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Mrs. Kerry Candid About Herself
Aired May 07, 2003 - 15:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: The wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry speaks candidly about herself and her husband in an interview with "Elle" magazine.
Among other things, Teresa Heinz Kerry talks about the couple's prenuptial agreement and the fact that she generally uses the surname of her first husband, the late senator from Pennsylvania, John Heinz.
When asked what people call her now she said, "They'll call me Mrs. Kerry because that's what's natural to them. And I don't tell them to shut up."
With me now, writer Lisa Depaulo, who conducted the interview.
Lisa DePaulo, how hard was it for you to get Mrs. Kerry to open up?
LISA DEPAULO, WRITER, "ELLE" MAGAZINE: Not hard. She is refreshingly honest, and she answers the questions. She doesn't dodge anything. She is who she is without apology.
WOODRUFF: Were you surprised she was willing to be as outspoken as she was with you? She's, obviously, there with an article in "The Washington Post" some months ago, where there was some reaction to her candor.
Were you surprised she was willing to do that again?
DEPAULO: I was shocked given "The Washington Post" article -- especially since handlers (ph) had been hired to keep teresa from doing that again.
But I think it says a lot about her that she's not going to be filtered and controlled, and I think it's going to hit a cord with people because people are getting tired of this cookie-cutter image of what a political wife is supposed to be. Which is not very much like most women.
WOODRUFF: I want to ask you about that. She talked candidly about the fact that they have a prenuptial agreement.
DEPAULO: It was wonderful to be able to say, "So, do you have a prenup?" and she said, "Absolutely."
She has three children to protect from her previous marriage. It's a realistic thing to do. And I thought she should get points for being straight about it. WOODRUFF: What about -- she also had some comments about the staff -- and her -- and their advice to her about how she should appear.
DEPAULO: Oh, yes. They are worried about her hair. She made some funny comments about her not having a typical First Lady hairdo.
And I said, "Well, you know, maybe the rules can be changed.
And she said, "Well, I have to get there first." Which she knows and she's doing several things to that end.
She changed her registration. She changed her name.
WOODRUFF: Lisa DePaulo, how did the staff react once they were aware of what she was saying? Did they have a reaction to all of this?
DEPAULO: I think they are starting to embrace the fact that Teresa is Teresa. And they are not going to change her, and that maybe they shouldn't want to. Because underneath all this is a very genuineness. And I think it could be the very antidote to John Kerry's perceived arrogance.
WOODRUFF: You mentioned a minute ago that maybe the American people are ready for a more candid spouse of a presidential candidate. Do you think that the American people can handle a spouse who does speak out?
DEPAULO: Well, this is going to be the taste. In a lot of ways she's like the female John McCain and the -- so let's see. Is it going to be "Whoa, what did you just say?" or "Hey, it's nice to hear somebody answer questions honestly."
WOODRUFF: All right. Lisa DePaulo, a writer who did the interview with Teresa Heinz Kerry for "Elle" magazine.
Thanks for talking with us.
DEPAULO: Thanks, Judy.
WOODRUFF: We appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 7, 2003 - 15:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: The wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry speaks candidly about herself and her husband in an interview with "Elle" magazine.
Among other things, Teresa Heinz Kerry talks about the couple's prenuptial agreement and the fact that she generally uses the surname of her first husband, the late senator from Pennsylvania, John Heinz.
When asked what people call her now she said, "They'll call me Mrs. Kerry because that's what's natural to them. And I don't tell them to shut up."
With me now, writer Lisa Depaulo, who conducted the interview.
Lisa DePaulo, how hard was it for you to get Mrs. Kerry to open up?
LISA DEPAULO, WRITER, "ELLE" MAGAZINE: Not hard. She is refreshingly honest, and she answers the questions. She doesn't dodge anything. She is who she is without apology.
WOODRUFF: Were you surprised she was willing to be as outspoken as she was with you? She's, obviously, there with an article in "The Washington Post" some months ago, where there was some reaction to her candor.
Were you surprised she was willing to do that again?
DEPAULO: I was shocked given "The Washington Post" article -- especially since handlers (ph) had been hired to keep teresa from doing that again.
But I think it says a lot about her that she's not going to be filtered and controlled, and I think it's going to hit a cord with people because people are getting tired of this cookie-cutter image of what a political wife is supposed to be. Which is not very much like most women.
WOODRUFF: I want to ask you about that. She talked candidly about the fact that they have a prenuptial agreement.
DEPAULO: It was wonderful to be able to say, "So, do you have a prenup?" and she said, "Absolutely."
She has three children to protect from her previous marriage. It's a realistic thing to do. And I thought she should get points for being straight about it. WOODRUFF: What about -- she also had some comments about the staff -- and her -- and their advice to her about how she should appear.
DEPAULO: Oh, yes. They are worried about her hair. She made some funny comments about her not having a typical First Lady hairdo.
And I said, "Well, you know, maybe the rules can be changed.
And she said, "Well, I have to get there first." Which she knows and she's doing several things to that end.
She changed her registration. She changed her name.
WOODRUFF: Lisa DePaulo, how did the staff react once they were aware of what she was saying? Did they have a reaction to all of this?
DEPAULO: I think they are starting to embrace the fact that Teresa is Teresa. And they are not going to change her, and that maybe they shouldn't want to. Because underneath all this is a very genuineness. And I think it could be the very antidote to John Kerry's perceived arrogance.
WOODRUFF: You mentioned a minute ago that maybe the American people are ready for a more candid spouse of a presidential candidate. Do you think that the American people can handle a spouse who does speak out?
DEPAULO: Well, this is going to be the taste. In a lot of ways she's like the female John McCain and the -- so let's see. Is it going to be "Whoa, what did you just say?" or "Hey, it's nice to hear somebody answer questions honestly."
WOODRUFF: All right. Lisa DePaulo, a writer who did the interview with Teresa Heinz Kerry for "Elle" magazine.
Thanks for talking with us.
DEPAULO: Thanks, Judy.
WOODRUFF: We appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
