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Show 10A The Salt Lake Tribune Sunday, July entm h, 1M Wife of Delaware Governor Not Content As Socialite: Shes Running for Congress By Kay Bartlett Associated Press W riter Between campaign stops, Elise WILMINGTON, Del du Pont darts into the Wilmington gubernatorial office to see her husband, Gov Pierre S ' Pete du Pont IV Elise du Pont, the Republican candidate for Delaware s lone seat in the U S House of Representatives, mentions that the manager of a McDonald s would not let her campaign among the breakfasters. She had, it seems, asked You don t ask, advises the governor You just buy a cup of coffee and go around and say hello They can t say anything if youre a customer Pete du Pont knows He's made six successful runs tor office thus far Some political observers see his political career as just beginning to unfold at the age of 49 Second Governorship He's served one term in the state legislature, three in the U S House, and hes winding up his second term as governor He cannot succeed himself Mrs du Pont, campaigning for his old congressional seat, is making her first stab at elective office She has done a lot of firsts since she turned 40 She finished up her undergraduate degree, graduated from law school, collected her first paycheck and was unanimously confirmed for a U S State Department appointment. She may have had to learn the coffee trick, but Mrs du Pont is far from a novice when it comes to politicking, bureaucracy and Washington. I've been in public life for almost 14 years, she says, referring to six years as a congressional wife and eight years as the state's first lady. Earns More Than Husband She brought home $67,500 a year from the Agency for International Development (AID) where she directed a $250 million program encouraging private investment m developing countries. She earned almost double her husband's gubernatorial salary, $35,000, a fact the Delaware populace duly noted One reader wrote to a local newspaper complaining that the du Ponts need not be a family. Why doesnt Pete just buy her a dress shop? the reader asked. Elise du Pont and her advisors are intent upon keeping her candidacy separate from her husbands political career. Its not easy. One morning shes in front of a plant outside of Wilmington greeting the 7 am. shift. She walks up to potential voters with an easy assurance and a perfect smile. Some Not So Friendly du Pont and Im running for ConElise Hello, Im gress, she says as she shakes hands. One man is not at all taken: First I had to put up with Pete and now you, he growls. This kind of reaction surprises neither the candidate nor her husband. When he first ran, du Pont recalls, the biggest issue was whether someone named du Pont could represent the people of Delaware. The answer was yes, but not a resounding yes. I won with only 53 percent of the vote. The yes has been firmer since then. Du Pont won his last race with 70 percent, the first Delaware governor to win a second term in 24 years. Trying to Stay Separate herself from the governors image hasnt Detaching been easy for Mrs. du Pont, although shes long been active in state affairs. Shes chaired committees, toured migrant workers camps, helped write Delawares nurs two-sala- ry ing home regulations and pushed for state hospice programs A television reporter once old me I talk the same way Pete t 'Iks, she savs He said You have the same way of looking at things I told him that we have been married for almost 30 jtars and I asked him why 15 years ago he didn t tell Pete du Pont that he sounded exactly like Elue du Pont Her maiden name is not without clout on its owm Elise Ravenel Wood du Pont is an heiress to the WaWa dairies and convenience store chains Born to wealth, she attended the prestigious Miss Porter s School in Connecticut and Bryn Mawr before she quit in her junior year to marry into one of America s richest families Resembles Grace Kelly At 48, Elise du Pont is a beautiful woman with hair, a perfect nose and clear blue eyes She bears a strong facial resemblance to the late Grace Kelly She s a descendant of Benjamin Franklin and her family has been in Delaware, the Dover area, since 1686 She counts one governor and many judges and legislators among her forebears, not to mention a handful of signers of the Declaration of Independence Wendy Wood, as she was called back at Miss Porter s and Bryn Mawr, had no dreams of going into politics, or even of working That was a different era," she says. I was raised to get married It was as simple as that Chemical Company For a young lady with marriage as her goal, she could hardly have done better. Du Pont was a tall, handsome Princeton man with a quick sense of humor, the great-gregrandson of Eleuthere I du Pont who in 1802 launched the chemical enterprise that would grow into industrial company. Americas seventh-largeThe du Ponts have four children, one daughter and three sons, now aged 20 to 28 Their daughter, the eldest, is pursuing a career m architecture and all three boys are pursuing engineering, as did their father before