May 2, 2000

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Jay Leno: What about the two front runners, Bush and Gore? How about Gore?

Alan Keyes: He seems to be of the British stiff-upper-lip tradition, only he has extended it to his whole body. (Laughter)

Leno: How about Bush?

Keyes: He's a nice guy. Bush is a decent sort of guy. I think we got along reasonably well on the campaign trail.

Leno: That sounds to me like . . . see now . . . would you take the vice-presidential nomination if offered? It sounds like . . .

Keyes: Don't hold your breath until it's offered. I'd have to think hard about it.

Leno: You'd have to think hard? Remember, you're under oath, Mr. Keyes. (Laughter)

Keyes: It's like asking somebody if they'd want . . .

Leno: How hard would you have to think?

Keyes: As hard as I would think about getting married to somebody. Because you're stuck with this person. If you become somebody's Vice-President . . . . (Laughter)

Leno: "Stuck with this"? You're stuck with your wife, is that what you're saying, Mr. Keyes? (Laughter) "My mother didn't like me. I'm stuck with my wife"? Wow. (Laughter)

Keyes: My wife's in the audience. I obviously didn't say that. But in political terms--wherever that person goes after that . . . you're there, and you've gotta be supportive. So, it has to be somebody you trust not to take you to a place that's against your principles and against your integrity. And I certainly wouldn't want to go there. So, it wouldn't be a matter of this high office. . . . No. Because I am not going to do anything, pray God, in my political life that's inconsistent with what I believe to be right. And I wouldn't take any office if I thought it was going to lead there.

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