Paul Simon (Politician) - Senator from Illinois, Timeline and Life
Paul Simon (Politician)'s Personal Details
Paul Simon was a United States Senator
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | November 29, 1928 |
| Died on | December 9, 2003 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | University Of Oregon, Political Scientists, Leaders, Political Leaders, Senator from Illinois |
| Spouses | Jeanne Hurley Simon, Patricia Derge |
| Siblings | Arthur Simon |
| Known as | Paul Martin Simon, Senator Paul Simon |
| Childrens | Martin Simon, Sheila Simon |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Founder / Co-Founder |
|
| Birth Place | Eugene |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Martin Simon |
| Mother | Ruth Tolzmann |
| Sun Sign | Sagittarius |
| Born in | Eugene |
| Famous as | Senator from Illinois |
| Died at Age | 75 |
Paul Simon (Politician)'s photo
Who is Paul Simon (Politician)?
Paul Martin Simon was a newspaperman, politician and an academician. During his school days, he was elected as the school president and lobbied successfully for a racially integrated admission policy. He started his career in a newspaper but soon turned his attention to politics. He became an effective legislator and was responsible for passing more amendments than anybody else during his tenure. He was keen on providing better governmental service to the people and was in many ways the people’s ombudsman. He championed the cause of increased investment in education and health and advocated fiscal conservatism in other areas. He was an advocate for civil rights and opposed the death penalty. He sought to end the embargo imposed on Cuba by the US and supported humanitarian mission to be sent to Rwanda in 1994 during the genocide there. He was condemned for having a socialist outlook on many policies and was not popular among his fellow congressmen. He had an incorruptible image and was referred to as “Reverend”. He proudly fashioned himself after the liberalism associated with Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. He wrote over twenty books in lifetime on various topics, such as interfaith marriages, global water shortages, etc.
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Childhood & Early Life
Paul Simon was born on November 29, 1928, to Martin Simon, a Lutheran minister, and Ruth Tolzmann, a Lutheran missionary. They instilled in him a strict sense of Christian morality.
He attended public schools in Eugene and the Concordia Academy High School in Portland, Oregon, after which he enrolled at the University of Oregon, and Dana College, Nebraska but couldn’t finish his graduation.
Career
In 1948, he borrowed money to take over and run the newspaper, ‘Troy Call’ renaming it as ‘Troy Tribune’, and subsequently he established a string of 14 weekly newspapers.
He used the Tribune to expose gambling, prostitution and government corruption and was called to testify as a witness before the US Senate's Crime Investigating Committee.
In 1951, he left the newspaper industry and enlisted in the US Army. He worked as a special agent along the Iron Curtain in Europe for the Counter-Intelligence Corps and was discharged in 1953.
Paul Simon, a democrat, started his political career in 1955, with his election to the Illinois House of Representatives at the young age of 26.
In 1963, he was elected to Illinois State Senate and was one of the key sponsors of the State’s Open Meetings Law and the legislation creating the Illinois Arts Council.
In 1969, he became the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. He served alongside Republican Governor, Richard B. Ogilvie to produce the state’s first income tax and the constitutional convention which created the fourth Illinois Constitution.
In 1974, he was elected to the Congress on a Democratic ticket from Illinois and was re-elected to four subsequent Congresses. |
In 1984, he was elected to the US Senate defeating three-term incumbent Charles H. Percy. |
In 1988, he tried to earn nomination for the post of President on a Democratic ticket but was unsuccessful, as he was little known outside of Illinois.
In 1990, he was re-elected to the US Senate defeating Congresswoman Lynn Morley Martin. He did not participate in the re-election in the next electoral year.
After his retirement from politics in 1996, he joined Southern Illinois University in Carbondale as a Professor, where he taught political science, history and journalism.
He served as the Director of the SIU Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois which was later renamed in his honour.
The books he wrote included ‘A Hungry World’, ‘You Want to Change the World? So Change It’, ‘The Tongue-Tied American’ and ‘The Politics of World Hunger’, which he co-authored with his brother Rev. Arthur Simon.
He authored a number of laws including the National Literacy Act, the direct student loan program, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act and the Job Training Partnership Act amendments.
The legislation he introduced resulted in the formation of the first five federally chartered high-speed corridors including the St. Louis-Chicago-Detroit/Milwaukee corridor.
He sponsored the bill that extended the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial to Illinois and the bill that created the Illinois-Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor.
Major Works
Paul Simon was one of the main sponsors of the Missing Children Act of 1982 which led to the formation of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
His effort to curtail television violence resulted in setting standards on violence by broadcasting networks, the Parental Advisory System and an independent monitoring system in 1994.
He wrote a well-researched book, ‘Lincoln’s Preparation for Greatness: The Illinois Legislative Years’. He had referred to original documents from Lincoln’s tenure in the General Assembly and the book was well received nation-wide.
Awards & Achievements
Paul Simon won the ‘Best Legislator Award’ of Independent Voters of Illinois seven times during his 14 years in the Illinois legislature from 1954.
Personal Life & Legacy
On April 21 1960, Paul Simon married Jeanne Hurley, a Catholic. Both of them were serving in the Illinois House. They had two children, Sheila and Martin. Jeanne died in 2000.
