[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 122 (Monday, September 9, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10079-S10080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     AN EXCEPTIONAL PRESS SECRETARY

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, Bob Estill, an experienced and 
distinguished columnist in the Washington Bureau of the Copley News 
Service, recently wrote a column paying tribute to my departing press 
secretary, David Carle.
  Since the 1960's Mr. Estill has covered Illinois politics and worked 
closely with the Illinois congressional delegation. Press secretaries, 
especially the very good ones like David, rarely are mentioned in the 
media. But David's outstanding work, his honesty, and his loyalty and 
commitment to family and friends truly merits special mention, so I 
submit this column for the Record.
  The column follows:

                   Longtime Simon Aide Exits to Kudos

                            (By Bob Estill)

       Washington.--Retiring Sen. Paul Simon's highly regarded 
     press secretary, David Carle, is leaving the cornfields and 
     gently rolling hills of the ``Prairie State'' for the Green 
     Mountains of verdant Vermont.
       The longtime spokesman for the Illinois Democrat will begin 
     work after Labor Day as press secretary for Sen. Patrick 
     Leahy, D-Vt., a four-term veteran from a state so sparsely 
     populated it has only one congressional district.
       Spending most of his adult life as Simon's spokesman, the 
     44-year-old Carle has worked with reporters from small weekly 
     newspapers to metropolitan dailies, from rural radio stations 
     to the major television networks.
       ``It was an exhilarating ride that included two Senate 
     campaigns and a presidential campaign,'' noted Carle, who had 
     planned to return to graduate school in his native Utah if he 
     hadn't landed the job with Simon in January, 1981.
       Usually, the comings and goings of congressional press 
     secretaries are frequent, routine, and scarcely noteworthy.
       But the soft-spoken, unassuming Carle is exceptional in 
     longevity, dedication and performance, creating a model 
     congressional press operation that mirrors Simon's reputation 
     for integrity.
       Simon extols Carle as a ``fine human being'' and an 
     ``incredibly hard worker'' who is on the job before Simon 
     shows up at 8 a.m. and, even on weekends, keeps Simon posted 
     on any news breaking anywhere.
       The Senator, a onetime newspaper owner and longtime 
     columnist, said Carle's philosophy on dealing with reporters 
     meshes with his own.
       ``Sometimes you have to say `no comment' or sometimes you 
     duck a question by giving an evasive answer,'' Simon noted. 
     ``But you never lie to anyone.''
       Carle also has earned the respect of Republican and 
     Democratic staffers and lawmakers, as well as reporters 
     covering the Illinois congressional delegation.
       As Major League Baseball's lobbyist, Springfield native 
     Gene Callahan knows a ``most valuable player'' when he sees 
     one.

[[Page S10080]]

       ``There's none better than David Carle,'' said Callahan, a 
     former newspaper political columnist, longtime aide to former 
     Sen. Alan Dixon, and Simon's press secretary when he was 
     lieutenant governor.
       ``He's completely honest and effective in his role as press 
     secretary,'' continued Callahan, who's dealt with myriad 
     press aides over the last four decades. ``He's timely in 
     returning telephone calls and would never think of misleading 
     a reporter.''
       Doug Booth, press secretary for Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-
     Yorkville, has known Carle since 1984 when Booth was a 
     newsman for a radio station in Marion and Simon represented 
     the state's southernmost House district.
       ``Dave always has been extremely effective in the job he 
     has done for Paul Simon,'' Booth said. ``Pat Leahy is lucky 
     to get him on board.''
       Similar kudos come from Terri Moreland, who heads 
     Republican Gov. Jim Edgar's office here. Moreland said Carle 
     has been ``great to work with'' on Illinois matters.
       ``He's absolutely professional, and he is so highly 
     regarded on `the Hill,' '' Moreland said of Carle.
       Indeed, Carle's ability, credibility and workaholic habits 
     resulted in his being drafted for the thankless-but-sensitive 
     job of spokesman for Democrats on Senate panels probing the 
     financial dealings of President Clinton and the First Lady 
     when Clinton was governor of Arkansas.
       Although seemingly shy, Carle is the master of the soft 
     sell. A believer in preparation, he always has been ready, 
     responsive and reliable when reporters hit him with questions 
     on almost any subject.
       If a reporter showed even the faintest interest in a Simon 
     issue, Carle would bombard him before day's end with a raft 
     of material which not only supported Simon's viewpoint but 
     also provided opposing arguments and sources.
       Simon and Carle fit like hand-and-glove. Simon has kept his 
     press secretary well posted on his activities and is 
     comfortable talking with reporters.
       Carle said he considers himself very fortunate to have 
     worked for ``one of the finest politicians of this era or, I 
     think, any era.''
       He tends to speak of Simon as if the senator could walk on 
     water. But Carle also would be honest enough to disclose the 
     water-walking only happens when the pond behind Simon's rural 
     Makanda home is frozen.

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