Cover -- Frontispiece -- Book Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Foreword -- Introduction -- 1. The Early Days -- Editor's Note -- Introductory Columns in the Troy Tribune -- "Trojan Thoughts," July 1, 1948, volume 1, no. 2 -- "Trojan Thoughts," July 15, 1948, volume 1, no. 4 -- "An Open Letter to Austin Lewis, State's Attorney," June 16, 1949 -- "'Closed' Houses of Prostitution Again Operating," October 20, 1949 -- Mr. Simon Goes to Springfield and Washington -- "The Illinois Legislature: A Study in Corruption," by State Senator Paul Simon as told to Alfred Balik, Harper's Magazine, September 1964 -- "Announcing P.S./Washington, a Weekly Column by Congressman Paul Simon, the 24th Congressional District of Illinois," February 2-8, 1975 -- 2. American Government and Politics -- Editor's Note -- The Constitution -- "Defending the Constitution: A Constant Vigil," P.S./Washington, June 28-July 4, 1987 -- "Simon on Flag Issue: Why I'll Fight to Defend the Constitution," P.S./Washington, June 24-30, 1990 -- On the Size and Role of Government -- "The Size of the Federal Government," P.S./Washington, August 15-21, 1976 -- "Government Regulation," P.S./Washington, February 18-24, 1979 -- "Air Bags and Government's Role," P.S./Washington, January 13-19, 1991 -- Congress: The Duties of a Congressman -- "Your Congressional Office," P.S./Washington, April 20-26, 1975 -- "Congress: Reality Better Than Image," P.S./Washington, October 9-15, 1977 -- "Travel More, Not Less," P.S./Washington, April 27-May 3, 1980 -- The Presidency -- "The Presidency: How Strong Should It Be?," P.S./Washington, September 28-October 4, 1975 -- "Congress or the White House: Who Sets Foreign Policy?," P.S./Washington, August 24-30, 1986 -- On Making Nominations to the Supreme Court -- "The Supreme Court: An Easy Target," P.S./Washington, July 10-16, 1977.

"Advise and Consent: What Does It Mean?," P.S./Washington, August 3-9, 1986 -- "No on Rehnquist, Yes on Scalia," P.S./Washington, August 17-23, 1986 -- "Statement of Paul Simon: Senate Judiciary Committee," September 4, 2001 -- State Government -- "For an Open Meetings Act," Sidelights from Springfield, by State Representative Paul Simon, February 17, 1955 -- "For Open Primaries," Sidelights from Springfield, by State Representative Paul Simon, May 15, 1957 -- "Facing Reapportionment Problems," Press Release from Illinois State Senator Paul Simon, January 17, 1965 -- "Ombudsman," From the Statehouse, by Lieutenant Governor Paul Simon, February 10, 1969 -- "Income Disclosure: The Time Has Come," From the Statehouse, by Lieutenant Governor Paul Simon, September 29, 1971 -- American Campaigns and Elections: Campaign Finance, Negative Campaigning -- "A Threat from the Far Right," P.S./Washington, July 26-August 1, 1981 -- "The Soaring Costs of U.S. Elections," P.S./Washington, December 26, 1981-January 1, 1982 -- "Today's Biggest Scandal," P.S./Washington, November 17-23, 1985 -- "Campaign Finance Reform," NPR Commentary, February 26, 2002 -- American Campaigns and Elections: The Role of Newspapers and Other Media in the Electoral System -- "Improving Statehouse Coverage," ColumbiaJournalism Review, September-October 1973 -- "A Flawed System for Electing Presidents," P.S./Washington, September 30-October 6, 1979 -- "Modern-Day Witch Hunting," P.S./Washington, January 9-15, 1983 -- 3. Guidance on Continuing Problems and Issues -- Editor's Note -- Health Insurance -- "Where Government Can Help," P.S./Washington, February 17-23, 1980 -- "Hot Topic on Town Meeting Circuit," P.S./Washington, February 18-24, 1990 -- "Americans Back Basics of Clinton Health Plan," P.S./Washington, May 1-7, 1994.

"Americans Must Speak Out on Health Care Reform," P.S./Washington, August 21-27, 1994 -- "Profiteers' Victory over the Public in Health Reform May Be Short-Lived," P.S./Washington, September 18-24, 1994 -- "Robin Williams, Christopher Reeve, and the U.S. Health Care Muddle," P.S./Washington, January 28-February 3, 1996 -- "A Patient We Can Cure," Commentary, Chicago Sun-Times, August 29, 2000 -- Education and Literacy -- "Campus Disorders: What's the Answer?," From the Statehouse, by Lieutenant Governor Paul Simon, April 2, 1969 -- "Bad News on the Education Front," P.S./Washington, February 7-13, 1982 -- "Good News from Oilton, Oklahoma," P.S./Washington, May 2-8, 1982 -- "The Key to a Strong Industrial Base," P.S./Washington, August 15-21, 1982 -- "Strength through Education," P.S./Washington, February 18, 1985 -- "U.S. Rates 'F' in Literacy," P.S./Washington, June 2-8, 1985 -- "From Guns to Butter and Blackboards," P.S./Washington, May 21-27, 1989 -- "Longer School Days Would Boost U.S. Standard of Living," P.S./Washington, October 9-15, 1994 -- "Appropriations for Literacy," NPR Commentary, August 18, 1997 -- "More Money for Students," NPR Commentary, July 1, 2003 -- Civil Rights -- "Equal Treatment for Women," P.S./Washington, July 6-12, 1975 -- "Wiretapping: A Basic Struggle Continues," P.S./Washington, May 23-29, 1976 -- "The Fight for Human Rights," P.S./Washington, August 7-13, 1977 -- "The Proper Role for Affirmative Action," P.S./Washington, April 15-21, 1995 -- Immigration -- "America the Melting Pot," P.S./Washington, January 11-17, 1987 -- "Immigration Law Isn't a Cure-All," P.S./Washington, April 5-11, 1987 -- "On Anti-immigration Sentiment," NPR Commentary, September 17, 1997 -- Hunger -- "A Hungry World," The Edge Magazine, May 1968 (based on an address to the Dallas/Seattle Luther League Convention, 1967) -- Gambling and Taxes.

