* Oh, for crying out loud…
An uncanny likeness of freshly indicted political power broker William Cellini is pictured in an oil painting at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.
Dressed in a natty black suit, Cellini — a longtime state government insider who was indicted last week on corruption charges — is standing over Lincoln’s right shoulder, gesturing as if to make a point to the president as vote totals come for Lincoln’s 1864 re-election.
The museum won’t confirm that it’s Cellini in the picture — but it’s not denying it, either, since the artist has acknowledged putting friends and acquaintances in his work at the museum.
Look, the federal indictment against Cellini may not be as strong as it could be, and he most definitely deserves his day in court, but he’s always been a controversial figure in Illinois politics and completely associated with this state’s “pigs at the trough” image. He and Jim Thompson re-invented “pinstripe patronage” here
So, indictment or no indictment, forever memorializing him at the Lincoln Museum - of all places - is an abomination.
If you’ve ever read Paul Simon’s book “Lincoln’s Preparation for Greatness,” you know that back in the days when Lincoln was in the Illinois House, businesses which wanted to incorporate had to pass a bill through the General Assembly. As a result, lots of legislators got in on some free money by being made corporate directors. Lincoln never did.
Also, at a time when Illinois was still mostly undeveloped, the General Assembly routinely passed legislation opening up public lands for private developement and legislators usually were in on the scam. Lincoln only participated once, and he ended up losing money.
So, putting the king of pinstripe patronage in a painting of Abraham Lincoln that’s hanging at the Lincoln Museum is just wrong, on every level.
And when the Sun-Times asked if the Museum would remove the painting if Cellini was convicted, the paper got this response…
“It’s a piece of art, with no one saying it’s him or not. So no,” museum spokesman Dave Blanchette says.
What a crock.
Cellini and his wife have raised a ton of money for the museum, and Mrs. Cellini essentially oversees the museum via her chairmanship of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Cal Skinner discovered in January of last year that Julie Cellini’s visage is also in a painting at the museum.
These paintings cement our state’s reputation as almost beyond reform. Or, since it’s Cellini, perhaps it should be “asphalts” our reputation.
*** UPDATE *** Scott Reeder notes the irony at Gov. Blagojevich’s firing of Richard Beard, the director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library, who was accused of shoplifting…
But the governor hasn’t been charged with any crime — so far.
If he ever is, let’s hope he holds himself to the same standard that he held Mr. Beard. Blagojevich fired him before a jury had ruled. Guilt or innocence was irrelevant — only the unseemliness of the accusation mattered.
Yes, it would be nice if politicians held themselves to the same standards they hold others. But, if I were you, I wouldn’t hold my breath — just my nose.
* Related…
* Dear president-elect: Keep Fitzgerald here
* Showdown at Clout Corner
* Looking for Lincoln stuff