Cynthia Jackson was there in 1991 when Bill Clinton announced on the steps of the Old Statehouse that he would run for president.
Jackson, a 66-year-old retired educator from Lonoke, closely followed his political career before and after, calling herself a "loyal follower." So when she learned Clinton's presidential center in Little Rock was hosting a watch party to see him receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Jackson made sure to be there.
"I've followed his career since the first day," Jackson said, adding that she knows what she'd say to the former president by way of congratulations on the honor if she could: "I would simply tell him how proud we as Arkansans are of the legacy he established."
Jackson was one of about 75 Clinton supporters who gathered at the Great Hall of the center Wednesday morning to watch a White House live stream of the medal ceremony projected onto a big screen. Clinton, along with a host of others including Oprah Winfrey, former Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and singer Loretta Lynn, received the medals at a ceremony at the White House.
The crowd applauded in unison with the broadcast when Clinton was introduced shortly after 10 a.m. as one of the recipients. Then they watched the stream as Obama made remarks about each recipient, closing with Clinton and calling him "a leader who we still remember with such extraordinary fondness."
Obama lauded Clinton's work both before, during and after his presidency and described how Clinton became motivated to help people as a child who watched his mother go to nursing school to provide a better life for her family.
"I think lifting up families like his own became the story of Bill Clinton's life," Obama said.
Skip Rutherford, dean of the Clinton School of Public Service, told the attendees they had gathered to watch a "remarkable day" unfold.
"History gets made again today," he said. "One can say with great pride this man has done some remarkable things — and is doing some remarkable things."
Richard Hudson, a 71-year-old retiree who lives in Peel in Marion County, made the trip to Little Rock in part to celebrate his forthcoming birthday and in part to attend the watch party.
He said he's always liked Clinton's politics.
"I was always proud of the fact that my home state produced a president," he said.
Herschel Sanders and his wife, Jacqueline Sanders, both 52, drove from Jonesboro Wednesday morning for the medal watch party.
Sanders said he's been a big fan of Clinton since Clinton as governor worked to allow Nucor to open a steel mill in Blytheville.
"It really changed our lives," Sanders said, emotion audible in his voice. "I went from being a janitor to making almost $70,000 a year. And I'm still there 23 years later ... It's just such an honor to see him get this."
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
