Paul Simon (2) (1928–2003)

A memoir by the candidate with the bow tie. 1988 was a notoriously brutal election year, the season of Willie Horton. But Simon doesn't complain about the process, just criticizes it in mild and hopeful tones. “Too much righteous indignation is not persuasive, either for causes or candidates,” he says. “Hm,” says I.

I so wanted to like this book, since it was written by Paul Simon, the late senator (but before he became senator). It covers a little written-about time of Lincoln's life, when he was a member of the 'long nine' in the Illinois legislature. The book provides great detail on the Illinois improvements bill that turned into a disaster. That was interesting. However, the book becomes too bogged down at times with who voted for what and other minutae that only a Lincoln researcher would like. show more There has been speculation that Lincoln voted for some bills he didn't want to in order to get other legislators to vote to move the state capitol to Springfield. Simon does a great job to show that this did not happen. So, Lincoln's integrity remains intact!! show less