Today in Chicago History: Impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich removed from office

News Room

Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 29, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

  • High temperature: 63 degrees (2013)
  • Low temperature: Minus 16 degrees (1966)
  • Precipitation: 1.33 inches (2013)
  • Snowfall: 5.3 inches (1909)

1856: William Rand cofounded what would become Rand McNally’s first print shop with the Chicago Tribune on Chicago’s Lake Street. Twelve years later, the company bought the Tribune’s share and began printing railroad tickets and timetables.

Former White Sox owner Bill Veeck hands over the keys to Comiskey Park to new (and present) White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf on Feb. 3, 1981. Seated from left are Andy McKenna, acting chairman, Bill Veeck, and Jerry Reinsdorf. (William Yates/Chicago Tribune)

1981: Jerry Reinsdorf was approved to buy the Chicago White Sox from Bill Veeck.

It only took American League owners 25 minutes to unanimously approve the sale to a syndicate headed by the Skokie real estate developer and New York television executive Eddie Einhorn.

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich waves to supporters outside his home on Jan. 29, 2009, in Chicago. Gov. Pat Quinn was sworn in after the Senate voted 59-0 to remove Blagojevich from office. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich waves to supporters outside his home on Jan. 29, 2009, in Chicago. Gov. Pat Quinn was sworn in after the Senate voted 59-0 to remove Blagojevich from office. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

2009: The Illinois Senate voted 59-0 to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who walked out of the silent chamber after delivering an impassioned plea for mercy, saying he “never, ever intended to violate the law.”

Within hours they applauded his former running mate and lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn, who was sworn in as the state’s 41st governor.

Rod Blagojevich saga timeline: From arrest to Donald Trump’s commutation to the end of his supervised release

2019: “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett reported he was a victim of an allegedly racist and homophobic attack. He was later charged with making it up and convicted in December 2021 on five out of six felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police. He was sentenced to 150 days in Cook County Jail.

In a stunning move, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the convictions in November 2024, finding that a special prosecutor’s decision to retry him for allegedly staging a hate crime against himself violated his rights after the Cook County state’s attorney’s office previously dropped all charges.

TV actor Jussie Smollett stands before Cook County Circuit Judge Steven Watkins on March 14, 2019, at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago, where he pled not guilty. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
TV actor Jussie Smollett stands before Cook County Circuit Judge Steven Watkins on March 14, 2019, at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago, where he pleaded not guilty. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Want more vintage Chicago?

Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com

Related posts