Tom Roeser
Encyclopedia
Thomas F. Roeser was a Chicago
-based conservative writer and broadcaster, who broadcast for many years on WLS 890 AM
talk radio. He also was the founder and former chairman of the editorial board of a Chicago Internet newspaper, The Chicago Daily Observer, as well as a lecturer, teacher and former vice president of the Quaker Oats Company (Chicago).
on July 23, 1928 and graduated from Saint Juliana elementary school and the William Howard Taft High School there. He graduated from Saint John's University (Minnesota) in Collegeville, Minnesota with a bachelor's in English literature. He continued his education in graduate studies at DePaul (English), Loyola University of Chicago (political science) and Harvard University
(political science). He was a former John F. Kennedy Fellow at Harvard University
and a fellow with the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
based in Princeton, New Jersey
.
. He was named director of research and news-information for the Minnesota Republican party in 1955 where he stayed until 1958, supervising the party's communications program, including media coverage and advertising. In 1958 he was named press secretary to a newly elected Republican congressman, Rep. Albert H. Quie
of Minnesota. The following year, 1959, he served in addition as press secretary to Rep. Walter H. Judd
of Minnesota, then the ranking Republican on the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In 1960 with election of a Republican governor of Minnesota, Elmer L. Andersen
, Roeser was appointed news secretary and supervised news dissemination for state government. At the completion of Andersen's term, Roeser returned to the Minnesota Republican party in an enhanced role: director of communications where he served from 1963 to 1964 when he left to return to Chicago to initiate a program of public affairs and government relations as well as community relations for The Quaker Oats Company.
Roeser launched Quaker's government relations program as well as its urban affairs program in the inner city of Chicago and at plant locations throughout the company. He remained in this position with Quaker Oats until 1969 when he was recruited by the Nixon administration as an assistant to the United States Secretary of Commerce
to begin a new federal program involving aid to minority business enterprise. He formed the nation's first program to assist minority business (now the Minority Business Development Agency
). In 1970 in a dispute with the Nixon administration which, he felt, was not serious about the program, he recommended the abolition of his own agency. This was highly unpopular and he was let go by the administration, but which also appointed him as director-public affairs and Congressional relations for the Peace Corps. As a foreign service officer, he managed the agency's world-wide communications and advertising program until The Quaker Oats Company requested he return to it — which he did in 1971 — after which he became its vice president-government relations.
He became the first corporate lobbyist to be appointed Fellow of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, serving in its Institute of Politics where he taught in addition to continuing his role — on leave — at Quaker. Shortly thereafter he was named a Woodrow Wilson International Fellow in Princeton, New Jersey. On returning to Chicago to resume full-time duties at Quaker he also taught after hours at the Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania; the Kellogg School, Northwestern University
; Loyola University of Chicago; DePaul University; the University of Illinois-Chicago and Saint John's College, Oxford. In addition, while continuing his work at Quaker, he became an op-ed
writer for The Chicago Sun-Times, following which he wrote for The Chicago Tribune and wrote op-eds for The Wall Street Journal
.
for seventeen years and its chairman; was chairman, founder of the Republican Assembly of Illinois, an organization of grassroots conservative Republicans, and a co-founder of Catholic Citizens of Illinois. He was a member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, a board member of the Howard Center, Rockford and program chairman of Legatus (Chicago), an organization of Catholic CEOs and was vice chairman of Haymarket Center, Chicago, a leading rehabilitation center for victims of alcohol and substance abuse.
(AFTRA), which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.
, Chicago Tribune
and The Wall Street Journal
. He was Chicago correspondent for The Wanderer, the oldest national Catholic weekly in the United States and wrote on his own blog, blog.tomroeser.com. In addition to hosting his own talk radio program, "Political Shootout" on WLS-AM, Chicago, he appeared as a commentator on The McNeil-Lehrer NewsHour on PBS, on BBC
and often on Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV Chicago Public Radio and on Inside Politics on WBEZ Chicago public radio. In addition, he was an occasional guest on Beyond the Beltway with Bruce DuMont
, a coast-to-coast television and radio program broadcast weekly.
