European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 07, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 20 the stars and stripes wednesday september 7,1977 new York times by Teresa Zabala congressional wife columnist Kate Cavanaugh now the Hometown folks Don t have to ask about the baby. end by Kat Cavanaugh by Barbara Gamarekian new York times t was 32-year-old, red headed John j. Cavanaugh who was elected to Congress last year from the second District of Nebraska which encompasses Omaha and five counties along the Missouri River but it is 29-year old Auburn haired Kate Cavanaugh his wife who has turned into a celebrity Back Home. When she and their three children re turned with the congressman to Omaha during the july 4 recess strangers approached her on the Street people hailed her by name As she and her husband and the children Rode in a Parade in the rumble seat of a Model a knew All about Kate Cavanaugh because they had been Reading he column letter from Washington in the weekly South Omaha became a columnist shortly after Cavanaugh was sworn in. Both he and sen. Edward Zorinsky were new to Washington and the Sun asked mrs. Cavanaugh and mrs. Zorinsky to alternate with weekly columns about their experiences in the Capi Tal. They really wanted to have a column about Washington parties and the political scene Here Cavanaugh said but my life in t exactly like that. So i started to write about what was going on at our our House contains three red headed children Patrick age 4 Colleen age 3, and Maureen 9 months plus mrs. Cavanaugh s sister Mary Pat who at the moment is in Yugoslavia but when she is in Washington is looking for a Job and Vari Ous House guests. They Are new homeowners and there is no furniture other than cribs for the babies a trundle bed a hide a bed sofa and a card table in the Kitchen. John keeps his underwear in the Chil Dren s Dresser Cavanaugh said. And nothing in the living room or dining room Well she said we do have a lamp on the fireplace so that we can see at night and there s a Box of old Bank statements sitting on the built in Buffet in the dining room. But it does t really matter All the bathrooms Are Worth there Are three of them. You would think that after eight years of marriage we would have a couple of chairs by now she said with a Grin. But we just have never had any Money. We might As Well be newlyweds during a Good share of their mar ried life her husband has either been in the army or in Law school. But spartan living has not deterred the Cavanaugh. They had 16 House guests during the inauguration and since that time mrs. Cavanaugh thinks they have had More than 100 overnight visitors. That includes relatives friends from Omaha and her husband s staffers some of who have lived with them for Short periods while finding housing in and John Cavanaugh met at Creighton University a Jesuit school i Omaha. He grew up in a family immersed in politics and their courtship flowered during the Kennedy Mccarthy 1968 Nebraska primary. They were married in 1969 i Frankfurt Germany where John was stationed with the army and they re turned to Omaha the following year John to finish Law school Kate to teach fifth Grade. Cavanaugh ran for the congressional seat for which his father had at one time campaigned unsuccessfully. He is the first Democrat to fill it since 1948. When we were campaigning " mrs. Cavanaug said the Only questions people Ever asked me was when s the baby due and after Ward How s the baby " now they ask about the was unprepared for it All. She said with unconcealed Delight people no matter where we went paid More Atten Tion to me than John both men an women. They did t know what to say to me before because they did t know any thing about me. But now they Don t have to ask about the of her ideas for the column come As she is vacuuming or scouring the , she said if anyone is staying at the House they have to listen to me As i try it out on there Are some things she has t writ ten about however like the Day last de Cember when she was looking for a Housetop rent in Washington with 5-week-old Mau Reen on her hip. She spied the vice presi Dent elect Walter Mondale in his Yard raking leaves. Mrs. Cavanaugh bounced Over somewhat awestruck to shake his hand. In route she tripped baby Slid to half Mast and the secret service Man went into action. The result was a Cut ankle ruined stocking and an embarrassed Kate Cavanaugh who recovered by saying i was so excited you brought me to my the next Stop that Day was a lunch for new congressional wives Given by rep. Richard boiling who was campaigning for the Job of House majority Leader. The baby was screaming mrs. Cavanaugh was a nursing Mother and the women at her table were very Motherly so Kate did what was necessary. I thought i was being very discreet but the waiter came and put a Napkin Over my Chest she said demonstrating by flip Ping a Green Napkin Over Pink Blouse. " Here he says this is for the baby " her husband she said thinks her copy is not written tightly enough but she thinks she is improving. She recognizes the fact that the column is a political asset. I manage very cleverly to get everyone s name in there if we have people from Omaha visiting in Washington she said. She is paid $20 and thinks she should get a raise. If they paid me $50,1 could have some body come in and clean my House while i write the she said. Retirement is not without its prob lems. As i told my mom and dad when the Hung it up you people Are on the thresh old of a new career that of finding some thing to do. Naturally i want to help but you both must understand i have my family my own responsibility and with my hectic schedule 1 do not have time to sit around exchanging cures for irregularities. You Are basically on your several weeks after they moved into their retirement Community i called Mother. What do you want she asked breathlessly i was just going out the door. Got Organ lessons this no big Deal i said. Just Call Smeback when you have a moment by Erma Bombeck at wits end four Days later i called again you Okay sure. Sorry i did t Call you Back but we were out collecting rocks forthe Rock hounds and then i had to go to the Beauty shop and today is my Oil painting class. What s up i did t want you to feel ignored on is today your birthday Are you sure i was there Mother. Why Don t you come Over this evening i d love to but there s a Bell ringing concert and after that we re All going Over for a swim and a i just Don t want you to be i la come out tomorrow and we can i d love to have you but we re picking grapes and making raisins out of them. Maybe after my macrame class on thursday. Let me Check my Calendar and Call you the next afternoon she popped in. I Only have a minute she said i m Havinga fund Raiser Coffee and i be got to vacuum the living room. Your father is out playing Golf. So what have you been doing i visited a Mobile Chest a Ray yester Day at the shopping Mother looked at her watch. Did i Tell you my yeast expired yester Day i thought it had a week to go but when i got it out of the refrigerator. That s interesting said Mother. My insurance Man sent me a birthday card " that s Nice said Mother. Then she took my hand and said dear i want to help you through our retirement. I really do but you must understand i have my own life my own responsibilities and with my hectic schedule i can t sit around with you discussing your Iron deficiency. You Are basically on your Mother was a Middle aged person thought she d understand. C Field enterprises inc
