bipartisan Coalition for Capital Construction Plan
In March 2008, Governor Rod Blagojevich announced a bipartisan coalition to develop a capital construction plan for Illinois. The coalition proposed a $34 billion package, but it faced opposition in the Illinois House and ultimately stalled.
October 2008: FamilyCare Program and Pharmacy Reimbursement Issue
In October 2008, Blagojevich's attempt to unilaterally implement the FamilyCare healthcare plan was challenged. Pharmacies that followed his directives were informed they would not be reimbursed, leading to criticism and calls for Blagojevich to personally cover the costs.
December 8, 2008: Blagojevich Halts State Business with Bank of America
On December 8, 2008, Governor Rod Blagojevich ordered all Illinois state agencies to cease business with Bank of America. This action was taken to pressure the bank into restoring credit to Republic Windows and Doors, whose workers were staging a sit-in after the factory shut down. Blagojevich aimed to leverage the state's business to force the bank's hand, a move criticized as dangerous by John Douglas, a former general counsel for the FDIC and attorney for Bank of America.
December 9, 2008: Blagojevich Arrested on Corruption Charges
On December 9, 2008, Rod Blagojevich was arrested by the FBI on corruption charges, including allegations of "pay-to-play" schemes and attempting to profit from appointing someone to Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat.
December 2008: Rahm Emanuel Clarifies Obama's Role
In December 2008, Rahm Emanuel clarified Barack Obama's role in Blagojevich's 2002 gubernatorial campaign strategy.
December 2008: Quinn and Blagojevich's Strained Relationship
By December 2008, Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn and Governor Rod Blagojevich had a strained relationship, with public disagreements over the proposed Gross Receipts Tax. Quinn revealed they hadn't spoken since the summer of 2007. Blagojevich also feuded with other Democratic officials.
December 2008: Start of Federal Investigation
A federal investigation into Blagojevich began in December 2008.
2008: Blagojevich's Disagreements with Democrats
Throughout 2008, Rod Blagojevich frequently clashed with fellow Democrats in the state legislature, even expressing concern about increased Democratic representation leading to greater opposition.
2008: Senator Jacobs Comments on Blagojevich's Isolation
In 2008, State Senator Mike Jacobs remarked on Governor Rod Blagojevich's apparent political isolation, suggesting that Senate President Emil Jones was his only ally.
2008: Blagojevich's Remark on Race
In 2008, Rod Blagojevich made a statement to a group of African Americans, expressing that he sometimes considered himself the first African American governor of Illinois.
2008: Democratic Campaign Ads Link Ozinga to Blagojevich
During the 2008 Congressional race between Debbie Halvorson and Marty Ozinga, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ran ads linking Ozinga to Governor Rod Blagojevich due to campaign donations Ozinga had made to the Governor.
2008: Proposed Bond Issuance and Budget Justification
During 2008, Blagojevich proposed a $16 billion bond issuance to address pension fund requirements. He defended his budget proposals, claiming to be "on the side of our Lord" in a speech to black ministers.
2008: Budget Increase, Park Closures, and Thompson Center Sale
Blagojevich proposed a 5% budget increase for 2008. Facing budget shortfalls, he moved to close state parks and historic sites, which he admitted to never having visited. He also explored selling or mortgaging the James R. Thompson Center.
2008: Obama Excludes Blagojevich from Convention
Barack Obama did not invite Rod Blagojevich to speak at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, despite inviting other prominent Democrats. The two were estranged for many years at this point.
2008: Blagojevich's Struggle with Capital Plan
As of 2008, Rod Blagojevich had been unable to secure agreement on a capital plan to improve Illinois' infrastructure for five years.
January 2009: Blagojevich Appoints Roland Burris to Senate Seat
In January 2009, after outreach efforts, Rod Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. Burris was eventually seated after some initial opposition.
January 27, 2009: Blagojevich Launches Media Campaign
On January 27, 2009, Rod Blagojevich began a media campaign orchestrated by publicist Glenn Selig, proclaiming his innocence across various media outlets.
January 29, 2009: Blagojevich Removed from Office
On January 29, 2009, the Illinois Senate unanimously voted to remove Rod Blagojevich from office and bar him from holding future public office in the state. Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn succeeded him as governor.
March 2009: Blagojevich Guest Hosts Radio Show
In March 2009, Rod Blagojevich was a guest host on the "Don Wade and Roma Morning Show" on WLS.
April 2009: Indictment
In April 2009, Rod Blagojevich was indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple charges, primarily related to attempts to sell a Senate seat.
June 1, 2009: Patti Blagojevich Joins Reality Show
On June 1, 2009, Patti Blagojevich, Rod Blagojevich's wife, joined the cast of "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" Rod Blagojevich later commented on the difficulty of watching his wife participate in the show's challenges.
June 13, 2009: Blagojevich Performs in Improv Show
On June 13, 2009, Rod Blagojevich performed with The Second City improv group in their musical "Rod Blagojevich Superstar" to benefit Gilda's Club Chicago, a cancer support organization.
June 30, 2009: Blagojevich Autobiography Announced
Rod Blagojevich's autobiography, "The Governor: The Truth Behind the Political Scandal That Continues to Rock the Nation," was announced on June 30, 2009, with a release date set for September 8, 2009. An eBook version was released on Amazon.com the same day.
July 19, 2009: Blagojevich Begins Radio Talk Show
On July 19, 2009, Rod Blagojevich began hosting a weekly two-hour radio talk show on 890 WLS.