; the Kellogg School of Management
, Northwestern University; Loyola University of Chicago; DePaul University
of Chicago; the University of Illinois-Chicago; Roosevelt University
of Chicago and Saint John's College
, Oxford University.
as Knight and Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, a Roman Catholic charitable order.
told the Daily Herald that Roeser had died of congestive heart failure
.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based conservative writer and broadcaster, who broadcast for many years on WLS 890 AM
WLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
talk radio. He also was the founder and former chairman of the editorial board of a Chicago Internet newspaper, The Chicago Daily Observer, as well as a lecturer, teacher and former vice president of the Quaker Oats Company (Chicago).
Early life and education
Roeser was born in Evanston, IllinoisEvanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
on July 23, 1928 and graduated from Saint Juliana elementary school and the William Howard Taft High School there. He graduated from Saint John's University (Minnesota) in Collegeville, Minnesota with a bachelor's in English literature. He continued his education in graduate studies at DePaul (English), Loyola University of Chicago (political science) and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(political science). He was a former John F. Kennedy Fellow at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and a fellow with the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation is a private non-profit foundation based in Princeton, New Jersey. It administers programs that support leadership development and build organizational capacity in education. Its current signature program is the...
based in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
.
Professional career
After a short time spent in the advertising agency business in Chicago, Roeser moved to Minnesota in 1953 to become the city editor of the Saint Cloud Daily Times, serving also as a stringer for the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. He was named director of research and news-information for the Minnesota Republican party in 1955 where he stayed until 1958, supervising the party's communications program, including media coverage and advertising. In 1958 he was named press secretary to a newly elected Republican congressman, Rep. Albert H. Quie
Al Quie
Albert Harold Quie is an American politician who served as the 35th Governor of Minnesota from January 4, 1979, to January 3, 1983.-State and national government service:...
of Minnesota. The following year, 1959, he served in addition as press secretary to Rep. Walter H. Judd
Walter Judd
Walter Henry Judd was an American politician best known for his battle in Congress to define the conservative position on China as all-out support for the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-sheck and opposition to the Communists under Mao...
of Minnesota, then the ranking Republican on the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In 1960 with election of a Republican governor of Minnesota, Elmer L. Andersen
Elmer L. Andersen
Elmer Lee Andersen was an American businessman, philanthropist, and the 30th Governor of Minnesota, serving a single term from January 2, 1961, to March 25, 1963, as a Republican.- Early life and education :...
, Roeser was appointed news secretary and supervised news dissemination for state government. At the completion of Andersen's term, Roeser returned to the Minnesota Republican party in an enhanced role: director of communications where he served from 1963 to 1964 when he left to return to Chicago to initiate a program of public affairs and government relations as well as community relations for The Quaker Oats Company.
Roeser launched Quaker's government relations program as well as its urban affairs program in the inner city of Chicago and at plant locations throughout the company. He remained in this position with Quaker Oats until 1969 when he was recruited by the Nixon administration as an assistant to the United States Secretary of Commerce
United States Secretary of Commerce
The United States Secretary of Commerce is the head of the United States Department of Commerce concerned with business and industry; the Department states its mission to be "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce"...
to begin a new federal program involving aid to minority business enterprise. He formed the nation's first program to assist minority business (now the Minority Business Development Agency
Minority Business Development Agency
The Minority Business Development Agency is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that promotes growth and competitiveness of the United States' minority-owned businesses. The current National Director is David A...
). In 1970 in a dispute with the Nixon administration which, he felt, was not serious about the program, he recommended the abolition of his own agency. This was highly unpopular and he was let go by the administration, but which also appointed him as director-public affairs and Congressional relations for the Peace Corps. As a foreign service officer, he managed the agency's world-wide communications and advertising program until The Quaker Oats Company requested he return to it — which he did in 1971 — after which he became its vice president-government relations.
He became the first corporate lobbyist to be appointed Fellow of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, serving in its Institute of Politics where he taught in addition to continuing his role — on leave — at Quaker. Shortly thereafter he was named a Woodrow Wilson International Fellow in Princeton, New Jersey. On returning to Chicago to resume full-time duties at Quaker he also taught after hours at the Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania; the Kellogg School, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
; Loyola University of Chicago; DePaul University; the University of Illinois-Chicago and Saint John's College, Oxford. In addition, while continuing his work at Quaker, he became an op-ed
Op-ed
An op-ed, abbreviated from opposite the editorial page , is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of a named writer who is usually unaffiliated with the newspaper's editorial board...
writer for The Chicago Sun-Times, following which he wrote for The Chicago Tribune and wrote op-eds for The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
.
