Nany Evans oral history.indd - Washington Secretary of State

Evans: And we don’t carry that many electoral votes and the whole thing. I know that
when Bob Dole was chosen as the vice-presidential candidate Dan said, “I know I’d be a
better candidate than he is.” I ended up liking Bob a lot. But at that time when he was
chosen he was very sarcastic.
Hughes: Sharp tongue.
Evans: We traveled with him later when Dan was in the Senate and he was not that way.
But earlier we went to some things for him here and there, and he just turned me off. And
the voters too, obviously. I don’t think he helped the ticket at all. I think Dan probably
might have been a better choice.
Hughes: Would Dan have taken that if offered?
Evans: I think so. Sure. The vice-presidency would have been a wonderful experience,
absolutely.
Hughes: FDR’s first vice-president, John Nance Garner, once remarked that the vicepresidency
“is not worth a pitcher of warm spit.”
Evans: “A pitcher of warm spit” – that’s right.
Hughes: Actually he didn’t say “spit.” They bowdlerized that a little bit. … One of the great
political parlor games is “there but for fortune.” Spiro Agnew, who got the spot on the
ticket with Nixon in 1968, turns out to be a tax cheater.
Evans: Yeah, he was a disaster.
Hughes: And Richard Nixon is bugging phones and keeping an enemies list. He resigns
over Watergate and Agnew is gone, too. Did you ever think about that, I mean…
Evans: “What if?” you mean?
Hughes: Well, “what if?” indeed. Dan could have been president. It could have happened
to you, and you’re so normal – the only way you’ve ever been. How refreshing it is to find
out that Nancy Evans is just really Nancy.
Evans: No other choice.
Hughes: Not a choice. And why is that?
Evans: You say “Nancy is Nancy.” Well, that’s who I am.
Hughes: I know, but I’ve interviewed Nancys who are no longer Nancys because they
became celebrities.
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