
Paul Simon
The Political Journey of an Illinois Original
Robert E. Hartley(Author)
Southern Illinois University Press
Published on 30. October 2009
Book
Hardback
304 pages
978-0-8093-2945-8 (ISBN)
Description
Charts the political course of an Illinois legend. With ""Paul Simon: The Political Journey of an Illinois Original"", author Robert E. Hartley presents the first thorough, objective volume on the journalistic and political career of one of Illinois' most respected native sons. Hartley's detailed account offers a fully rounded portrait of a man whose ideals and tenacity not only spurred reform on both state and national levels during his celebrated forty-year career but also established the lasting legacy of a political legend. Simon first became a public figure at the age of nineteen, when he assumed the post of editor and publisher of a weekly newspaper in Troy, Illinois. From there, he used his paper to launch a fierce crusade against the crime and corruption plaguing Madison County. This battle sparked his meteoric rise into politics, helping to land him a seat in the state legislature in 1954. While serving, he campaigned tirelessly according to his principles, earning him the mass voter approval that would usher him into the seat of lieutenant governor in 1968 - the first person elected to that position who did not share party affiliation with the governor. As lieutenant governor, Simon initiated many changes to the position, remaking it to better serve the citizens of the state of Illinois. The cornerstone of his reform plans was an ombudsman program designed to allow the people of the state to voice problems they had with government and state agencies. The program, very popular with the public and the press, solved many problems and helped to make Simon a household name throughout Illinois. Although he faced many challenges along the way, including racial upheaval in Cairo and the student and police riots on the Carbondale campus of Southern Illinois University, Simon's outspoken honesty and strong support of his constituents earned him the utmost esteem and popularity. While his 1972 bid for governor of Illinois ultimately failed, this did not deter Simon from his dedication to social progress. In 1974 he began his remarkable twenty-two-year career in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, where he earned the admiration of the country for his forthright efforts to uphold voter concerns and political integrity. Despite the praise and support Simon had earned during his time in Washington, he was unable to win the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988 and returned to the Senate, winning a second term in 1990. Simon committed time and energy to a myriad of issues of interest to him, especially in the field of education, with one of his biggest successes coming with the passage of the National Literacy Act, which he sponsored. He continued to foster his ties to journalism throughout his lengthy political career, authoring numerous books, articles, and nationally syndicated columns, all of which he used to relentlessly promote open government and social programs. Robert E. Hartley's vivid account of the public life of Paul Simon reveals a man whose personal honor and dedication were unshakeable throughout nearly half a century in the political arena. ""Paul Simon: The Political Journey of an Illinois Original"" provides a candid perspective on Simon's accomplishments and victories, as well as his mistakes and losses, revealing new insights into the life of this dynamic and beloved public figure.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Carbondale
United States
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Paper over boards
With dust jacket
Illustrations
21 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
544 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8093-2945-8 (9780809329458)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
10/2009
1st Edition
Southern Illinois University Press
€40.99
Available for download
Person
Robert E. Hartley has written for publication since the age of fourteen, when he covered high school sports for his hometown newspaper. He graduated in journalism from the University of Kansas and had a thirty-year career in the newspaper business. He is the author or coauthor of seven books on history and politics, including Death Underground: The Centralia and West Frankfort Mine Disasters.