| Curator's note: This video by Rich Samuels first aired on WTTW's "Chicago Tonight" program in November of 2004 as a "Chicago Stories" segment. The occasion was the 2004 general election in which Republican candidate Alan Keyes (a conservative political commentator) was pitted against Illinois State Senator Barack Obama. (Illinois Republicans drafted Keyes to become the party's candidate after Jack Ryan, winner of the primary contest, was obliged to withdraw following revelations of scandalous materials in his divorce file). Dirksen, a Republican, and Douglas, a Democrat, were arguably among the most beloved Illinoisans to serve in the upper house. Included in this documentary is archival film featuring, in addition to Douglas and Dirksen, journalists Ray Scherer, Roger Mudd and Howard K. Smith. Senators Dick Durbin and Paul Simon also appear along with former Douglas staffer Kenneth Gray and Frank Mackaman of the Dirksen Center. Bob Sirott introduces Rich's report. |