"Will a State Lottery Answer Our Problem?," From the Statehouse, by Lieutenant Governor Paul Simon, March 19, 1969 -- "On Gambling," NPR Commentary, January 21, 2003 -- Guns and the NRA -- "The NRA's Irresponsible 'Victory,'" P.S./Washington, September 25-October 1, 1988 -- "An Incomprehensible, Irresponsible, Baffling Boondoggle for the NRA," P.S./Washington, July 14-20, 1996 -- "Gun Dealer Requirements," NPR Commentary, December 17, 1997 -- "Gun Violence," NPR Commentary, February 24, 1998 -- "On the NRA," NPR Commentary, February 7, 2000 -- Energy and the Environment -- "The Oil Depletion Allowance," P.S./Washington, March 16-22, 1975 -- "The Energy Crisis Is Real," P.S./Washington, June 19-25, 1977 -- "An Energy Lesson from Cyprus," P.S./Washington, September 4-10, 1977 -- "Reduce Reliance on Foreign Oil," P.S./Washington, December 9-15, 1979 -- "Preserving Mother Nature's Gifts," P.S./Washington, August 31-September 6, 1986 -- "Preparing for the Next Energy Crisis," P.S./Washington, January 18-24, 1987 -- "Amtrak Needs More Financial Support, Not Less," Daily Herald, January 3, 2001 -- Teaching Foreign Language -- "A Treaty We May Be Violating: Declining Foreign Language Study," P.S./Washington, March 13-19, 1977 -- "'Official' or Not, English Is Nation's Language," P.S./Washington, March 26-April 2, 1989 -- "Beef Up the Country's Foreign Language Skills, "Commentary, Washington Post, October 23, 2001 -- Television and Violence -- "Television Violence: Cause for Concern," P.S./Washington, October 3-9, 1976 -- "Real Life Imitates TV Violence," P.S./Washington, June 23, 1985 -- "Media Have to Take Some Responsibility for Violence," Daily Herald, January 10, 2001 -- Culture, Art, and the Movies -- "Art Influences Behavior," P.S./Washington, March 11-17, 1979 -- "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Again," P.S./Washington, September 24-30, 1989.

"Cultural Chasms That Divide Us," P.S./Washington, January 29-February 4, 1995 -- "Superficiality Lingers While Substance Flees, "Commentary, Chicago Sun-Times, September 19, 2000 -- "Seventy-Two Phone Books," NPR Commentary, April 8, 2003 -- "Portraying a Positive Picture," NPR Commentary, June 17, 2003 -- Assistance to the Handicapped -- "Broken Bones-and Public Policy," P.S./Washington, June 1-7, 1975 -- "A Mayor, an Aide, and a Congressman," P.S./Washington, December 27, 1980-January 2, 1981 -- The Military, the Draft, a Year of Public Service -- "Military Sales Mushroom," P.S./Washington, March 9-15, 1975 -- "A Year of Service," P.S./Washington, March 9-15, 1980 -- "Homosexuality and Military Service," P.S./Washington, March 5-11, 1995 -- "Required Service," NPR Commentary, November 6, 2001 -- Crime and Prisons -- "Sure, Swift Criminal Justice," P.S./Washington, November 22-28, 1981 -- "Missing Children," P.S./Washington, July 18-24, 1982 -- "Practical Steps on Crime and Violence," P.S./Washington, September 14-20, 1986 -- "On the Prison Population in the U.S.," NPR Commentary, October 29, 2003 -- 4. Foreign and Defense Policy -- Editor's Note -- The Middle East -- "Israel: An Exciting Place These Days," statement released by State Senator Paul Simon, September 21, 1967 -- "Two Mediterranean Trouble Spots," P.S./Washington, August 21-27, 1977 -- "Middle East Problems Affect Us All," P.S./Washington, December 4-10, 1977 -- "Passion and Self-Interest in Foreign Policy," P.S./Washington, April 2-8, 1978 -- "Wanted: Another Sensible, Courageous Arab Leader," P.S./Washington, April 1-7, 1979 -- "Understanding the Moslem World," P.S./Washington, December 23-29, 1979 -- "Anwar Sadat," P.S./Washington, October 11-17, 1981 -- "Peace: The Middle East's Only Real Security," P.S./Washington, May 28-June 3, 1989.

"Remarks by Senator Paul Simon," Amman, Jordan, July 16, 2001.