It was a laboriously publicized visit, like nearly everything connected with the present fuss over the vice presidency it has been duly noted that in his first 10 days of interviewing potential running mates, Mondale interviewed and thus publicly flattered Texas Sen. 'A symbol of the very best in America,' Mondale said afterward, as the two of them smiled broadly for reporters. Last Saturday, in a two-hour visit at his home in North Oaks, Minn., Walter Mondale interviewed Dianne Feinstein about her possibilities as Democratic candidate for the vice presidency of the United States. 'Well,' Rather says huffily, 'if you won't tell us her name-'Īnd Dianne Feinstein starts laughing so hard she nearly doubles over. She grins, shrugs the radio man away, turns to see Dan Rather on the television pressing Walter Mondale for details about his running mate. 'Aw, I've gone into that,' the mayor says.

Here comes the AM radio man, following her even into a late-night television appearance, asking about it again. Here come the national news magazines, and the suburban dailies, and the eastern papers, and Cable News Network and the 'CBS Morning News' here come Brussels and Tokyo television men, wondering if she might spare them a moment or two. After a while it begins to feel relentless.