They talked for an hour on the phone before their first meeting in 2013. He immediately fell in love with her laughter – the same thing that Republican Donald Trump now ridicules. And he describes his wife as a "joyful warrior".
But such are still warriors. She can be as tough as possible.
Lawyer Doug Emhoff had the difficult task of making a personal presentation of himself and his wife Kamala Harris at the Democratic Party convention. He did it with humor and by talking about all the good the presidential candidate had brought to his family.
When the kids started calling her Momala, I knew everything would be fine, he admitted.
Now it's the country that needs her and she's ready to lead. Empathy is her strength.
The anecdotes, especially the one where Emhoff told about the long and awkward first voicemail he left for Harris, seemed to resonate with the audience.
She saved it and plays it every year on our wedding day, he said dryly about the message.
Doug Emhoff may make history as the first in the USA with the title of First Gentleman.