September 8, 2009: Blagojevich Autobiography Released
Rod Blagojevich's autobiography, "The Governor: The Truth Behind the Political Scandal That Continues to Rock the Nation," was officially released in print on September 8, 2009.
2009: Blagojevich's Request to Join Reality Show Denied
In 2009, Rod Blagojevich sought to participate in the reality show "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" citing financial difficulties. His request was denied by Judge James B. Zagel, who emphasized the seriousness of Blagojevich's legal situation.
2009: Impeachment and Removal from Office
In 2009, Blagojevich was impeached, removed from office, and barred from holding public office in Illinois.
2009: Impeachment and Removal from Office
In 2009, Blagojevich was impeached, convicted, and removed from his position as Governor of Illinois.
2009: Blagojevich Considers Oprah for Senate Seat
Impressed by Oprah Winfrey's influence on Barack Obama's presidential election, Governor Blagojevich considered offering Obama's vacant Senate seat to Winfrey in early 2009. He publicly discussed his rationale on various talk shows.
January 2010: Blagojevich Makes Controversial Comments About Obama
In January 2010, Rod Blagojevich made controversial comments about President Barack Obama in an Esquire interview, claiming to be "blacker than Barack Obama." He later clarified his remarks but stood by his message of frustration with the system.
April 4, 2010: Blagojevich Appears on Celebrity Apprentice
Rod Blagojevich appeared on season 9 of "The Celebrity Apprentice," which premiered in Spring 2010. He was fired by Donald Trump in the fourth episode, which aired on April 4, 2010.
June 2, 2010: Blagojevich's Radio Show Put on Hiatus
WLS put Rod Blagojevich's radio talk show on hiatus on June 2, 2010, during his corruption trial.
June 3, 2010: Blagojevich Trial Date Set
The trial for Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges was set for June 3, 2010. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald publicly characterized Blagojevich's actions as attempting to auction off the open Senate seat.
August 2010: Blagojevich Appears at Comic Convention
In August 2010, Rod Blagojevich made an appearance at the Wizard World Chicago comic convention, charging for autographs and photos. He also had a televised meeting with Adam West.
August 17, 2010: First Trial and Mistrial
On August 17, 2010, Rod Blagojevich's first trial concluded with a conviction on one count of lying to the FBI, but the jury was hung on 23 other counts, resulting in a mistrial for those charges. The defense didn't call any witnesses.
August 23, 2010: Second Daily Show Appearance
On August 23, 2010, after his removal from office, Blagojevich returned to The Daily Show. He engaged in a tense exchange with Jon Stewart, defending his actions and prior statements made on the show. Stewart pressed him on his decision not to testify in court and the context of his infamous "effing golden" comment.
June 27, 2011: Second Trial and Conviction
On June 27, 2011, Rod Blagojevich was found guilty of 17 out of 20 charges in his retrial, including those related to attempting to sell a Senate seat and extortion. He was acquitted on one charge and there was no verdict on two others.
2011: Initial Sentencing
In 2011, Blagojevich was initially sentenced to 14 years in prison.
March 15, 2012: Imprisonment
Rod Blagojevich reported to Federal Correctional Institution, Englewood, Colorado, on March 15, 2012, to begin serving his sentence.
July 2013: Appeal Filed
In July 2013, Rod Blagojevich filed an appeal challenging his conviction and sentence.
December 2013: Appeal Hearing
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in Blagojevich's appeal in December 2013.
July 2015: Partial Vacating of Convictions
In July 2015, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals vacated five of Blagojevich's corruption convictions but upheld others, remanding the case to the district court.
March 2016: Supreme Court Denial
In March 2016, the Supreme Court denied Blagojevich's petition for a writ of certiorari.
August 2016: Resentencing
In August 2016, Judge Zagel reimposed the original 14-year sentence on Blagojevich.
November 3, 2017: Supreme Court Appeal
Blagojevich's attorneys filed another appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on November 3, 2017.
April 16, 2018: Supreme Court Refusal
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Blagojevich's appeal on April 16, 2018.
May 31, 2018: Trump Considers Commutation
President Trump publicly stated on May 31, 2018, that he was considering commuting Blagojevich's sentence.
June 5, 2018: Commutation Petition
Blagojevich formally petitioned President Trump for commutation of his sentence on June 5, 2018.
August 2019: Trump Reinforces Consideration
In August 2019, Trump reiterated to reporters that he was seriously considering commuting Blagojevich's sentence.
February 18, 2020: Commutation of Sentence
On February 18, 2020, President Donald Trump commuted Rod Blagojevich's 14-year prison sentence, leading to his release.
May 2020: Podcast Launch
Blagojevich started a politics-themed podcast, "The Lightning Rod", in May 2020.
May 2020: Start of Radio Show and Release from Prison
Blagojevich started hosting "The Lightning Rod" radio program in May 2020, after his release from prison.
May 18, 2020: Disbarment
On May 18, 2020, the Illinois Supreme Court officially disbarred Rod Blagojevich.
September 2021: Podcast Ends
Blagojevich's podcast, "The Lightning Rod", ended in September 2021.
September 2021: End of Radio Show
Blagojevich's radio show, "The Lightning Rod," ended in September 2021.
March 2024: Potential Early Release Date (Unfulfilled)
Had his sentence not been commuted, Blagojevich might have been eligible for early release in March 2024, based on good behavior.
2024: Support for Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign
Blagojevich actively supported Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.