And when you looked at the audience at theToryPartyconference, it was exactly the sort of people we're talking about - traditionalists - what used to be called the "blue rinse brigade".
Similarly Mr Hague realises that the one thing that most Britons know about his teenage years was that he gave a speech to a Torypartyconference at the tender age of 16.
The MP stayed away from the Conservative Partyconference in an attempt to defuse the row, but despite the support of backbench Tory MPs it became clear when Parliament returned from recess on Monday that it was not going to go away.
TheTory leader also said next month's Conservative conference in Blackpool would see the first draft of the party's manifesto for the next General Election.