One of the first actions taken by Gamm was to invite the Governor of Illinois, many of Western Illinois’ state representatives and senators, and even federal congressional representatives for the region to a summit to discuss Forgotonia’s future. Because the actual secession of the region was a farce, Gamm needed to speak with those who held political and budgetary power in the state in order to address their infrastructural grievances.
One representative responded particularly positively to the movement. Representative Paul Findley of the 20th district of Illinois wrote a 2 page letter to Gamm, outlining his facetious support for the movement and suggesting other ways in which Forgotonia could achieve its aims. Findley’s letter (above) encapsulates the satirical nature of the movement, suggesting impossible solutions and taking sarcastic shots at people like Henry Kissinger, Chicago Mayor Daley, and Governor Walker.
Although Gamm’s correspondence with many of the state representatives and senators was limited to invitations to his summit and subsequent rejections of those invitations, Gamm did have some success in building concrete political support. Many of the responses from officials carried words of support for the movement’s goals and some even for the unorthodox methods employed. Gamm was in fact successful in meeting with a few prominent Illinois politicians, including state representative Clarence Neff, who posed for a picture with Gamm while wearing a forget-me-not pin.
The legitimacy of the movement’s goals clearly struck a chord with many politicians, as it spoke to the North-South political divide in Illinois. Even southern legislators are acutely aware of the feeling of diminished importance in the face of Chicago’s political power. Some, however, were not fans of the tactics Gamm employed, claiming that there already existed more effective and professional methods of getting those goals accomplished. Gamm’s response to these politicians was succinct and fitting; why should he utilize avenues which had brought nothing but desolation to his home? Why not instead try something new in the hopes that novelty would win over proper process and bring real and lasting change to Forgotonia.[1] They had tried for too long to utilize mainstream methods, and instead opted for something which was sure to get people’s attention, a circus, as Gamm called it. Though many political figures were unable or unwilling to meet with Gamm, it does seem the message of Forgotonia rang loud and clear. See the success of the movement for more information.
[1] Speech by Neal Gamm, Western Illinois University Archive, “Neal Gamm Collection.”