He Almost Didn’t Run for Governor of California

Schwarzenegger began dreaming of politics long before the 2003 recall gubernatorial election in which he usurped Gray Davis and became governor of California. But he almost didn’t run — because his wife, Maria Shriver, didn’t love the idea at first.

The niece of President John F. Kennedy, Shriver had seen her family suffer tremendous tragedies because of politics, Schwarzenegger explained. Her uncle, JFK, was assassinated, as was her other uncle, Robert F. Kennedy. Even her father, Sargent Shriver, had run alongside George McGovern as his vice presidential candidate in the 1972 election, which they lost to Richard Nixon.

When Schwarzenegger first told her he wanted to run for governor, she was appalled. But she eventually came around.

“I didn’t want to run if she’s not 100% behind me,” he said.

On the morning of the day he was set to appear on The Tonight Show to reveal whether or not he would run, Shriver slipped a note to her husband under the bathroom door giving him suggestions on what to say if he chose to do it.

He ended up winning the recall election and then serving another term from 2007-2011.