In May 2001, while working as a professor at Southern Illinois University, he married Patricia Derge, widow of former Southern Illinois University President David Derge.
He passed away on December 9, 2003, at the age of 75, in Springfield, Illinois following a heart surgery. He was interred in Makanda, Illinois.
The Paul Simon Historical Museum which exhibited memorabilia from throughout his life was opened in Troy, Illinois in 2005. But it closed after seven years, due to lack of funding.
Trivia
This politician adopted the bowtie and horned glasses as his trademark after a remark in a newspaper which said that "the man with the bowtie did well".
During one of his campaigns, this politician co-hosted Saturday Night Live along with his namesake musician, Paul Simon.
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Paul Simon (Politician) biography timelines
- // 29th Nov 1928Paul Simon was born on November 29, 1928, to Martin Simon, a Lutheran minister, and Ruth Tolzmann, a Lutheran missionary. They instilled in him a strict sense of Christian morality.
- // 1948In 1948, he borrowed money to take over and run the newspaper, ‘Troy Call’ renaming it as ‘Troy Tribune’, and subsequently he established a string of 14 weekly newspapers.
- // 1951 To 1953In 1951, he left the newspaper industry and enlisted in the US Army. He worked as a special agent along the Iron Curtain in Europe for the Counter-Intelligence Corps and was discharged in 1953.
- // 1954Paul Simon won the ‘Best Legislator Award’ of Independent Voters of Illinois seven times during his 14 years in the Illinois legislature from 1954.
- // 1955Paul Simon, a democrat, started his political career in 1955, with his election to the Illinois House of Representatives at the young age of 26.
- // 21st Apr 1960 To 2000On April 21 1960, Paul Simon married Jeanne Hurley, a Catholic. Both of them were serving in the Illinois House. They had two children, Sheila and Martin. Jeanne died in 2000.
- // 1963In 1963, he was elected to Illinois State Senate and was one of the key sponsors of the State’s Open Meetings Law and the legislation creating the Illinois Arts Council.
- // 1969In 1969, he became the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. He served alongside Republican Governor, Richard B. Ogilvie to produce the state’s first income tax and the constitutional convention which created the fourth Illinois Constitution.
- // 1974In 1974, he was elected to the Congress on a Democratic ticket from Illinois and was re-elected to four subsequent Congresses. |
- // 1982Paul Simon was one of the main sponsors of the Missing Children Act of 1982 which led to the formation of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
- // 1984In 1984, he was elected to the US Senate defeating three-term incumbent Charles H. Percy. |
- // 1988In 1988, he tried to earn nomination for the post of President on a Democratic ticket but was unsuccessful, as he was little known outside of Illinois.
- // 1990In 1990, he was re-elected to the US Senate defeating Congresswoman Lynn Morley Martin. He did not participate in the re-election in the next electoral year.
- // 1994His effort to curtail television violence resulted in setting standards on violence by broadcasting networks, the Parental Advisory System and an independent monitoring system in 1994.
- // 1996After his retirement from politics in 1996, he joined Southern Illinois University in Carbondale as a Professor, where he taught political science, history and journalism.
- // May 2001In May 2001, while working as a professor at Southern Illinois University, he married Patricia Derge, widow of former Southern Illinois University President David Derge.
- // 9th Dec 2003He passed away on December 9, 2003, at the age of 75, in Springfield, Illinois following a heart surgery. He was interred in Makanda, Illinois.
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Paul Simon (Politician)'s FAQ
What is Paul Simon (Politician) birthday?
Paul Simon (Politician) was born at 1928-11-29
When was Paul Simon (Politician) died?
Paul Simon (Politician) was died at 2003-12-09
Where was Paul Simon (Politician) died?
Paul Simon (Politician) was died in Springfield
Which age was Paul Simon (Politician) died?
Paul Simon (Politician) was died at age 75
Where is Paul Simon (Politician)'s birth place?
Paul Simon (Politician) was born in Eugene
What is Paul Simon (Politician) nationalities?
Paul Simon (Politician)'s nationalities is American
Who is Paul Simon (Politician) spouses?
Paul Simon (Politician)'s spouses is Jeanne Hurley Simon, Patricia Derge
Who is Paul Simon (Politician) siblings?
Paul Simon (Politician)'s siblings is Arthur Simon
Who is Paul Simon (Politician) childrens?
Paul Simon (Politician)'s childrens is Martin Simon, Sheila Simon
What was Paul Simon (Politician) universities?
Paul Simon (Politician) studied at University Of Oregon, Dana College, University of Oregon
What was Paul Simon (Politician) notable alumnis?
Paul Simon (Politician)'s notable alumnis is University Of Oregon
Which company or organization was founded by Paul Simon (Politician)?
Paul Simon (Politician) was the founder/co-founder of Paul Simon Public Policy Institute
What is Paul Simon (Politician)'s religion?
Paul Simon (Politician)'s religion is Lutheranism
Who is Paul Simon (Politician)'s father?
Paul Simon (Politician)'s father is Martin Simon
Who is Paul Simon (Politician)'s mother?
Paul Simon (Politician)'s mother is Ruth Tolzmann
What is Paul Simon (Politician)'s sun sign?
Paul Simon (Politician) is Sagittarius
How famous is Paul Simon (Politician)?
Paul Simon (Politician) is famouse as Senator from Illinois