Paul Simon (politician)

Paul Simon (politician)
Name	Paul Simon
Caption	Simon in 1988
State	Illinois
Jr/sr	United States Senator
Term start	January 3, 1985
Term end	January 3, 1997
Predecessor	Charles H. Percy
Successor	Dick Durbin
State1	Illinois
District1	24th
Term start1	January 3, 1975
Term end1	January 3, 1985
Predecessor1	Kenneth J. Gray
Successor1	Kenneth J. Gray
State2	Illinois
District2	22nd
Term start2	January 3, 1975
Term end2	January 3, 1973
Predecessor2	William L. Springer
Successor2	George E. Shipley
Office3	Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
Governor3	Dan Walker
Term start3	January 8, 1973
Term end3	January 10, 1977
Predecessor3	Neil Hartigan
Successor3	Dave O'Neal
Birth date	29 November 1928
Birth place	Eugene, Oregon
Death date	9 December 2003
Death place	Springfield, Illinois
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Jeanne Hurley, 1960, 2000
Education	University of Oregon (no degree), Dana College (BA)

Paul Simon (politician) was an American politician, author, and educator from Illinois. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Representative from 1975 to 1985 and a U.S. Senator from 1985 to 1997, known for his distinctive bow tie, pragmatic liberalism, and focus on fiscal responsibility, ethics, and human rights. His career also included service as Lieutenant Governor of Illinois under Governor Dan Walker and a brief 1988 presidential campaign. After leaving the Senate, he founded the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Early life and education

Paul Martin Simon was born in Eugene, Oregon, to Lutheran missionary parents, Reverend Martin Paul Simon and Ruth (née Tolzmann). His family moved frequently during his youth, including a period in China. He attended Concordia High School in Portland and briefly studied at the University of Oregon before enlisting in the United States Army. After his military service, he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. His early career was in journalism; at age 19, he borrowed money to purchase the Troy Tribune in Troy, Illinois, later building a small chain of newspapers in Southern Illinois.

Early political career

Simon's political career began in the Illinois House of Representatives, to which he was elected in 1954 as a Democrat from a traditionally Republican district. He served in the Illinois General Assembly until 1969, becoming known as a reformer. In 1969, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, serving under Democratic Governor Dan Walker from 1973 to 1977. His tenure was marked by a focus on government efficiency and transparency, though he often had a strained relationship with Governor Walker.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1974, Simon represented Illinois's 22nd congressional district and later the 24th District. In the House of Representatives, he built a reputation as a thoughtful legislator with a strong independent streak. He served on the House Budget Committee and the House Judiciary Committee, advocating for balanced budgets, campaign finance reform, and civil rights. His legislative work often focused on education, library services, and foreign affairs, particularly human rights issues.

U.S. Senate

In 1984, Simon defeated incumbent Republican Senator Charles H. Percy. In the Senate, he served on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was a key sponsor of the National Literacy Act and legislation creating the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution. A moderate Democrat, he was known for his advocacy for debt reduction, ethical government, and a restrained foreign policy. He made a brief run for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination, emphasizing his "Simon Pure" ethics, but withdrew after the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.

Post-Senate career and later life

After choosing not to seek re-election in 1996, Simon remained active in public life. He joined the faculty of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and founded the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute there in 1997. He continued to write prolifically, authoring numerous books on politics and policy. Simon died on December 9, 2003, following complications from heart surgery in Springfield, Illinois. He was survived by his wife, former U.S. Representative Jeanne Hurley Simon, and their two children.

Political positions and legacy

Simon was characterized as a "prairie populist" and a pragmatic liberal, combining support for traditional New Deal programs with a hawkish stance on fiscal discipline and government waste. He was a lifelong advocate for campaign finance reform, famously refusing PAC money for his 1984 Senate campaign. His foreign policy views were oriented toward human rights, nuclear non-proliferation, and strengthening the United Nations. His legacy endures through the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, the Paul Simon Award for humanitarian service, and his influence on a generation of Illinois politicians, including his Senate successor, Dick Durbin.

Category:1928 births Category:2003 deaths Category:American newspaper publishers (people) Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Illinois Category:Lieutenant Governors of Illinois Category:Members of the Illinois House of Representatives