FIRST PERSON

Susan Molinari On Convention Spotlight

As Told To Richard E. Cohen

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008


First PersonStepping into the spotlight at a national convention can be one of the high points of a lifetime in politics. But for a trio of Republicans who starred at previous GOP conventions, memories of their big moment are mingled with recollections of not being entirely in control--having to deal with a huge crowd, a balky TelePrompTer, or a weird mechanical problem.

• Dan Quayle
• Tom Kean
• Susan Molinari

I have never before told this story. I had 10 minutes to give the speech [the 1996 keynote address]. We had a hard "out" at 11 p.m., when the networks were shutting down. There was a podium step that moved up or down mechanically. And I had to learn how to read the TelePrompTer. Before my speech, [then-New Jersey Gov.] Christine Whitman introduced me. She was running late. And they didn't have time to adjust the step. So, I couldn't see the TelePrompTer, except for little pieces. I had the written text with me, but I had prepared to use the TelePrompTer in the biggest speech of my life.

The speech went fine. Much of it was memorized. I wasn't sure why the step wasn't working. My brain was trying to figure that out. But you do what you have to do.

My favorite line was that Bill Clinton's promises have the lifespan of a Big Mac on Air Force One. The rest of the speech was about Bob Dole as an American hero. It was a great honor for me. Bob Dole is a hero, and I was proud to represent him.

I had had my first baby on May 10--Susan Ruby Paxon. And that was a big story for Mother's Day. So, for me, the speech was very personal. I was very concerned about the future.

The speech was important for me because I met a lot of television network executives, including Peter Lund, the president of CBS. During the convention, I had an opportunity to discuss a niche for a Saturday morning news show [which Molinari began after leaving the House in 1997].

I learned that I would be giving the keynote when Dole announced it on Larry King Live. He had never asked me. I was at a bar in Buffalo, and my beeper went off. My staffer told me to turn on Larry King. Then, I went to a pay phone and called Larry to say that I accepted. The Dole campaign wanted me to call. My poor husband [then-Rep. Bill Paxon] was announcing his re-election campaign the next day. But the reporters were only interested in me.

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