Ugly Voices, Ugly People

April 28, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

I'm sitting in the reception area of the hotel. Benjamin isn't at work today because it's his day off.

An hour after I got into the office, I overheard some girls talking. One of them said, "I had no idea she was that kind."

Then the other said, "I think it's okay to have them as friends but... I bet she's really easy."

I heard another voice chime in, "Isn't she afraid of damaging the campaign?"

When I walked by, they stopped talking and then scattered. So far, no one has said anything to me directly. But by lunch, Becca told me that someone had asked her about me. Where I was from, how long I'd been with the campaign... She told Becca that I was creating a bad situation for The Senator by dating a 'man like that.'

Becca told me not to worry about it. But I could tell she was worried about it.

I didn't think I was creating a bad situation for The Senator. I guess I just wasn't thinking at all. Now I feel terrible, and I don't know what to do.

And I don't want to go back to the office to face those awful girls. I hate them.

In the News: April 28, 1968

An Interview with Dr. Horace Huntley