Last month, Seattle Times aerospace reporter Dominic Gates wrote about the similarities and differences between Boeing’s corporate office move to Chicago and Amazon’s plan for a second headquarters.

Boeing wanted to leave Seattle in an effort to separate its corporate leadership from manufacturing sites while Amazon, with an unusual strategy, plans to keep its headquarters here but set up a parallel operation elsewhere.

Boeing hoped to find a more conservative business climate while Amazon wants a city which is a “cultural fit.”

Gates reported that in March 2001, Boeing shocked Go...