The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute - University of Arkansas System

W.R. Remembered at Heritage Month Event

PETIT JEAN MOUNTAIN, Ark. (May 15, 2008) — Over 200 Arkansans got an insider’s look at the late Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller’s political life during a public Heritage Month event held Saturday, May 10, at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on Petit Jean Mountain.

The title of the program was “WR: The Rockefeller Brand on Arkansas Politics.” As part of the event, three of Gov. Rockefeller’s key associates – Judge Thomas Eisele, John Ward and Marion Burton – participated in a panel discussion moderated by veteran journalist Ernest Dumas.

Because Winthrop Rockefeller died 35 years ago, many Arkansans are unfamiliar with his service to the state and his accomplishments as governor. This program was an effort to renew Gov. Rockefeller’s political legacy with all Arkansans.

“We’re missing a big part of oral history because he died so long ago,” Dumas said. “Thankfully, these guys have good genes, so they can tell the story.”

Each of the three men shared with the audience stories of their first encounters with the 6-foot-4-inch multi-millionaire from New York. They highlighted Gov. Rockefeller’s successful attempts at reforming Arkansas’ unconstitutional prison system, closing illegal gambling operations in Hot Springs, and creating a true two-party system in Arkansas. Rockefeller also sought to improve race relations in the state and offered blacks employment opportunities in state government jobs.

Despite his successes, Rockefeller’s personal life, party-affiliation, poor public speaking skills as well as the place he once called home posed many challenges on the campaign trail and during his tenure as governor. As Arkansas’ first Republican governor since 1872, he failed to pass much legislation in a Democratic-run legislature.

“W.R. has to be the most unconventional, yet successful, politician that Arkansas has ever seen,” Dumas said. “He was a poor speaker, a Yankee, a famous divorcee, a legendary playboy, and he held openly exposed ideas many Southerners did not agree with. However, people earnestly elected him twice, and his legacy has grown immensely with the passage of time.”

The Arkansas Rockefeller’s legacy is on display in the Rockefeller Institute’s Legacy Gallery and Legacy Theater, which were officially dedicated during the May 10th event.

Based on a search of 10,000 photos at the Rockefeller Archives at UALR, the permanent exhibit in the Legacy Gallery titled “Winthrop Rockefeller: a Sphere of Power and Influence Dropped into a River of Need” spans approximately 3,000 square feet. It incorporates over 300 restored and enlarged photographs into 180 murals and interpretative panels to tell the story in five areas: The Man, His Heritage, The Mountain, His Influence and His Legacy.

For the television generation, the Legacy Theater features re-mastered video documentaries of Gov. Rockefeller’s life. The interactive theater allows viewers to choose from numerous video clips focusing on different aspects of Rockefeller’s life and legacy. The presentations – each approximately 15 minutes – are excerpted from longer films developed for various purposes.

John Ward, Rockefeller’s director of public relations and 1968 campaign manager, aptly summed up Rockefeller’s 20 years in Arkansas.

“W.R. got his hands dirty and made a life out of it in Arkansas,” he said. “He put a human face on Rockefeller.”

The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute of the University of Arkansas System is a unique educational center with conference and lodging facilities. Committed to acting as a catalyst, its vision involves combining the legacy and ideas of Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller with the resources and expertise of the state’s premier university system. Its mission is to develop diverse programs that nurture ideas, policies and activities to make life better in Arkansas.

The Rockefeller Institute accomplishes its mission by offering a variety of workshops, seminars, public lectures, conferences and special events. Program areas include public affairs, heritage, the arts, culinary arts, language instruction, the environment, archeology, and health and wellness.