Getting to know the first lady of Ohio, Karen Kasich

The wife of GOP presidential candidate Gov. John Kasich goes 'On the Record' on their marriage, life on the campaign trail, why she believes her husband should be president and her passion for fitness and nutrition for children

This is a rush transcript from "On the Record," March 25, 2016. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: As the fight over the wives' of GOP candidate, Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz remains ongoing, the wife of another candidate, the first lady of Ohio, Karen Kasich, is not getting dragged into it.

Now, before the feud began and the news out of Brussels broke, Mrs. Kasich went ON THE RECORD. That was earlier this week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VAN SUSTEREN: Mrs. Kasich, nice see it you.

KAREN KASICH, WIFE OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE GOV. JOHN KASICH: Hi. Nice to see you too or hear you anyway.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right. So, you and the governor have been married 19 years. Where did you meet him and did you like him right away or did it take a while?

KASICH: I met him when I was in my first job out of college. I was in public relations and I had to go take pictures of about seven officials in the State of Ohio. And he was just one of the folks on my list. He didn't mean anything to me at the time. And he was a congressman, and I went in and I took his picture. And you know what I remember is we laughed, and he had the twinkling eyes and we just had a good time. And that's what I remember about meeting him.

VAN SUSTEREN: OK. So, how did he get your phone number or how did you get his?

KASICH: Well, my office phone rang a couple of months later after the magazine came out and he called and he said, "You know, I just wanted to tell you, I think that magazine turned out really nicely." And I thought, "Huh. None of these other guys called to tell me that." I was kind of clueless. And then about a month later, he called again and asked me out to lunch.

VAN SUSTEREN: OK. So, then what did you say from then on? Did you pursue him or did he pursue you?

KASICH: Oh, no. He was pursuing me completely. Are you kidding?

(LAUGHTER)

VAN SUSTEREN: That's good to know. All right. Now, I would tell you that there are some things like my husband says that I am -- that we've been together since 1979, and he says he can't figured it out why he I can't shut cupboards. Are there things that your husband does that annoys you like that?

KASICH: You know, the only thing that comes to mind is that my husband cannot put socks down the laundry chute.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right.

KASICH: I bet there's a lot of other folks out there with husbands like that, too.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right Well, if he gets to the White House, I think we'll probably -- to figure that one out. All right. Now, as the first - as the first lady of Ohio, you have been one of the things that at least I read about is that you are interested in teaching young people how to eat healthy. Is that right?

KASICH: Fitness and nutrition. Yes. I think our young people are really our most valuable natural resource, and we need to guide them and part of that is getting them locked into good habits early on.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right. Now, I take it then that you are somewhat of a fan of Mrs. Obama and her plan - I mean, she's been active in that as well.

KASICH: Yes, I think anything that leaders can do to show young people a healthy lifestyle is a great benefit.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right, what about the food supply? I mean is like, you know, you can eat - I mean, it's sort of hard to eat healthy when we have - when a lot of ways and several lousy food supply and some of the processed food that junk you buy in the grocery store. Any thought about that?

KASICH: Well, I just like to say, everything in moderation and, again, you know, the more leafy greens you can pick the better, but I think our schools are trying to change and do a better job with that. At least the ones that I have noticed around Ohio are. So I think we are getting there and, again, everything in moderation. I don't like to say that there are bad foods.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right then, would the -- why do you think your husband wants to be president?

KASICH: Because he has a record of making great progress in the State of Ohio and great progress when he was in Congress for 18 years, and he has got the experience and the vision to lead this country. I think he wants to unite us and not divide us. We are a country that's been too divided for too long.

VAN SUSTEREN: I remember when I interviewed former first lady Laura Bush where she said it a million times to other people as well is that when her husband want to run for Congress, she promised her she'd never have to give a political speech. Well, it didn't turn out that way because he ended up running for president eventually. Is there something that -- what do you think about the campaign trail? Is that something that you like or don't like?

KASICH: Oh, I very much enjoyed it. It's been quite a privilege for our daughters, Emma and Reese, and me to come on and off the campaign trail with him to travel the country. You know, one thing I've noticed is that, we're very diverse in America. But no matter where we go, people seem to have the same concerns. And that's been very interesting to me.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right, let me do you some dirty TV thing. Your husband used to be in TV, so he knows this trick. When we come to Cleveland for the Republican Convention and since you'd be the host first lady, will you do an interview on our show?

KASICH: Of course, Greta, that's the easy one.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right. Good. That was sort of dirty one because I did that on TV. Anyway, Mrs. Kasich, thank you very much for joining us.

KASICH: Thank you for having me.

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