Ties that bind Sen. Paul Simon, whose bow tie is his signature, wore a long tie Friday for only the second time in almost 40 years. (The other was at a restaurant that required ties.) The reason: He lost a bet to Sen. John Seymour of California on the Illinois-UCLA football game. INC.`s ace spy reports that Seymour brought along printed instructions to help Simon deal with the tie, which was red and printed with lots of little Mickey Mouses. But Simon handled the knotty problem on his own, pausing only briefly during the crucial final moments. The verdict: Simon looked ”quite distinguished” and, in fact,
”some might say he looked better.” So did Simon dribble food on his tie like most pols? The ever-shrewd senator didn`t eat lunch Friday.
Wheelie dealies Word is that state Sen. Bill Marovitz is trying to cut a deal that would take him out of the contest with Sen. John Cullerton but save his hopes to someday succeed Rep. Sid Yates in Congress. . . . Have Dems allied with House Speaker Mike Madigan reached a truce with Rep. Al Ronan? INC. hears Nancy Kascak, who was set to run against Ronan in a new lakefront district, suddenly is finding herself without promised funds. And will Ronan end up as 47th Ward committeeman if Ed Kelly decides to withdraw? Stay tuned.
Tea leaves Nervous local Dems are watching to see how Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton deals with the accusation that he had an affair with Gennifer Flowers, a former reporter who now works for the state of Arkansas. Clinton says he didn`t. But pols say it`s damaging. And at least one local power wishes Clinton hadn`t said: ”I`m no Gary Hart.” But pols also say that if he weathers the rumors and wins New Hampshire, he might be an even stronger candidate. . . . N.Y. Sen. Daniel Moynihan has endorsed Sen. Bob Kerrey. . . . The Manchester Union-Leader, known for its subtle support of right-wing candidates such as Pat Buchanan, called U.S. Rep. Newt Gingrich a
”prostitute” after he campaigned in New Hampshire for President Bush.
Stateville Gary LaPaille, the man of many hats, will give up one temporarily when he takes a leave of absence as Madigan`s chief of staff from next Saturday to the March 17 primary. In addition to being the state Dem chairman, LaPaille is running for the state Senate. . . . INC. wonders how LaPaille and Sen. Vince Demuzio, who used to be Dem chairman, will get along if they`re in the Senate together. INC. would like to hear Vince ask Gary for his vote for Senate Democratic leader. . . . Bill Holland, the Senate Dems chief of staff, is telling legislative leaders he wants to replace Robert Cronson as the state auditor general.
Daley news Rich Daley, who skipped the last Democratic convention in Atlanta, isn`t very interested in going to this year`s in New York either. During a breakfast in Washington, he said: ”It`s theater. It`s a circus. You should cut down the convention to a day and a half. . . . The convention system should be over with, a waste of money.”
Political shorts Some Downstate eyebrows were raised after U.S. Senate candidate Al Hofeld ran television ads supporting gun control in areas where bucking the National Rifle Association is risky political business. . . . Word is that Pat Murphy was told he didn`t get the IVI-IPO`s endorsement for state`s attorney because Dem moneyman Richard Dennis came up with big bucks for the organization. Dennis` candidate: James Gierach, who shares Dennis`
view that dope should be provided to addicts. . . . INC. also hears that Edna Epstein came in second to Dom Rizzi when the IVI-IPO board voted on which candidate to endorse for the state Supremes.
Chicago law During arguments over having a three-judge federal panel hear the Dems` challenge to the legislative remap, Repub lawyer Steve Molo told Judge Charles Norgle that he shouldn`t be afraid to toss out the challenge. Norgle replied that federal judges have no fear. That moved Dems` attorney Bill Harte to say: ”Three judges have three times less fear than one judge.”
INC.lings Sunday`s birthdays: Paul Newman, 67; Bob Uecker, 57; Eartha Kitt, 64; Jules Feiffer, 63; Eddie Van Halen, 35; Gene Siskel, 46; Wayne Gretzky, 31; Anita Baker, 34. . . . Rosary College plans to renovate the Fine Arts Auditorium and name it for Sister Candida Lund, the River Forest school`s chancellor and former president. . . . Former White House Chief of Staff John Sununu will be the master of ceremonies at the Washington Press Club Foundation dinner next week. Among the other speakers: Reps. Henry Hyde and Barney Frank. Fasten your seat belts.
