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Ask Susan Bayh if her husband, Evan, will make a good U.S. senator, and her face lights up with the radiant smile of a teenager quizzed about her first crush. Blue eyes twinkling, she nods her head and smiles. "Heíll make a great senator," she says. "I mean, he got my vote ñ and that says a lot!"

Logging thousands of miles on the campaign trail certainly paid off, but now that sheís reached the end of this particular track, Bayh hopes to seize at least a few weeks of rest before she must tackle her newest challenge as a senatorís wife: moving. "The time just after the campaign is like the calm before ñ and after ñ the storm," she says. "Iíll need plenty of energy to get this family packed up and on the road to Washington."

Yet, the very idea of a Susan Bayh without energy seems as preposterous as an Evan Bayh without political aspirations. Known for her quick wit and vibrant personality, she maintains a schedule that would make even the most accomplished event plannerís head spin. Not only does she attend charity fund-raisers and myriad political functions across the state, but she also dashes home to Indianapolis in between to teach a college business course, take an international conference call on toxins in the Great Lakes and draft a speech on the importance of adult literacy ñ all while managing to raise twin boys with only a part-time nanny.

Add to that a new list of responsibilities ñÝincluding setting up house in Washington, enrolling 3-year-old sons Beau and Nick in preschool and sorting through her latest career options ñ and itís downright mind-boggling that Bayhís dazzling smile didnít fade years ago. "Yes, itís hectic sometimes, but itís all about figuring out your priorities and letting other things go," she says. "No one can do it all, so you just do what you can well."

Political Wife

No stranger to the political arena, Bayh got her first taste of a very public life when her husband won his campaign for secretary of state in 1986, a year after they married. Two years later, she became half of the youngest first couple in the nation (she at age 28, he at 32) when he was elected to the first of his two terms as governor. With the defeat of Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke this past month for the U.S. Senate bid, the Bayhs add at least another six years to their political record, bringing their total number of years in the public spotlight to 16.

And while only Evanís name may be printed on the ballot, his wife plays just as crucial a role in this day and age. Once relegated to the sidelines, political wives are moving into the public eye as society struggles with questions as to what part they should play. Though theyíre encouraged to pursue their own career goals as women, theyíre also cautioned to do so at a far enough distance from their husbands to avoid a conflict of interest. Critics of first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, for instance, argue that her involvement in her husbandís administration opened her to attack and spelled trouble for other political wives.

In Bayhís case, she must carefully sift through her activities to determine whether they fit with her husbandís new position. After she finalizes her personal wish list, sheíll likely go before the Senate Ethics Committee for approval. "Itís more acceptable for a woman to be involved in issues now because society recognizes that women have careers outside of their husbands," she says. "The secret, however, is to pick an independent area where you become the expert."

As such, Bayh has tried to carve out her own niche in the areas of literacy and environmental issues. She founded the Indiana Literacy Foundation in 1992 and still speaks throughout the state on the importance of teaching children and adults to read. In addition, she serves as one of three U.S. delegates to the International Joint Commission, a coalition between the United States and Canada that oversees the quality of air and water in the Great Lakes region. "At this point I canít see much changing, because I donít report to Evan," she says. "Still, if thereís even the appearance of impropriety, Iíll back out. Iím not about to jeopardize his credibility."

Her other activities fall further outside the political realm. She teaches a class on business law at Butler University and also coordinates the CEO Speakers Series, a program that brings in government and business leaders to speak to students. Bayh also presents the weekly news segment "Caring for Kids" as a part-time reporter for WISH-TV/Channel 8 and serves on the boards of Anthem Southeast, Emmis Broadcasting, Indiana Bank One and Golden State Foods. "Everything is subject to scrutiny for the spouse of a public figure, but I examine everything before I even accept, for Evanís sake."

