The Ballad of Mary Bono

Mary Bono served 15 years in the House, representing a Palms Springs-based seat in Riverside County, CA. She initially entered politics and the House after the tragic passing of her late husband Sonny Bono - the world-famous singer / TV star turned mayor and ultimately congressman. In this conversation, she talks the political rise of Sonny Bono, running for and winning a seat in the House amidst tragedy, getting her bearings as a member herself, putting her own stamp on her service, taking tough votes as a moderate, championing the cause of prescription drug abuse prevention, and much more in an illuminating conversation with someone who's had one of the most unique and fascinating careers in congressional politics.

IN THIS EPISODE

Growing up in the LA area as a daughter of a doctor and scientist and early, formative experiences as a competitive gymnast...

The story of when then-Mary Whitaker met Sonny Bono the day after graduating from USC...

The challenges of being the spouse of a celebrity and politician...

How red-tape run-ins with Palm Springs city government led to Sonny Bono's entry into politics...

Sonny Bono's forays into national politics in the mid 90s...

What Sonny Bono would've thought of President Trump...

The passion projects she believe Sonny Bono would've left politics to pursue...

How she made the decision to run for his House seat after Sonny Bono's tragic passing in early 1998...

Memories from a whirlwind first few weeks and months of a new member thrown into office in a special election...

How she built her own legacy over time in the House...

Some of the most intense moments on the House floor in her tenure...

The vote against GOP leadership that "got her in the most trouble"...

What led to her passion in tackling Rx drug abuse and her experiences of being one of only members who initially took this issue seriously...

Memories from her presence as the lone GOP woman on the House Judiciary Committee during the Clinton Impeachment saga...

The decision made by Tom Delay that "incensed" Rep. Bono...

The bizarre story of a forged love letter from Rep. Bono to another member of the House...

The experience of dating and marrying a fellow member of the House...

Representing a district that shifted from safe(ish) Republican to a swing seat...

Her current projects and passions, including the great podcast Sagely Speaking with Mary Bono...

AND 2-tops, Bruce Babbitt, bison farms, Chaz Bono, G.K. Butterfield, Ken Calvert, Lois Capps, Cher, Kellyanne Conway, The Desert Sun, David Dreier, Jo Ann Emerson, Dianne Feinstein, Gerald Ford, King Gillette, Lindsay Graham, Fred Grandy, height jokes, hysterical mothers, the Inland Empire, Angelina Jolie, Gil Kerlikowske, Olga Korbut, Steve Largent, Jerry Lewis, Love Boat, Abbe Lowell, John McCain, The National Enquirer, Anne Northup, Tom Osborn, Nancy Pelosi, Ronald Reagan, Hal Rogers, Karl Rove, SNL, Salton Sea, Tea Party onslaughts, Terry Schiavo, The Waltons...& more!