#150, OTOH, Gay White, Former First Lady of Arkansas and current co-chair of Friends of Arkansas PBS, Part 1, March 24 2026

In this first part of Glen and April’s interview with Gay White, former First Lady of Arkansas, Gay discussed her early involvement in Arkansas politics, including working on David Pryor's Senate campaign in the early 1970s. She then shared her experiences when her husband Frank White, a banker, decided to run for governor against Bill Clinton in the early 1980s. Gay proudly noted Frank’s ability after being elected to get all his key goals enacted legislatively during this first term.  The discussion then focused on Gay's approach to cross-party relationships, particularly her friendship with Barbara Pryor, the former First Lady of a Democratic governor, who reached out to offer support as a new First Lady.  They have since maintained their friendship through their shared experiences as former First Ladies. April and Gay discussed strategies for maintaining relationships with people who have different perspectives, as Gay emphasized the importance of grace, mercy, and understanding others' perspectives while acknowledging that sometimes setting boundaries may be necessary. Gay explained that she looks past political labels to focus on people's character and common bonds, drawing inspiration from her late husband Frank, who was skilled at reaching across political divides. She also emphasized the importance of broadening experiences through travel and meeting people from different backgrounds.