TROPHY WIVES ON CAPITOL HILL

Cottle (2006) THE WEEK, 8/25/ 36-37

The story generally runs something like this. Senator or Representative gets elected. As time goes by, his schedule becomes more complex and time consuming. He drifts away from his family. The wife knew him when he was a nobody.

In Washington DC, the capitol is filled with young female interns. They are political animals in their 20's and the way to move up quickly is to catch the attention of a Senator. They are called SKINTERNS  because they dress in tight skirts that rise way above the knee. Senator has the blues sees intern and asks something political. It then turns into drinks and a budding relationship.

First wife gets older and has kids to take care of. Skintern gets her man. First wife is dumped.

Second wife can keep Senator if she does not get pregnant, stays forever young, and works along side the Senator. They become a power couple and she gets political appointments in the city.

She is a somebody and they work together.

The best known story is Senator Robert Dole and his first wife.Phyl is Holden, Dole's first wife is an occupational therapist. She helped Robert after the war to walk again and use all of his capabilities. Further, she sat in some of his classes to take notes and helped him go from Kansas to Capitol Hill. Then she was dumped for wife # 2 who also ran for president. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich is with wife #3.

(In this state, Rep. Nussle is on wife #2.) One analysts notes that the Skinterns dress just north of

hookers. Incidentally, women get power and need a new himbo and they are interns too.

One wife, Susan LaTourette wife of Rep. Steve LaTourette told the press ahead of time that he was cheating. She said he was a great guy, husband, and father until he got to capitol hill. "Now he is one of them!" " All they want to do is get re-elected." " I hate them all."