Despite these challenges, Bayh agrees that things have come a long way for political wives. Just a generation ago, the late Marvella Bayh (Evanís mother and the wife of U.S. Sen. Birch Evans Bayh II) was discouraged from even considering President Lyndon Johnsonís offer of vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1967 because her husband planned to run for re-election the following year. Now three decades later, Marvellaís daughter-in-law simply laughs at the suggestion that wives secretly intend to usurp their husbandsí political power. "Obviously, spouses are influential with each other, but people think the first lady and the governor get into bed at night and discuss important policy issues," she says. "Instead, theyíre talking about whoís going to pick up the dry cleaning, the cute thing the kids did and every other thing a normal family talks about. Theyíre not discussing health care policy, let me assure you."

Public Figure

Even so, Bayh frequently acts as her husbandís eyes and ears, relaying public opinion when people approach her with concerns. Though she takes her role seriously enough to make sure sheís always polite and dressed tastefully in public, she has her fun at times: While shopping at an outlet mall once, she told a woman who commented that she looked like Susan Bayh, "Iím a little thinner than she is."

Media scrutiny also comes with the territory, perhaps more so for Bayh because her good looks play so well on the nightly news or in a magazine spread. A former beauty queen with the titles of Miss Southern California, Miss Pasadena and Miss Glendale to her credit, Bayh moves through the exposure good-naturedly ñ until the media takes a cheap shot. The worst scenario came in September 1993 when a TV reporter heard Bayh was pregnant and planned to break the story on the air. The Bayhs immediately scheduled a news conference to announce the pregnancy themselves, even though she was only in her fifth week. Two days later, she suffered a miscarriage and had to cope with the loss before the eyes of the entire state.

"In most instances, though, the people usually take care of things if the media does something thatís unfair," she says. For example, when a newspaper printed an unflattering photo feature comparing wardrobes between Bayh and another politicianís wife, outraged letters to the editor poured in defending her. "Iíve learned, though, that everything you feel about yourself has to come from the inside," she says. "If you allow someone else to change your mood, then youíve given them power. The only way to win is to just let everything roll off your back."

Her training as a lawyer also helps maintain her composure, especially when making the political rounds. A graduate of University of Southern California Law Center, she served four years as a litigation attorney at Barnes & Thornburg before moving to the pharmaceutical division at Eli Lilly & Co., where she worked from 1989 to 1994. Her courtroom experience acclimated her to speaking in front of a crowd, so she doesnít hesitate to lend her voice to various charities or support her husbandís campaign. Even at 28, no proverbial butterflies took flight in her stomach when she made her first speech as first lady ñ in fact, her greater fear involved hosting her first state dinner the night of the gubernatorial inauguration. "Sure, I had my wedding china, but I had never had a dinner party for four, let alone 200," she says. "An older first lady might have had time to try it and fail a few times ñ and not in such a public light."

Private Caretaker

Youth has its advantages, though, one of which involves parenting two young children. At 38, Bayhís early experiences with politics blessed her with the ability to blend both worlds neatly, even though the combination might seem overwhelming. "Iíve had the chance to figure out how the political life works, so I can give my attention to potty-training instead of having to also wonder where I fit into it all," she says.

Even during the campaign, Bayh spent most mornings with twins Beau and Nick ñ formally Birch Evans IV and Nicholas Harrison ñ before they left for preschool with their nanny. She also planned her schedule so she could be home by 8 p.m. most evenings to tuck them in bed, even if it meant turning down an occasional political fund-raiser. "They want to kiss Mommy good-night and know Iím there before they go to sleep," she says. "Itís the least I can do to make them feel safe."

Family time can be more limited, with Evan traveling an average of three days a week on business. They try to spend at least two to three nights together as a family, and mornings typically find the boys playing Hop on Pop or Pillow Pile, two games designed to wake Evan up with a full-speed assault. When time is tight, however, they take whatever opportunity they can get. In one instance, Bayh and the boys met Evan at Circle Centre for lunch after getting their hair cut. "People talk about quality time, but Iíve realized that kids just want time ñ lots of it," she says. "It may not be mashed potatoes and gravy every night, but itís the being together thatís important."

