Goodbye to John Gilligan

John Gilligan’s decision to retire from the Cincinnati School Board closes out one of the most varied political careers in Cincinnati history. He’s pretty much done it all.

Starting in 1953 he has served on Cincinnati City Council, then Congress, then back to Council, then to the governor’s mansion and finally, starting eight years ago, on the school board. Between times he managed two fit in service in the Navy, a university academic career teaching at Xavier and Notre Dame and a stint running the Agency for International Development in Jimmy Carter’s administration.

As with any Ohio governor, he was occasionally mentioned for a spot on a presidential ticket. For political trivia buffs, he also is the elder half of a father/daughter gubernatorial combination. His daughter, Kathleen Sebelius, is governor of Kansas.

He’s 86 now, and as he told reporter Ben Fischer, it’s time to go.

The first press conference I ever covered featured Gilligan in 1974, when he was running for a second term as governor against Republican James Rhodes. He and Rhodes were served up on a twin bill at a seminar for college journalists in Columbus.

Gilligian was a studious wonk. He ticked off detailed answers defending every action his administration ever took and offered to have staff members research the answers to anything he didn’t have at his fingertips.

Rhodes came in and said he could balance the budget, feed the hungry, clothe the poor and fill the state with good-paying jobs.

When asked for details, Rhodes lectured us that such questions were naïve because campaigns were won on strategies and no politician would let the opposition in on details of his strategy. I remember thinking nobody could buy this blowhard’s baloney and that Gilligan should coast to re-election. Gilligan then lost by about 11,000 votes.

Four years ago I was interviewing Gilligan as he ran for his final term on the school board. I told him I couldn’t believe people actually voted for Rhodes. He said he still couldn’t believe it either.