The Next Step

The role of first lady is one of the most unusual in American politics and government. No one is elected to the job, or even appointed. But first ladies (and these days, first spouses) are expected to provide everything from social support to political advice for their mates, who are in executive positions running cities, states or the entire country. Anne Gust Brown had a very successful career as a business executive and lawyer before she married Jerry Brown in 2005 and soon found herself as the first lady of California. With Brown’s fourth term as governor coming to an end, Gust Brown sat down for a conversation with Alta Publisher and Editor Will Hearst to reflect on her role as California’s first lady and to talk about the plans she and Brown have for the future.

WILL HEARST: What’s been the experience of being the first lady of California? You have insight into everything that goes on. You’re not an elected official, but by all accounts, you’re a thinker and an adviser and a person who cares about certain issues. You guys have operated like a team.

We have. In some ways, it may be different than other first ladies. I don’t actually think of myself so much as first lady, whatever