The same is true of Bayhís relationship with her husband. Known for their affectionate exchanges during Evanís terms as governor ñ she reportedly stroked the back of his neck during a newspaper interview, and the couple often held hands in public ñ they maintain a warm relationship by making sure their private time doesnít fall through the cracks in their independent calendars. They schedule weekly couple time for dinner or old movies, and they turn down any invitations that would interfere with important personal plans. Even in the Governorís Residence, they kept Saturday nights and Sundays to themselves, instructing their staff not to schedule meetings those days. "A personal relationship has to be the cornerstone of your life, even if youíre a public official," Bayh says. "You take care of whatís important in life by going after what you want."

Personal Achiever

Such an attitude is nothing new to Bayh: Itís been her motto since her college days, when she worked her way through the University of California at Berkeley as the first step in her goal of becoming a lawyer. As a young girl growing up in Pasadena, Calif., she became enthralled with mother, Carol Breshearsí, political efforts with Robert Kennedyís campaign in 1968. When her daughter asked how she could get into politics, Breshears told her to start by becoming a lawyer.

From that point, it was only a matter of time. After earning her undergraduate degree in political science, Bayh attended the University of Southern California Law Center. Her parents couldnít pay for schooling, so she footed the tuition bill with odd jobs, including stints as a waitress at Bobís Big Boy, a gymnastics instructor at the Berkeley YMCA, a sales clerk at Kinneyís and a tour guide at Universal Studio. The juggling act paid off: She graduated on time in 1981 with a degree in political science.

Set on pursuing politics, Bayh interned with a Congressman in Washington, D.C., the summer before she entered law school. It was there she met her future husband, who was working at a law firm in town. Ironically, the two had already known about each other for nearly 13 years. Their mothers had met during Robert Kennedyís campaign, and the Bayhs put the Breshears on their mailing list for Christmas cards that same year. In fact, Bayh remembers seeing Evanís picture at 9 years old and thinking he was "a cute little guy."

As luck would have it, Bayh spent her summer in Washington with Jane Sinnenberg, a friend of both families who introduced her to Evan at a dinner party. Unfortunately, the night literally turned into a blind date for Evan: He had forgotten his contacts and was too embarrassed to wear his glasses. "I was sort of a blur to him," Bayh says. "He told me later he had to ask me out again because he didnít know what I looked like."

The two kept in touch when she returned to California that fall to attend law school. The relationship blossomed over the next three years, and Bayh took a job with Washington law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in 1984 after she finished school. Soon afterward, Evan proposed, and they wed in April 1985. Within a few months they moved to Indianapolis to begin planning his secretary of state campaign. "I knew when I married him that politics was part of the package, and thatís why I didnít pursue it myself ñ two politicians in one family would be crazy," Bayh says. "And Evan was very good at giving me a realistic picture of his goals and political life as a whole."

Still, she was only somewhat prepared for life on the campaign trail ñ especially as a newlywed. "I didnít realize that Evan would be so very busy," she says. "I had to figure out how I was going to spend my time because, our first couple years, he wasnít home on the week nights. I learned to be independent pretty quickly."

Goal-Setter

That lesson will serve Bayh well in Washington as well, though the couple will likely see more of each other than during the campaign. "Weíve decided that a long-distance relationship wouldnít work, so the entire family will move with Evan," Bayh says. "Boys need a male role model, and I donít want to be a single mother. Having Evan around only on weekends wouldnít be acceptable." Bayh hopes a Washington residence also will give Evan the chance to go to the twinsí extracurricular activities or join them for dinner to catch up. "Heíll be busy, but it wonít be anything more than weíre facing now," she says.

She, too, will have her hands full settling the family into their new home and sorting out her job options. After reporting to the Senate Ethics Committee, sheíll have a clearer idea of how many jobs she can keep; she might even tackle a national not-for-profit organization if time permits.

And though speculation continues to circulate that the Bayhs have their eyes on the White House ñ The Wall Street Journal insists that the successful Senate campaign points to presidential possibilities ñ she insists they donít know whatís in store politically. "Every time someone asks me if the presidency is in our future, I tell them, ëWatch out what you wish for,í" she says. "Life is a series of open doors, and sometimes one door opens into a lot more doors. I donít see any doors shutting at this point, for Evan or for me, but itís simply too soon to tell."