doi:10.7916/64wa-af16Oral history interview with Emil Jones Jr., 2023Jones, Emil, 1935-oral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesPolitical planning--United StatesElections--United StatesUnited States Race relationsUnited States Politics and governmentJones, Emil, 1935-Obama, BarackIllinois. General AssemblyEmil Jones discusses his political relationship with Barack Obama, with particular emphasis on their service in the Illinois Senate, in which Jones served from 1983 to 2009, and of which he was president from 2003 to 2009. Jones recalls his initial impressions of Obama from their first encounters in the 1980s when Obama was working as a community organizer, and speaks widely about Obama's political development and trajectory. Jones provides details about notable events and issues with which he was closely involved, including Obama's election to the Illinois Senate in 1996, Obama's relationships with Black colleagues in Springfield, Obama's legislative activities, and Obama's campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2004. Also discussed are Jones' legislative and political staffs, Obama's reception in downstate Illinois, and Obama's keynote address to the Democratic National Convention in 2004