The Dirksen Congressional Center

09/17/2026

Last but not least from the Tom and Jean Dirksen Symposium, if you missed our documentary film discussion and work-in-progress viewing of a portion of Saund vs Cochran, filmmaker Mridu Chandra had an extensive discussion with The Greg and Dan Show about her work bringing to light the groundbreaking race between Judge Dalip Singh Saund and aviator Jacqueline Cochran Odlum.

Greg and Dan talk with Mridu Chandra, Director and Producer of the historical documentary Saund vs. Cochran, about the remarkable true story behind the film. She discusses what first drew her to this largely overlooked chapter of American political history, the extensive research behind bringing it....

09/16/2026

From state concerns about power and water use to AI industry experts weighing in on regulation, it was a panel packed with ideas yesterday at Bradley University for the Tom and Jean Dirksen Symposium.

Here's part of what you missed during our discussion of AI, the environment, and technology.

AI data centers are expanding and drawing large amounts of electricity and water, prompting warnings that without rules in place, consumers could end up paying more.

09/16/2026

How has representation in Congress changed? What should we be watching for in the current economy?

Experts at yesterday's Tom and Jean Dirksen Symposium at Bradley University shared a wealth of wisdom. Here are some of their takes.

Organizers said the event was designed to give students and community members a chance to go beyond political headlines and engage directly with experts.

09/16/2026

Couldn't make it to yesterday's Tom and Jean Dirksen Symposium at Bradley University?

Throughout the day, our local media kept a watch on the panel discussions, starting with this one on immigration.

The reality for immigrants in the United States is very different from what is being portrayed, said one panelist at the Tom and Jean Dirksen Symposium at Bradley University.

09/10/2026

From fond recollections of Louella Dirksen to tales of presidential visits to Pekin, to the tale of a graveside marigold tribute, our community has so many treasured memories to share ahead of the Pekin Marigold Festival!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

09/09/2026

What do you remember about Everett and Louella Dirksen? This summer, we asked folks in Pekin to share their memories for the Pekin Marigold Festival.

From childhood encounters to family connections and long-ago stories, those recollections highlight the family's marigold roots!

09/08/2026

Which other Dirksen family member in Pekin loved marigolds? What gaffe at the Dirksen brothers' baptism needed to be fixed? How did the family get along with their famous relative?

As we prepare for the Pekin Marigold Festival, enjoy this trip looking at Everett Dirksen's "Marigold Roots" through the eyes of his nephew Tom.

Sen. Everett Dirksen's nephew Tom Dirksen Jr. shares stories of his...

09/02/2026

Everett Dirksen for President? Supporters across Illinois put some effort into the idea 75 years ago, while Sen. Dirksen was still in his first year in the Senate.

The 1952 election was looming, and though it would ultimately come down to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower vs. Sen. Robert Taft of Ohio for the GOP nomination, in the early days it wasn't certain who would carry the party's banner. Friends and backers around the state began establishing "Dirksen Clubs" and putting up signs like this one to attract support for the senator at least as a "favorite son" candidate from Illinois, which would grant him negotiating power with the state's votes at the national nominating convention.

It was a challenging needle to thread, with Dirksen's political adviser Harold Rainville calling the Dirksen Clubs "flattering and heartwarming" to the Chicago Tribune while also emphasizing the senator supported his colleague Taft and wasn't encouraging the effort.

Still, "it would be difficult to which has caught fire," Rainville said. "It would be equally difficult for Sen. Dirksen to attempt to dissuade his friends from these activities."

Dirksen went on to warmly endorse Taft (and rebuke Eisenhower backer Gov. Thomas Dewey) at the nominating convention, but Eisenhower prevailed in his quest for the nomination and won the presidency in an electoral landslide.

(Photo from Everett M. Dirksen Collection.)