Married to the Proverbial Mob.
Sep 12th, 2005 by Kate
I wonder what it is like to be married to a Congressman/Senator/President… any sort of major public servant. As I am watching the Confirmation hearings for John Roberts, I see him with his wife and I wonder what their relationship is like. I assume she is the dutiful wife, supporting her husband in his career, raising the kids, keeping the home. But I wonder how much quality time they have together. I am slowly learning of the way this system works, I know that the man I am working for is constantly traveling from his district to DC and back. But where is his wife and family? How often does he get to see them? I know they lease a home in this area, and I assume they have one in Houston, but where do they stay? I’m exhausted by the time I get home from work and all I do all day is answer phones and sort things, I cannot imagine what its like to go home after a long day of arguing and listening to other people and their outrageous proposals. How much quality time is available to spend with the family? Who knows when he’ll be home… I wouldn’t be able to do it. Either side of it, be one or be married to one. But whatever happens, I would do my best to support my husband in his career. I will be that great woman behind that great man. But I do value the idea of the family, the whole American dream thing: loving husband, 2.5 kids, a dog, white picket fence, but NO minivan. And I only want to get married ONCE.
And what about the role of the wife in influencing the decisions of the policy maker? Sex is a powerful tool. “Honey, I’ll leave you (or something else along those lines) if you don’t vote this way.” How often does that happen? (Where do my ideas come from?!) I’m just trying think about human nature.
The quote “behind every great man is a great woman” comes to mind. But can’t the opposite be true? Then we get in to the whole Freud/castration bit. Men are intimidated by women with power, women with drive and ambition. (An obvious source of much frustration for myself…) And how do you raise a family with the demanding schedule that is politics? But then again, most congress women are of an older age with grown children, but while she was raising her children, she was establishing those connections and laying the stones for advancing her political career as soon as Sam and Sally were out of the house.
I have a lot of respect for the significant others of our legislators.
Articles:
Behind Every Great Man… First Ladies matter.
Behind every great man: the Elizabeth Edwards story.
I swear, I think of the craziest, most random things.