European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 1, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Agazine by Robin Toner new York times in pau1 Simon of Illinois promises in administration of Good deeds. To spin1 the 11 that cares he says. I want a government thai Luj  in a Campaign dominated by tests of character Simon s test has  not in his personal me but around his Public  the Issue is the Cost of his unquestioned Good intentions the practicality of a politician who Ofle n no fits a disdain for politics the credibility of a Man  slogan is in t it time to believe again in the simplest icvt.-, ins rivals Lor the democratic nomination now Reir Brj that to explain How to would pay for it All and Bai i the budget in three years As he promises Paul you re Rel ii Paas you go Democrat you re a Promise As you go by up x  rep. Richard a Gephardt  in .1 nationally televised debate among 12  indicates. Simonovics is really Reagan i with a Bow  at first the 5 j i old freshman senator War considered Iho Odd n the democratic race at Best the Tribune Lor Pait 1l" rals of the old school at . An anachronism Al a  into the wrong election when Democrat War m Mij to demonstrate Huir fiscal responsibility Bui while the Man re or noxious democrats stumbled and fell he Andun to we to first place in the Iowa polls this fall Horn a re a steadiness and a solid car. Thai consultants  of he s the grown up in to Lvi  says a former , Robert Squir and much of his personal  could come irom the pages of boy s Lite alter seven year of Iho Reagan revolution of democratic  and soul searching Over the Ellel Venoss of Many Domestic spending programs Simon s belie in Ira Power of government appears unshaken ii comes through in Hio books like the once and future democrats in Winch he listed the projects a new spa could tackle. Irom stalling Day care centers to planting 200 million lines a year. This would help clean our air preserve our , ease our Energy problem and improve the appearance of the nation he Drolc there is the Earnest tone of the social worker or the minister in much of Simon s writings and deep voice speeches. He is in not Rcd of anecdotes the Young unemployed Man lorry org his own meals so the rest of his family has More to Tel Iho 53-year-old Man whose business goes under and who asks does anybody care Simon s voice uses in ngh Leous indignation As he recounts the talks the United Stales of America. 1987," to says ii doer not have to  in the Small groups where he is at his Best in the Small town restaurants and Community centers of Iowa. They nod their head met share his outrage. He s always had the ability to take the Edge Oil his liberalism said Don Hose a Chicago political consultant who has watched Simon Lor years he s a Liberal who does t scare  it is not hard to incl inc strains of idealism in Simon s background his family s roots Are in Iho Midwest in the German Slock Ilia settled that Region with Well tended farms and lutheran churches. His father s lather was a Wisconsin Farmer a devoutly religious Man who saw three of his eight children enter the lutheran mini sly. Martin Simon. The senator s father served two years As a missionary in China a Stoml Cut Short by civil War. Then accepted a Pensh in Eugene Ore in the goal depression the poor Ollyn found their Way to Martin Simon s House and did not leave empty handed his sons recalled to preserve the self esteem of men reduced to asking Lor help their father often asked or work in Exchange even it it was Only moving rocks from one Side of the Garden to another. Who is Paul Simon want a government that cans. I want a government that helps people democratic candidate Simon. Eventually when his iwo sons were older Martin Simon left Parish work and settled in Illinois to publish a series of religious magazines. By All accounts to had an enormous influence on his sons Paul and Arthur. On the Campaign Trail Simon likes to fell of his father speaking out against inc internment of japanese americans in world War ii. My Mother was Mere pragmatic the senator said in an interview. My father was the idealist. If in had been up to my father we would have Given away the Kitchen sink. The balance Between the two was a Good one for  his younger brother. Arthur followed their lather into the ministry serving for More than 10 As pastor at a Church on the lower East Side of new York but Paul did not. Asked it that decision was a disappointment to his father who died in 1969. Senator Simon replied i m sure it was. He was diplomatic enough not to Tell me  today. Simon describes himself As an inadequate Christian " his brother is executive director of an anti hunger group in Washington. William Allen White Iho lamed editor of the Emporia Gazelle in Kansas was a boyhood hero so it was not surprising when Simon dropped Oul of College at the age of 19 to Lake Over a Small weekly newspaper in Troy iii., where he made has Mark Wilh a series of exposes on gambling and prostitution in roadhouse. By 1954, at the age of 25, he won election to the slate legislature beginning the often perilous climb up the ladder of Illinois politics. It was particularly perilous for Simon after his 1966 article in Harper s Magazine the Illinois legislature a study in  nevertheless he became lieutenant governor in 1968, then ran Lor governor in 1972 Wilh the support of mayor Richard j. Daley s organization. To lost the primary to Dan Walker who ran against the machine accused Simon of favouring higher taxes and went on to win the general election Simon came Back to win a House seat with the Post watergate class of 1974, and 10 years later in a particularly bitter Battle Defeated the incumbent Republican. Sen. Charles h. Percy. He says the 1972 defeat taught him to hit Back and he does in his race against Percy Lor example he accused the senator of running a television commercial that was Sleazy and  Al a recent candidates Lorum in Massachusetts he came close to taunting sen Albert Gore jr., saying Sam Nunn got out of the race and All of a sudden we saw a new Al Gore  ii is nol the record of an unworldly Man and Many in Illinois laugh at inc notion that Simon is the simple midwestern do gooder me is often presented to be there s a Quality about him that somebody could mistake or naively said Rose the consultant but this is not exactly a playground Lor nails. This is a Guy who was just As capable of playing Ball Wilh the Daley machine As he was capable of dealing with inc ice actively Small town and Rural constituencies from which he s been  still Simon has Long styled himself a reformer a Man outside of politics As usual. It is a Central theme on the Campaign Trail where to talks Timo and again about Iho consultants who advised him to change his hair get rid of his eyeglasses and abandon his Bow lie. Ii has become a Sorl of reverse Charisma an anti image image that has entranced Many voters looking Lor some essential realness in their candidates. Part of it is his Rural roots. You Don l gel any Ronic Rural than route to Makanda Illinois he says in Iowa where there Are Many addresses that sound like that indeed the Southorn Illinois Village of Makanda is a vestige of Pic suburban America a handful of houses on a Hillside a Post Ollice. A few shops reclaimed by artisans who sell Folk Art and Woven rugs. He lives just Oul Sido the Village in a House near the Woods with Jeanne his Wile of 27 years. They met when both were serving in the Illinois general Assembly she gave up her own political career to rear their two children Sheila a lawyer and Martin a photographer. I d probably eel More guilty about in today he said. The culture was different  mrs. Simon who is also a lawyer was a key influence in his decision to seek inc presidency. Simon says his political career is very much a career of two people involving his Wile s earlier ambitions As Well As his own. Friday january 1, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 13