Kate Glances Back. . . and Looks Ahead

In December, 1976, we were walking along East Capitol Street pushing our 7-week-old baby, Maureen, in the carriage. John stopped and looked up at the Capitol Building looming right in
front of us all lit up and magnificently impressive. Then he turned and asked, "Do you think you will be happy here?"
"I don't know if I'll be able to stand the excitement," I replied.
We had been in Washington for about four days filled with rounds of meeting new people, festivities and seeing the nation's capital as a newcomer but also as an insider. I don't know when my heart stopped pounding.
I rode home from the Kennedy Center in a limousine with the newly-elected Speaker of the House, Tip O'Neill. I showed off my baby as I greeted the newly-elected Vice President, Fritz Mondale. He was raking leaves. I witnessed a historic race for the post of House Majority Leader within the Democratic Caucus.
In the three years since, the pace of events - or at least my participation in them - has slowed, but my enthusiasm for them hasn't. H John would ask me that same question today, I would be able to answer "yes." Yes, I have been happy living in Washington. It is a great honor to be the wife of a member of the U.S. Congress; it is a wonderful experience, and it is also a lot of fun.
But my happiness didn't begin when John took his seat in Congress. I have always been happy, happy in our political life and happy in our marriage.
When I first met John it was 1968 and his dad was running for Congress, for the seat John holds now. It was an exciting time, a time of Bobby Kennedy and Gene McCarthy, a time when the country was so tom apart it was frightening to look to the future.
John introduced me to politics. He showed me that to get things done in this country you have to choose a person you can trust, one you can believe in. You find someone who understands our society and you work for him. That election day I worked at the polls giving out cards for Jack Cavanaugh. I wasn't even old enough to vote.
The next year we were married. Things weren't much better in the country. Richard Nixon was president, John was in the army and the war in Vietnam continued Nevertheless, we were happy together.
In 1972 we lived in a little green house on 35th Avenue. I never liked the color of that house, but I grew to like the house itself and my neighbors who are good and friendly people. They all supported John when he ran for the Legislature from that district. I supported him, too, because he had all the qualities he told me four years before a representative should have.
That campaign was run sort of by the seat of our pants. John voted for himself in the primary and then went to take a law school final exam. We went campaigning door-to-door every day when I finished teaching school and John was done with his classes.
We addressed envelopes to voters at our dining room table, and were happy. Why wouldn't we be? We had each other, a new baby and a chance to make a difference in the country.
By 1976 that little green house was getting smaller. The rooms were filled by us, our three children and my sister. It was a time for adventure. Those qualities we discussed eight years before were shining in John. I would watch him late at night on the ETV legislative review and think: my husband was the smartest, most reasonable man in the world.
Many people must have agreed with me, because all our old friends and many, many new ones worked very hard addressing envelopes, giving coffees, inviting John to speak at their organizational functions and talking to friends: all to get John elected to Congress. Achieving this success with the support of our friends was personally fulfilling.
Since that time John has been re-elected to Congress, and we have added another child to our family. We have had many wonderful experiences in Washington. We've witnessed the signing of the Middle East peace treaty. We attended the inauguration of President Carter. We met the Pope and heard him speak. And I attended Hubert Humphrey's funeral at the Capitol Rotunda.
We have made many new and lasting friendships both in the Congress and in the Washington community. We have enjoyed the city itself.
The events of the past 10 years have strengthened the initial bonds of matrimony. We have been able to make each other happy. This ability is a gift which John and I are so very grateful to have received.
Now, after 10 years of marriage and five political campaigns (three of John's and two of his dad's), we are making a change. John still has all those important qualities and will always be my favorite candidate, but he is not seeking re-election.
We have been given four beautiful children whom we want to cherish and to nourish with our love, our understanding, our time and attention. In turn, we hope they will give us great joy and
satisfaction throughout our lives.
I feel good about this decision. The concern, affection and understanding of our decision that all of our friends here in Nebraska have shown has deeply touched and overwhelmed us. It has helped us know that we did the right thing. And if we had the chance to do everything all over again would I want to? Absolutely!
January 10, 1980