Carly Fiorina’s Husband Frank Fiorina, America’s Other Potential ‘First Gentleman’

They met met when they worked at AT&T in the 1980s.

ByABC News
February 1, 2016, 6:47 AM

— -- Bill Clinton isn't the only man in the running for "first gentleman” in 2016.

Frank Fiorina is former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina's stay-at-home husband.

The pair, both previously divorced, met when they worked at AT&T in the 1980s. By their third date, Frank told his future wife she could be CEO of it one day.

"She was brand new at the company … but I had observed her for the last couple of years, few years, and she was just an amazing phenomenon as far as I was concerned," he explained.

But what really led to the couple’s 30-year marriage was the way Carly charmed Frank's two little girls, who had chased away his dates for years.

"Carly fell in love with them," said Frank. "They fell in love with her, and like at that point, I'm not sure I had a choice."

But their marriage hasn't been without its hardships. They lost one of their daughters, Lori, to addiction the same year Carly began her own battle against cancer. What got her through it all, Frank said, was Carly's unwavering faith.

When Carly took the reins of Hewlett-Packard, Frank feared he'd never see his busy wife. So at the age of 48, he decided to retire. Now well-settled into his role on the sidelines as Carly's Costco-loving, Italian-cooking husband, Frank said he doesn't know if America is ready for a “first gentleman.”

"I'm not worried about Carly living up to it,” Frank said. “I hope I can live up to it.”

ABC News' Justine Quart, Jordyn Phelps, Arthur Niemynski and Katie Bosland contributed to this report.