I think the astronaut sorely missed the limelight and his wife's tragedy has opened a whole new way for him to regain it. I mean if he REALLY wanted to spare her stress, why would he be making her relive what happened over and over and over? I think she is saying and doing what he is leading her to do. Her mind is simply not there enough now for her to defend herself from his political and personal agenda. At least that is what it looks like to me.