The cameraman slid on his headset again and silently motioned to Sherrod.
“Senator?”
I stepped back, returned to the stool, and pulled on my own headset. Sherrod sat up in his chair. The canary pin gleamed.
Silently, the cameraman began to count down with his fingers for Ohio’s next senator.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
acknowledgments
SO MANY PEOPLE HELPED SHERROD IN HIS SUCCESSFUL RACE FOR the Senate that it is impossible to list them here. Instead, I want to thank those who were supportive in a personal way during the campaign and the writing of this book.
Many women formed their own organizations in Ohio after the 2004 election, and they welcomed me with open arms. What an inspiring—and growing—group of women.
Doug Mitchell pulled into town to help Sherrod and became my dear friend, too. It will be a long time before I forget windshield baseball.
John Ryan could not have worked so many miracles for us without the countless sacrifices of his wife, Jeanne, and their daughters, Megan, Colleen, and Erin.
Jack Dover guided and goaded us with equal measure, and made us better. To his wife, Agi: Thank you for the loan of your husband.
Numerous dynamic duos helped us keep perspective: Brian and Kim Baker, Subodh Chandra and Meena Morey Chandra, Joe and Pam Kanfer, Woody and Peggy Chamberlain, Sue and John Bender, Cheryl and Stuart Garson, Helen and Vic Stewart, Gloria and David Brown, Jennie and Allan Berliant, Melissa and Herb Hedden, Peter and Alice Lassally, Chuck and Shirley Fair, Ses and Maggie Kleshinski.
Wendy Hoke, Jill Miller Zimon, and Cindi Zawadzki blogged their way onto my A-list. Jeff Coryell took a stand for integrity. Chris Baker cleared new road with his wisdom and passion.
No one shared our commitment more than Joanna Kuebler—and, oh, that laugh! Anne Davis kept us armed and ready. David Doak, Mattis Goldman, Tom O’Donnell, and Diane Feldman made all the difference. Tom, in particular, understood Sherrod as few have. Diane calmed us down and worked us up with impeccable timing.
Dr. Patricia Kellner stepped up in every possible way, as a stellar family doctor—and as a trusted friend. Dr. Ray Onders repaired Sherrod in record time, and we are also grateful for his work to help injured Iraq War veterans. Joe Mackall reminded me why I do what I do. Dennis Eckart always knew what I needed to hear. Robin Davis Miller helped me celebrate the synchronicity of it all. Nannette Bedway saw only the best in me. Cool-hair Ryan DiVita shared the vision. Kylee Cook worked magic.
Sheila Dwyer treats political wives as if we have a brain in our head—and does it with such style. Kathleen Gallagher must never stop writing. Donna Caudill lightened the load with her wit. Rick Brunner’s enthusiasm wiped out every urge I had to whine. Sharon West egged on the journalist in me. Amy Budish’s certainty was emboldening. Annie Glenn talked me off more than one cliff. Emily Paul was the embodiment of grace.
I am grateful to Senators Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer for their kindness and respect.
Guy Cecil was a crucial link. Patrick Anderson delivered the tough talk with grace. Kimberly Wood was the spark that set the flame to roaring. Kim Kauffman knew when to push—and when to make a joke. Nick Watt made the home stretch much easier to bear.
Peggy Zone Fisher set the precedent. Lana Moresky reminded me by example why I must never give up. Meg Driscoll always reminded me why the fight mattered. Barbara Gould was wise when times were tough. Michael Naidus helped me set my compass, time and again. Russ Ayers was unforgettable. Susan Hagan wrote my favorite campaign song. Deborah Read moved mountains. Craig Ferguson made me laugh when I thought I couldn’t. Michele Young reminded me that it’s always about others. Romi Lassally insisted that I had something to say.
Memories of other people float up like snapshots. Lauren Spector’s hugs were such a boost. Davis Filippell made me proud to be his godmother. Steve “Later Leiber” was better than a jolt of caffeine. Lisa Scheer always looked out for me. Jennie Geise’s warm welcome was a crucial jump start. Debbie Skettle saved me from the chaos. Luke Perry proved it’s cool to be from Ohio. Carole King brought hope with her. Sabrina Singh was strong for me in a difficult moment. Michael J. Fox showed us what real courage looks like.
Russ Goodwin has changed many lives, including one very close to me. Thank you for mining the treasure, and sharing the wealth.
Several colleagues were friends throughout the campaign: Regina Brett, John Campanelli, Debbie Van Tassel, Andrea Simakis, Sheryl Harris, Bill Livingston, Chuck Yarborough, Harlan Spector, and Merlene Santiago. Tom Feran, with his collection of go-get-’em e-mails, is in a category by himself. On so many nights I read aloud Tom’s notes, just to watch the exhausted candidate laugh.
Stuart Warner’s faith in me kept me afloat. He is my greatest mentor.
Other journalists supported from afar. The fight in the Newspaper Guild–CWA’s Linda Foley kept me swinging. Anna Quindlen long ago set the standard, and her gentle support guided me more than she knew. Dotty Lynch was a public champion. Mary McCarty caught me mid-stumble. Leonard Pitts was as kind as he is talented.
Peter Slevin affirmed my pride in our profession. Joe Tone keeps me hopeful about its future.
Several Ohio newspaper writers deserve special mention: Carl Chancellor, Jack Torry, Steve Koff, Mark Naymik, Jonathan Riskind, Jim Tankersley, and Jessica Wehrman. I didn’t always like what they wrote, but I’ve got no quibble with their fairness and their passion for our profession.
I cherish the friends who’ve been with me from the beginning. Throughout the campaign, they reminded me that shared history transcends all: Hope Adelstein, Stanley Adelstein, Fleka Anderson, Jackie Cassara, the Reverend Kate Huey, Dr. Gaylee McCracken, Buffy Filippell, Mark Filippell, Gloria Goldstein, Laurence Goldstein, Clem Hearey, Sue Klein, Dr. Patricia Kellner, and Bill Lubinger. If you don’t know what you mean to me by now, then I’ve got some explaining to do.
Patient friends oversaw various drafts of this book: In addition to Fleka, Jackie, Gaylee, Joanna, and Sue, I got big assists from Joan Klein, Wendy Bonds, John Ryan, and Jeanne Ryan. Wendy Leatherberry deserves special mention, not only for her many pages of copy-editing notes, but for her relentless faith in democracy.
This is my second effort with the same team of talented and dedicated people at Random House. Kate Medina knew I had another book in me before I did, as is her habit. No one has had a greater impact on my career. Robin Rolewicz eased my every worry even as she pulled every last shred of effort from me. Abby Plesser kept the train roaring. Beth Pearson is that unsung hero of publishing—the production editor. Managing editor Benjamin Dreyer was a constant source of wit and wisdom. Copy editor Emily DeHuff saved me from myself. And I could always count on Sally Marvin for a pep talk.
Finally, there is family.
Theresa Congdon loved my father and tended to us all. My sisters, Leslie Schultz Perkoski and Toni Schultz, bore more than their share of burdens and never once complained about my absences. They are my heroes. Les’s husband, David Perkoski, was also incredibly supportive. Thanks to my brother, Chuck, for voting his conscience. (Feels good, doesn’t it?)
Two sets of parents raised their children so well that they lost them for a year to our family, as they devoted every spare moment to changing the direction of the country. To Nancy and Snowden Stanley, and Angie and Noel Torres: Thank you for the gifts of Michael and Kristina, and for understanding more than should have been asked of you.
Sherrod’s family—his mother, Emily Campbell Brown; brother Bob and his wife, Catherine Scallen; brother Charlie and his wife, Anne Swanson—were tireless champions for Sherrod. Tara Brown has clearly inherited the passion for politics, and Marcia Grace Brown was the brightest spirit on any day of the campaign. Anne kept a particularly watchful eye out for me, and I appreciated the concern.
Marriage to Sherrod has brought many blessings. Three of the greatest are my two stepdaughters,
Elizabeth Clarke Brown and Emily Montgomery Brown, and Emily’s husband, Michael Stanley. They supported Sherrod with breathtaking devotion, which bolstered me on many a day. They bring so many gifts to my life.
Four years ago, my two children, Andy Gard and Caitlin Schultz Gard, gave Sherrod a chance because they loved me. It didn’t take long before they, too, loved him, and they proved it throughout the campaign. They also looked out for me. Andy was forever checking up on me, and Caitlin never let me forget who I am. Kristina Torres has had little downtime since she joined this family. She is a kind and gentle soul. Stina’s sister, Marisa Torres, often joined us, and with her came a lot of joy.
As for Sherrod, my husband: Honey, I just wrote an entire book about you. What a ride, my love. What a ride.
about the author
CONNIE SCHULTZ, a biweekly columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer/Creators Syndicate, won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2005. Her other accolades include the Scripps-Howard National Journalism Award, the National Headliners Award, the James Batten Medal, and the Robert F. Kennedy Award for social-justice reporting. Her narrative series “The Burden of Innocence,” which chronicled the life of a man wrongly incarcerated for rape, was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Connie Schultz is married to Ohio’s junior senator, Sherrod Brown, and has two children and two stepchildren.
Also by Connie Schultz
Life Happens
Copyright © 2007 by Connie Schultz
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Random House, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
RANDOM HOUSE and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to the following for permission to reprint previously published material:
The Columbus Dispatch: Excerpt from an article by Jonathan Riskind and Jack Torry (The Columbus Dispatch, September 3, 2006). Reprinted by permission of The Columbus Dispatch.
Dayton Daily News: Excerpt from “Brown’s Wife Understands the Consequences of His Win” by Jessica Wehrman (Dayton Daily News, November 13, 2006), copyright © Dayton Newspapers, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the Dayton Daily News.
IRVING BERLIN MUSIC COMPANY: Excerpt from “An Old-Fashioned Wedding” by Irving Berlin, copyright © 1966 by Irving Berlin. Copyright renewed. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of Irving Berlin Music Company.
TMS REPRINTS: Excerpt from a May 2006 story by Knight-Ridder reporter Steve Thomma, copyright © McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission of The Permissions Company on behalf of TMS Reprints.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Schultz, Connie
…and his lovely wife: a memoir from the woman beside the man / Connie Schultz.
p. cm.
1. Political campaigns—United States—Case studies. 2. United States. Congress. Senate—Elections, 2006. 3. Elections—United States. 4. Brown, Sherrod. 5. Schultz, Connie. I. Title.
JK2281.S37 2007
324.9771'044–dc22 2007013187
www.atrandom.com
eISBN: 978-1-58836-628-3
v3.0
. . . And His Lovely Wife Page 27