  paul martin simon (november 29, 1928 â december 9, 2003) was an american politician from illinois. he served in the united states house of representatives from 1975 to 1985, and in united states senate from 1985 to 1997. a member of the democratic party, he unsuccessfully ran for the 1988 democratic presidential nomination. after his political career in 1997, he served as director of the future paul simon public policy institute at southern illinois university carbondale in carbondale, illinois, which was renamed in his honor; there, he taught classes on politics, history and journalism. simon was famous for his distinctive appearance that included a bowtie and horn-rimmed glasses. ==early life and career== simon was born in eugene, oregon. he was the son of martin simon, a lutheran minister and missionary to china,[http://books.google.ca/books?id=_wsazt-bytkc&pg=pa1&lpg=pa1&dq=ruth+tolzmann+simon&source=bl&ots=7cscjduvze&sig=cfs5qd2cklerdxssuizl1pwvdcq&a
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