Mike Pence and Karen Pence's Marriage of More Than 3 Decades Is Admired by Many, Including Donald Trump

By Mary Webber First Posted: May 28, 2022 07:00 PM EDT

Former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, have been married for more than 30 years and still going strong.

According to Business Insider, Karen is the closest adviser to her husband and had a major say in some of his political career decisions.

Pence's wife was formerly married to her high school sweetheart, Dr. John Steven Whitaker. The couple's marriage ended in divorce partly due to their youth and the doctor's intense medical school schedule.

In 1983, Mike and Karen met in the parking lot outside Indianapolis' St. Thomas Aquinas Church. According to the Republic, Karen played the guitar there during mass. Karen was a shop teacher at a local school at the time, while Mike was studying law at Indiana University with one of Karen's sisters.

Mike and Karen's first date was with her niece and nephew, skating at the Pepsi Coliseum. Karen's niece reportedly made a $1 bet that Mike would marry her aunt. According to Karen, the first date "went well," and it "was love at first sight" for her.

After eight months of dating, Karen had the word "yes" engraved on a gold cross. According to the Washington Post, the former second lady carried it in her purse as she awaited Mike's marriage proposal.

About a month later, Mike proposed while they were strolling and feeding ducks along a canal in Indianapolis, and Karen was able to give him her golden cross.

The couple tied the knot on June 8, 1985 at St. Christopher's Roman Catholic Church in Speedway, Indiana, and they eventually had three children.

Donald Trump on Mike Pence and Karen Pence's Marriage

During a White House signing ceremony in 2017, former President Donald Trump told Mike Pence that he has "one hell of a good marriage going." The thrice-married Trump made the comment about Mike's marriage in light of criticism stemming from a Washington Post story.

The story said the former vice president told The Hill in 2002 that he never eats alone with a woman other than his wife and doesn't attend events featuring alcohol without her by his side.

According to USA Today, the practice called "The Billy Graham Rule is common among many evangelicals. Some critics called it sexist and old-fashioned, while others said it was an example of a man determined to preserve his marriage.

The Pences were married in a Roman Catholic church but later became evangelical Christians. Mike Pence earlier told the IndyStar that Karen Pence was "the best part" of his life. The former vice president noted that they do everything together, from exercising to praying, and he "can't imagine it any other way."

Mike Pence Calls Karen Pence His 'Mother'

In a 2017 Rolling Stone article, Mike Pence was quoted as asking Karen Pence: "Mother, Mother, who prepared our meal this evening?"

The outlet cited an anonymous source who said the then-Indiana governor referred to his wife as "mother" at a dinner with lawmakers. Pence reportedly shouted to his wife at the other end of the table.

And after a few minutes, the former vice president reportedly shouted again. "Mother, Mother, whose china are we eating on?"

However, one of Mike's aides dispelled the rumors as he spoke about the unsettling nickname. Alyssa Farah, Mike's former press secretary, told The Hill that it would be "weird" if Mike would refer to his wife as "mother."

Farah noted that it was a "myth" that drove her crazy. She explained that this was when Mike had kids who were teenage years.

"They're probably 14, 15 years old. And he steps up, and he says, 'mom' and he calls her mom. But my parents did that too... In front of kids, you say, 'dad,' 'mom,'" Farah said.

Farah noted that Karen Pence "was always Karen" when she was around, and they called her "Mrs. Pence or the second lady." She added that Mike does not call his wife her mother.

Mike Pence and Karen Pence are reportedly living their best lives after returning to their home state of Indiana as they put their Washington D.C. days behind them.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Mike Pence and Wife Karen Return to Indiana After Vice Presidency - From FOX59 News