he went to Harvard Law School. Elise du Pont has been called imperious in print, and d if thats too strong, would certainly fit Focused is the word her husband prefers Strong on Organization Shes always been very focused and directed at what shes doing, whether shes raising the children, trying to get a household put together, going to law school or running for Congress, says the governor. Organization, he says, is her strong suit. "Shes always got a yellow pad of paper with her, taking notes, and sometimes hed find her scribbling down thoughts in the middle of the night, du Pont says. She is usually up before dawn and before du Pont to jog two or three miles Shes on the campaign trail all day long, sometimes into the night. Why this hectic pace? Relax Later If I got to be 80 and had not challenged myself, I would regret it. When Im 80, Ill do all the things I dont have time for now gardening, playing bridge, taking long trips with Pete. I feel I am eminently qualified for this job. Theres a certain sense of rightness about it. I can do something for this state. Its a wonderful little state that I love. Her opponent, incumbent Democratic Congressman Thomas R. Carper, says hes as confident and optimistic about the results of this election as he has ever been in any of his five statewide races in the last eight jears. He was plati-num-gr- st r Elise du Pont is from wealthy family, and her husband is wealthier. But that wasnt enough for her, so she entered politics. the state treasurer from 1976 to 1982, when he was elected to Congress Nothing New The notion of running against a great deal of money is nothing new to me, sajs the 37-- ear-olCarper. "I was the last time I ran outspent I look forward to debating the issues with her, he says We have had several opportunities to join forums together, but she has declined Normally, the challenger is very interested in debating the incumbent. Carper and Mrs. du Pont both say they are friends and that the campaign will be Mrs du Ponts campaign strategy Is to make 484 (Four 84) home visits before the election. Critics are fond of calling them Tupperware parties. Telling Elise Jokes The Democrats are already telling Elise jokes How do you feel about Red China? Elise- I love it, especially on white damask. Such cracks notwithstanding, Mrs. du Pont has been around more than most of her detractors. Shes visited nearly 50 countries, mostly on an official basis, either as a member of the Delaware Trade Commission or as a State Department representative When she was in Cuba, Mrs du Pont met with Fidel d y issued-oriente- - Delaware Gov. Pete du Pont had to adjust to a wife who earns twice as much as him, and who now is a candidate for Congress. Castro and talked him into allowing two Cuban women to emigrate to the United States for humanitarian reasons Mrs du Pont manages to run three households, with lots of help, while she campaigns. Besides Wooburn, the oldest governors mansion m the country, the du Ponts maintain a Washington, D C., townhouse and an estate in Rockland, Del , called Patterns Sundays for Themselves The du Ponts are often m different homes, but they have maintained one rule throughout their marriage Sundays are just for them. No appointments or interviews, just family Du Pont brushes aside suggestions that he might seek, the presidency but he says hes working hard to have some d Reagan candidates are chosen. say when In 1988, the Republican Party is going to be divided in a generational war and what you see going on now between Hart and Mondale in the Democratic party will be happening in the Republican party. Id like to have a strong hand in making sure we pick the right candidate post-Ronal- For the immediate future, however, he says he is prepared to beconie a member of the Congressional Wives Club. I dont think, however, that Ill pour the tea. Federal Inspectors Who Took Gifts Are Fired eral that ter Three fedbe will fired on grain inspectors July 21 for allegedly taking part in soliciting and accepting gifts from crews of ships they were inspecting in Houston, one of the nations largest gram export centers, the Agriculture Department said last week. Initially, the department Investigated 14 inspectors who worked In the Pasadena, Texas, office of the Federal Grain Inspection Service, which serves the port facility. WASHINGTON (AP) One of the inspectors resigned af- he solicited and acadmitting cepted $4,500 and liquor as gifts. No disciplinary action was taken on seven others because of insufficient evidence, said Kenneth A. Gilles, administrator of the agency. The three inspectors who will be dismissed were identified in the USDA announcement as Juan Comacho, Charlie Horton and Darnell Three other inspectors will be suspended for 30 days beginning July 15 They were not identified. Gilles said that administrative disciplinary action was started after the U.S. attorney for the southern district of Texas declined to prosecute the case. The federal inspectors are responsible to examining the cargo areas of ships for cleanliness and suitability before grain is loaded for export |