Political work
Long active in Chicago civic, religious and political life, Roeser was a founder of Project LEAP (Legal Elections in All Precincts), the city's anti-vote-fraud organization, was president of the City Club of ChicagoCity Club of Chicago
The City Club of Chicago is a nonpartisan, nonprofit membership organization intended to foster civic responsibility, promote public issues, and provide a forum for open political debate. Founded in 1903, it is the longest-running public policy forum in Chicago.- History :When the City Club began,...
for seventeen years and its chairman; was chairman, founder of the Republican Assembly of Illinois, an organization of grassroots conservative Republicans, and a co-founder of Catholic Citizens of Illinois. He was a member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, a board member of the Howard Center, Rockford and program chairman of Legatus (Chicago), an organization of Catholic CEOs and was vice chairman of Haymarket Center, Chicago, a leading rehabilitation center for victims of alcohol and substance abuse.
Broadcasting career
Roeser began hosting a talk show on WLS-AM in Chicago in 1994. He began on a fill-in basis, substituting for Ed Vrdolyak alongside Ty Wansley. Vrdolyak quit the show in May 1994, and then, after Illinois Lieutenant Governor Bob Kustra first agreed to take the radio host job replacing Vrdolyk and then decided against it in August 1994, Roeser again began hosting alongside Wansley. He retired on May 21, 2011. He was a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio ArtistsAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is a performers' union that represents a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, as well as radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording artists , promo and voice-over announcers and other...
(AFTRA), which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.
Writing
Roeser authored the book Father Mac: The Life and Times of Ignatius D. McDermott, co-founder of Chicago's famed Haymarket Center. His Op Ed columns appeared in the Chicago Sun-TimesChicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
, Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
and The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
. He was Chicago correspondent for The Wanderer, the oldest national Catholic weekly in the United States and wrote on his own blog, blog.tomroeser.com. In addition to hosting his own talk radio program, "Political Shootout" on WLS-AM, Chicago, he appeared as a commentator on The McNeil-Lehrer NewsHour on PBS, on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and often on Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV Chicago Public Radio and on Inside Politics on WBEZ Chicago public radio. In addition, he was an occasional guest on Beyond the Beltway with Bruce DuMont
Bruce DuMont
Bruce DuMont is an American political analyst and broadcaster based in Chicago, Illinois. He is the host of Beyond the Beltway talk radio, a show that airs on over 30 stations around the United States...
, a coast-to-coast television and radio program broadcast weekly.
Teaching
His teaching career included service as adjunct professor of public policy at the Wharton School of Finance, University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
; the Kellogg School of Management
Kellogg School of Management
The Kellogg School of Management is the business school of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, downtown Chicago, Illinois and Miami, Florida. Kellogg offers full-time, part-time, and executive programs, as well as partnering programs with schools in China, India, Hong Kong, Israel,...
, Northwestern University; Loyola University of Chicago; DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
of Chicago; the University of Illinois-Chicago; Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
of Chicago and Saint John's College
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
, Oxford University.
Personal
Roeser was married from 1959 until his death to the former Lillian Prescott of Chicago. The couple were parents of four grown children, two sons (Thomas F., Jr. and Michael J.) and two daughters (Mary Catherine Magnor and Jeanne Roeser) and is grandfather to 13. In 1988 he and Mrs. Roeser were named by Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
as Knight and Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, a Roman Catholic charitable order.
Death
On Sunday, May 29, 2011, Roeser died after a short illness. Fellow talk-show host Dan ProftDan Proft
Daniel K. Proft is political commentator, entrepreneur, and a Republican candidate for Illinois Governor in the 2010 election.-Early life:...
told the Daily Herald that Roeser had died of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
.
External links
- Tom Roeser's website and blog
- Profile at WLS (AM)WLS (AM)WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....