Mary Jane Roach Masters Memoir - University of Illinois Springfield

Q. Because of the competition, the fear that the competition may be a basic bottom line there?
A. Well Eleanor and Franklin had plenty of competition but they made it.
Q. No, Hillary is smarter than Bill?
A. I agree. Also you feel you know her core better. It's clear where she stands. She's a good
Methodist girl.
Q. Do you think she'd make a good President?
A. She's a little self righteous. I really don't know but I think we know where she stands.
Q. Well now, to document the times, Harry Wu's safety here from China had an agenda. Do you
think he's been successful with this?
A. I think he's a martyr by choice.
Q. And how do you think about Hillary, back to Hillary, going to China at this time? Going to
the Convention?
A. I think it was inevitable that she should go, for better or worse, and I think that what she has
said is what she believes.
Q. You call her a lighting rod?
A. That's right. I call her a lightning rod.
Q. And do you think she'll be successful with all the complexities over there at the moment?
A. I have no idea how much they'll accomplish or what they can accomplish. It may be all
rhetoric. Who knows?
Q. You and Tom had no children but you made up for that with your extroardinary energy in
volunteerism. From 1941 to 1943 you were President of the League of Women Voters. What
were the issues at that time?
A. Mostly local. This was during the war. We couldn't do much with foreign affairs. We did
things, oh, related to the Milk Ordinance and that sort of thing. It was not exciting, it was kind of
drudgery, but worthy.
Q. What were your responsibilities?