Nany Evans oral history.indd - Washington Secretary of State

Bert Cole was very serious about this. He thought it should be a “modern home on the
point where the parking lot is.” He added, “And think of the view you’d have.” And I said,
“Yes, but think of the history you’ll lose here.” There were members of the Legislature who
were not in favor of this plan (saving the Mansion) and did their best to axe it whenever
they could. One was Slim Rasmussen. He became my nemesis.
Hughes: He was the tough ol’ Democrat from Tacoma. He was a lot of people’s nemesis.
Evans: Yeah, and he wasn’t in favor of anything we suggested. After we moved back in, in
September of ’74, the Mansion was open to the press for a tour, and I was showing them
around. And when Slim came over, I took him by his arm and said, “Let me show you
around, Slim.” I was showing him all the rooms, and the furnishings and what have you.
Then he said, “Well, you’ve done a wonderful job here.” And I know it was hard for him to
say it. I felt very pleased that he had come over.
Hughes: Earlier, some architects did a study for the House Capitol Committee and said the
Mansion was “not architecturally wonderful and historically ancient.”
Evans: Yeah. That’s what they said. (smiling)
Hughes: Was it you or Dan who said, “It’s a lot more ancient than a new one would be”?
Evans: I don’t remember. But it sounds like something I would say. I remember when we
went to England I told Jean Jongeward and the Foundation people, “I’ll look around.” And
I remember I got a list of antique stores to go to in London. I went to this one and told
them what I was doing. I said, “I’m looking for some possible furnishings for a home for a
governor in the State of Washington. And we’re looking for furnishings that are old – early
18th, late 17th Century.” And he said, “I’m sorry. We don’t have anything after 1650.” I
was in the wrong store, obviously.
Hughes: For the record, did you have bats?
Evans: Yes. I think everybody who lived there did.
Editor’s Note: In 1997, Governor Gary Locke awoke one night to find a bat circling
the bassinet of his 4-week-old daughter, Emily. He chased it out with a dust mop, but as a
precaution, the governor, his wife Mona and the infant received rabies shots.
Hughes: At the Governor’s Mansion 100 th anniversary celebration last October, someone
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