A political scientist and friend of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon has edited hundreds of the late lawmaker's writings for a new book. John Jackson is a visiting professor at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. His new book is called The Essential Paul Simon - Timeless Lessons for Today's Politics. Jackson went through Simon's writings from his time as a newspaper editor, lieutenant governor, presidential candidate and senator. The book includes Simon's thoughts on negative political campaigns, campaign finance reform, health insurance, immigration, gun rights and other issues relevant to today's politics. Simon died in December 2003. Jackson says he wanted to write the book to remind people why the senator was so respected.