Emil Jones

Guide Note: Emil Jones Jr. is the president of the Illinois state Senate, often identified in the press as an old fashioned political power-broker. A one-time Chicago sewer-inspector, Jones made his first foray into politics as a volunteer for the 1960 presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy. In 1972, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, then to the state Senate in 1982.

As an instrumental supporter of Barack Obama's 2004 campaign for the US Senate, Jones has come under the scrutiny of national media. Particularly, it has been suggested that Obama's legislative successes as an Illinois state Senator were owed to undue the undue influence of Jones. Also, although Obama has not been implicated in either issue, Jones' alleged nepotism, as well as his opposition to certain anti-corruption legislation, have been noted as potential embarrassments to the Obama campaign. Fast Facts:

1. Born October 18, 1935
2. Has lived on South Side of Chicago all his life
3. 1960 volunteered for JFK presidential campaign
4. 1972 elected to Illinois House of Representatives
5. 1982 elected to Illinois Senate.
6. 1993 selected as Senate Minority Leader
7. 2003 elected president of Illinois Senate
8. Has called himself Obama’s “godfather”