Friends of the LBJ Library | Oct, 27 2025 7:00PM - 8:00PM
Guests were invited to hear from Michigan Governor and author Gretchen Whitmer, in conversation with author, TV host, and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri. This program was co-hosted by the Friends of the LBJ Library and the LBJ Women’s Campaign School at The University of Texas at Austin.
About the speaker
Gretchen Whitmer is the governor of Michigan and a rising figure in US politics. Known for her bold and plainspoken style, Whitmer is a national voice on the rights of women, voters, and the LGBTQ+ community. She rose to national prominence for her leadership in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, when her efforts to save lives in the state earned her the nickname “That Woman from Michigan” from the president. Later that year, a domestic terrorist cell began planning to kidnap and kill her, a plot that was foiled by the FBI and state police.
Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander who first ran for office at age twenty-nine, has served in both state houses, and has never lost an election. She is the proud mother of two daughters, a huge Detroit Lions fan, and the subject of the song “Big Gretch” by rapper GMac Cash.
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