OMNEYS

COVER AND OPENING PHOTO GRAPHS BY BEN BAKER

THE

A CONVERSATION WITH

As the Republican convention gets under way, the candidate and his wife answer reader questions and re ect on the campaign, the controversies, and the challenges ahead

LYNN

BY SHERR

ts probably
the closest the Romneys have come to kicking back during this campaign summer: a late July afternoon on glistening Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. Grandkids bounce on the trampoline, splash in the gentle waves, soak in the hot tub. The candidates eldest son, Tagg, 42, and his wife, Jen, keep an eye on their brood while a passel of campaign workers and friends stir things up in the kitchen. But youre never off the clock when youre running for president, which is why Mitt Romneywearing pressed jeans and a more relaxed demeanor than he does on the stumpand his radiant wife, Ann, agreed to this dinnertime conversation with PARADE contributor Lynn Sherr. On the table, a typical New England lobster-and-corn supper. Nearby, 2-year-old Johnny in a high chair, occasionally cooing at his adoring grandmother. Coming before the announcement of his vice presidential pick and his awkward trip to Europe, the discussion focused on campaign vitriol, the governors hopes for the Republican convention (set to begin tomorrow in Tampa), and very pragmatic questions from readers (culled from Parade .com, CafMom, and two GateHouse Media newspapers: the Peoria Journal Star and the Canton Repository) about Romneys wealth

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CAMERA READY

The couple pose in front of a photo backdrop outside their Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H., home.

August 26, 2012 7

and how he would have voters backs if elected president.

PARADE: Governor, your campaign speeches

ANN ROMNEY:

Interestingit didnt hurt at

all this time.

Why do you think that in a recent poll, you lost out to the president in [voter] enthusiasm?
MR: To most folks that dont pay a lot of attention to the Republican primary process, Im not so well known. As I get better known, people will have greater condence that Im the person who can get this country working again for the middle class. Its nice

to return to celebrating success, encouraging entrepreneurship, and nding ways to get government out of the way.
Also from a reader, Nancy B., of Winter Springs, Fla.: I trust your acumen to assemble a great turnaround team for the economy. But who do you have in mind for advice on foreign affairs?

talk about the middle class, but the vast majority of the questions we received from readers asked about your ability to relate to their struggles. In essence, how do you know what its like to be someone without means, someone, as one reader puts it, trying to scrape by, living on food stamps?

Each of us faces struggles of one kind or another. Our life was not characterized by nancial stress as much as it was by health issues. I served as a pastor of a congregation and saw people with various challenges and did my best to help them. I believe my experience in the private sector, the voluntary sector, and government has helped teach me what it takes to help people with different types of challenges.
MITT ROMNEY:

We got this question from Kelsey M. of Orange, Va. [Im] a stay-at-home mom of two children. How will your presidency improve my life?

One, youll be able to see better jobs with rising income again. And youll know that when your kids go to school, its a school of your choice, not the governments. And youll know that when your kids come out of school, there will be a good job waiting for them.
MR:

FINANCIAL
CHARACTERIZED BY

OUR LIFE WAS NOT

I dont have a secretary of state or national security adviser in mind at this pointit might be a little presumptuous. That being said, I speak with a number of the former secretaries of state and [other] leadersCondoleezza Rice, Jim Baker, George Shultz, Henry Kissinger, John Bolton, as well as people less well known. My leadership style is to have people of differing viewpoints express them openly and [then I] select among them myself.
MR:

Question from Texas resident Jean S.: Have you ever felt like a loser? What did you do to overcome that feeling?
MR: I

STRESS AS MUCH AS

IT WAS BY HEALTH ISSUES.

dene myself by my relationship with God, my wife, and my family. And in those relationships, Im not a loser. I dont worry about what happens in politics and the opinions of others, or Id lose my hair!
And we all know you havent done that.
MR:

Glue keeps it in place. [laughter]

There were a number of questions about your financial wealth. New Jersey resident Harry H. asked if you would make this pledge: If elected, do you promise to bank in the United States?

to be loved, but its better to be respected.

On the topic of respect, former New Hampshire governor John Sununu has said that President Obama needs to learn to be American. Youve referred to his policies as foreign. Do you believe that President Obama is un-American in any way?

Lets talk for a moment about your faith. How has tithing [the Mormon practice of giving 10 percent of ones income to the church] shaped your view of how we treat each other?
AR:

My investments have been managed for almost the last 10 years by a blind trust. A trustee decides where to put our money. If Im president, my understanding is the same principle applies, that I may not direct any of my investments. I cant tell you what my investments might be because I wont make them. But Im happy to have every investment in the United States.
MR:

Youve received a lot of criticism from your opponents in the primaries. They said a lot of nasty things. Did it hurt?

