Nany Evans oral history.indd - Washington Secretary of State

sort of stabbed at it and tried to be good sports. But pretty soon I thought, “No, this isn’t
working.” I gave it up.
Hughes: Let’s talk about the 1972 campaign when Dan was seeking a third term. You were
there that fateful day when former governor Al Rosellini called your husband “Danny boy.”
Tell us about that.
Evans: Well, I don’t remember a lot about the details except that it was a big crowd. It was
at North Seattle Community College. And I just remember standing there, watching it all
unfold, and when I heard Governor Rosellini refer to Dan as “Danny boy” I remember just
thinking, “Oh, that’s it.” I just knew right away that was a mistake.
Hughes: Big mistake.
Evans: Yes, a big mistake.
Hughes: Did any kind of look come across Al’s face, like he knew he had made a faux pas?
Evans: No, because he repeated himself. He said it again. He actually said “Danny Boy” 12
times. I’m sure he rues it to this day.
Hughes: I’ll bet he does. That would be an interesting thing to ask him about. Now over
the years, when all those former governors get together, I wonder if time has pasteurized
out the old wounds? Do you think Dan and Al have ever talked about that sort of thing?
Evans: I don’t know. I don’t think they’ve gone back and rehashed it all. There’s no sense
in that. I think they just look at things today and what needs to be done today. And it
would only be between Dan and Al because they ran against each other a couple times.
But let’s see, Booth defeated John Spellman, so I guess there could be (some baggage). But
neither John nor Booth are the kind to do that. Several years ago when Booth was having
his early difficulties, we became really good friends. The phone would ring at 6 or 6:30 in
the morning and I knew who it was. I would pick up the phone and just say, “Hi Booth.”
Because with Parkinson’s you often don’t sleep well and you wake up very early. He would
just call, and we would chat. We’ve become very good friends. We’ve also become very
good friends with the Lockes, Gary and Mona. All of them. I think it’s all in good feeling –
goodwill, among all the former governors.
Hughes: You said that Ethel Rosellini had been really gracious to you as a young first
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