Gov. Mike Pence's new Statehouse desk was mostly empty Monday -- except for some family photos and an intriguing old red rotary-dial telephone.

When asked about it, Pence said the joke goes back to when he first joined Congress in 2001 -- before the prevalance of cell phones and texting. A colleague at the time said the switchboard shut down after hours and it might be good to get a separate phone line that wife Karen could use to stay in touch.

Pence mentioned it to Karen Pence, who then acquired the quirky old red phone within 48 hours.

"We'll be installing the red phone and Mrs. Pence will have the number," the governor said Monday. "And, for the record, I always stand when I answer it."

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