No. Thats part of the political process. I dont worry about that.
MR:

I love tithing. When Mitt and I give that check, I actually cry. MR: So do I, but for a different reason. AR: I know this money is an indication of how much we trust God and love the MR: Governor Sununu was not sugprinciple of sacrifice. And it teaches us gesting he wasnt American, nor do I. not to be too, too tied to the things of the I believe hes making us far more like world. And it is a very good reminder of Europe, with a larger, more domihow blessed we really are, and most of nant, more intrusive government. those blessings do not come from I believe if we keep going on a nancial source, but from the EDITORS NOTE As part of PARADEs that path, we will end up like power above. 2012 election coverage, Europe, with chronic high M R : O ur church doesnt the magazine will unemployment, no wage feature President Obama publish how much people have and the rst lady in an growth, and economic calamity given. This is done entirely upcoming issue. at the doorstep. I think you have privately. continued on page 14

8 August 26, 2012

The Romneys | from page 8

One of the downsides of releasing ones nancial information is that this is now all public, but we had never intended our contributions to be known. Its a very personal thing between ourselves and our commitment to our God and to our church.
Tithing sounds like a form of it takes a village. Youre helping the community.

fall in. But I enjoy his speeches. Even when I hear some of the same stories over and over again, I get emotional.
Do you cry?
AR: MR:

I do.

if we are lucky enough to be there, our grandchildren could come on occasion. AR: Theyd want to move in, Mitt! MR: I think having little feet in the hallway is wonderful.
And after the convention, how do you see the Republican Party?

Do you, Governor?

I think youll find that conservatives are more generous philanthropically than people who are not conservatives. People who are in favor of small government are very much in favor of personal action to help other people in need.
MR:

Im emotional. I dont show it quite as clearly as John Boehner, but Im an emotional person. There is a, I dont know, a societal norm that if youre running for ofce, you cant be emotional, and perhaps I bow to that too often.
Should you be elected, give me a picture of the White House. What is the feel? PARADE asked you once before if thered be horses at the White House, and you said yes.

Is that a form of socialism?

From the very beginning, the willingness of neighbors to help raise the barn of a next-door neighbor was characteristic of America. But at the same time we take personal responsibility for our lives. Does government play a role? Absolutely. You know, I chuckle when I hear people say, Oh, they dont want any government. Of course we want government! But it is government to encourage the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness of its citizens, as opposed to direct the course of their living.
MR:

Well, probably not at the White House itself, but nearby so she could go for her therapy. [Ann Romney was diagnosed with MS in 1998.]
MR:

United. Were united now. You go and ask people who voted for John McCain: Are you thinking of voting for anyone other than Mitt Romney? And you will have a very hard time nding someone whos thinking of voting in a different direction. We go to the convention with high hopes. Theres a lot of enthusiasm for new leadership. AR: Its a recognition that Mitt and I represent millions and millions of peoples hopes. Its womens voices in my head right now.
AR: MR:

Give me your White House vision.

What do they say?

Read PARADEs previous cover story about the governor and hear what his friends say about him at Parade.com/romney

Mrs. Romney, many, many readers asked what would be your cause or causes should you become rst lady.

Id like it to be open and have people feel welcome there. I dont just mean touring it, but also come to the East Room and see a performance of some kind.
MR:

A lot of my life Ive been working with at-risk youth. There are many lost children in this generation, and its just shameful. I hope to continue to help at-risk youth make choices that will make their lives better.
AR:

Like what?

One is, theyre praying for me, which is unbelievably touching. The second is, Your husband has to save this country. And they say it with such passion and conviction. I feel what theyre yearning for and hoping for.
AR:

What makes you nervous about your husband on the campaign trail?

The only time I interfere is when I feel like his schedule is way too strenuous. Hes only got so much he can give every day. So thats when I really put my foot down, saying, Dial it back, dial it back, dial it back.
AR:

Well, I am nervous in debates. I dont like debates because MR: she knows she could do better. [laughs] She wants to get up onstage and give it to them. AR: Because theres so many traps you can
AR:

Should the party change? Theres been a lot of talk that its gotten a little far to the right.

I cant speak for something as big as 100-some-odd million people. The party is much bigger than any one person.
MR:

But youre going to be its leader.

MR:

Hopefully a good one. [laughs]

14 August 26, 2012

PHOTO: BEN BAKER FOR PARADE

And never in a debate, never when hes making a speech?

Well, I would certainly want to hear from the Beach Boys, even though I know its not the same group it used to be. Also Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith, and todays rock starsthe Killers are one group I enjoy. AR: I love jazz, I love pop, I love rock, I love classical. MR: Id let Alabama come back and sing again, and Aerosmith. Different eras. AR: We have a friend in the Eagles. MR: These are not all Republicans, by the way. Some may turn us down, but AR: No, they would die to be mentioned. MR: I think the Obamas have done a nice job of welcoming various artists and having people come enjoy the White House. I also think, by the way, that having two children in the White House is a good thing. I hope,
MR:

What is that?
AR: What I hear very frequently is, My children are going to be worse off than I am. And I think that it is the rst time in the history of America that one generation can say that. There is concern that a lot of their friends, a lot of their family are out of work; they may be out of work themselves. They really feel like somethings gone. Mitt always says that we can do better. Hes giving them a thread of hope to say, Join with us. Were going to be okay.