Frank White

A black and white photograph of Governor Frank White shaking hands at Fort Chaffee. He has a visitors pass around his neck.
Governor Frank White shaking hands at Fort Chaffee; UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture
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Frank White, born June 4, 1933, served as a Republican governor of Arkansas from 1980 to 1983. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1956 with a degree in engineering. After he graduated, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force where he served as a pilot until he was discharged in 1961.

Before his tenure as governor, White served in Democratic governor David Pryor’s cabinet. In 1975, White became director of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission. After a short break from politics, he ran against Bill Clinton for governor of Arkansas. White used the campaign slogan “Cubans and car tags” against Clinton to push his victory into office. White argued that Clinton failed to stand up to Carter about the Cuban refugees at Fort Chaffee. When the 1980 election ended White defeated Clinton 435,684 to 403,242.

White had set a deadline of August to have all of the Cuban refugees out of Arkansas. On October 27, 1980, while White was campaigning for governor, he sent a telegraph to Governor Ronald Reagan White asking for assistance in relocating the Cuban refugees in a “rapid” and “humane” way. He stressed the importance of the need for Arkansas to be reassured of obtaining assistance with securing sponsors and relocations of the Cuban Refugees. He did not meet this deadline and was desperately pleading for assistance from higher government officials such as President Reagan and Vice President Bush because he risked losing credibility by not meeting his deadline promises.

After White’s first term as governor, he was eager to run for reelection in 1982. During his campaign ads, he boasted that he had dealt with the Cubans at Fort Chaffee even though there were still around 1,000 Cubans remaining at Fort Chaffee. White being unable to relocate the remaining Cubans opened the door for Clinton to gain political traction as the two fought through the election. White ultimately lost the 1982 election and Clinton resumed the governorship.

After White’s 1982 defeat he began working at Stephens, Inc. before making a final effort to run for governor in 1986 against Clinton again. White lost once again to Clinton. After losing again, White stepped away from politics and began working as an executive for Commercial National Bank. In 1998, Governor Mike Huckabee appointed White as State Banking Commissioner where White remained until his death in 2003.

Frank White passed away on May 21, 2003 due to a heart attack and is buried at Mount Holly Ceremony in Little Rock, Arkansas. His papers are currently housed at UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture.