Interview with Thea Muldoon

Thea Muldoon describes family background; childhood; education at Takapuna Grammar School, Auckland; jobs in accounts until marriage; night school at Seddon Memorial Technical College, Auckland in bookkeeping; meeting Rob Muldoon; courtship and marriage; the first ten years of marriage; the children; domestic chores; Plunket and Karitane.

Recalls husband's political life; supportive role in Waitemata Electorate especially fund raising; reference Norman King; involvement in National Party women's committees; Robert Muldoon elected as Member of Parliament for Tamaki in 1960; electorate work especially telephone messages; support of parliamentarians' wives when Robert Muldoon elected Prime Minister; reference Miriam (Mirie) Mackay, Dame Catherine Tizard and Mrs Findlay; parliamentarians' wives' support groups; reference Diana Macintyre, Shirley Adams-Schneider; role as prime minister's wife; functions and visits.

Discusses need for public speaking; difficulty of public criticism; strategies for coping with criticism; living in Vogel House; difficulties with staff management; effect of role on time, interests and friends; recreation; Robert Muldoon's personality; the Hatfield's Beach holiday home; overseas trips (state visits); private lunches with Queen Elizabeth; effect of women's movement.

Talks about Robert Muldoon's retirement from political life; changes to life after his death; current interests and community involvement; contact with Maori gangs; invitations as guest speaker; involvement with Hospice Movement, Red Cross; reference to Stephen Marsh; receiving the CBE; satisfactions in life; childrens' careers.

Venue - Auckland

Interviewer(s) - Susan Fowke

Venue - 7 Homewood Place, Birkenhead, Auckland

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-005276 - OHC-005278

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 1130.