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Connie Morella on becoming a Republican ~\n\n"Mac was running for office and he had very stiff competition. He was a Republican. I had to cross-over and become a Republican to vote for him in a primary. I did, and I thought, I think I'll go back. Then, I looked at what was happening in our Country. I saw Jacob Javits, Clifford Case, Everett Dirksen. I saw all of these great men who brought both sides together who were Republicans. Who believed in fiscal responsibility, but also believed in liberal rights, rights for people. I stayed a Republican. I became the Moderate Republican, which then gradually became an endangered species, and now it is almost extinct."\n\nConnie Morella (right) and Andy Ockershausen (left) in studio interview\n\nA Ockershausen:\tThis is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. We have such a delightful, delightful friend and one of the great women of my lifetime. In spite, my wife is right up there too. She's made such an impact on Our Town. So many ways in a national local level. She served in, The United States Congress representing the 8th Congressional District, of Maryland, as a Republican. That will never happen again. She's a mother to 9 children, a teacher, and an advocate for human rights, women's health, and domestic violence issues. Did she stop after Congress? No way. She was just beginning, and she's here today to tell us about what she's been up to besides Ambassador of France. She's had a wonderful, wonderful career after Congress, and that's Connie Morella. \nConnie Morella:\tThank you very much Andy O. Your very lavish introduction reminded me of something attributed to May West if you can remember that name from the old, old ... When she said, "Too much of a good thing, can be downright enjoyable." \nA Ockershausen:\tOh my God. May West, come up and see me sometime. I remember all those sayings. I think Ken might be too young. Ken's our technical director. \nKen Hunter:\tNo, I remember May West. Oh yes. \nSomerville, Massachusetts | Grammar School through High School \nA Ockershausen:\tConnie, you have had such a remarkable impact on Our Town. In addition to your work in Congress, but it's so many things. You are from Somerville, Massachusetts. It's a long way from Washington, but maybe it isn't. Maybe it was great. You went to school ... You went to grammar school in Somerville? \nConnie Morella:\tI did indeed, and high school. \nA Ockershausen:\tCatholic school? \nConnie Morella:\tNo. Public school. \nOn Boston University\nA Ockershausen:\tWow. You went to BU, that's not Catholic either. \nConnie Morella:\tYeah, right. \nA Ockershausen:\tIs that a city school, or is that part of U Mass? \nConnie Morella:\tNo, no, that's a private school. \nA Ockershausen:\tPrivate school? \nConnie Morella:\tBoston University. \nA Ockershausen:\tIt's not connected with any religious order? \nConnie Morella:\tYou know, it's like so many of these major universities, have some kind of a connection. Sometimes very remote. There is a remote connection with Methodists. Just like American University. It's Methodist . . .\nA Ockershausen:\tThey're actually common usually. \nConnie Morella:\tExactly. Boston University is in that ... \nA Ockershausen:\tA very, very independent school. \nConnie Morella:\tRight. \nA Ockershausen:\tYou learned a lot, and learned to be very independent. How did you learn ... Did you learn growing up to be a Republican, or did that evolve? \nConnie Morella:\tNo. In Somerville, Boston, Massachusetts, you're not a republican. I grew up in a Democratic household. I was Democrat when we married and came to Washington DC, and then moved into Maryland. What happened? My epiphany came when Charles "Mac" Mathias, who was the Senator ... \nA Ockershausen:\tI knew Mac very well. \nFrom a Democrat to Republican\nConnie Morella:\tYes. Mac was running for office and he had very stiff competition. He was a Republican. I had to cross-over and become a Republican to vote for him in a primary. I did, and I thought,