Bill Richardson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Richardson
|
|
|---|---|
Richardson in 2006
|
|
| 30th Governor of New Mexico | |
| In office January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2011 |
|
| Lieutenant | Diane Denish |
| Preceded by | Gary Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Susana Martinez |
| 9th United States Secretary of Energy | |
| In office August 18, 1998 – January 20, 2001 |
|
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Federico Peña |
| Succeeded by | Spencer Abraham |
| 21st United States Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office February 18, 1997 – August 18, 1998 |
|
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Madeleine Albright |
| Succeeded by | Richard Holbrooke |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 3rd district |
|
| In office January 3, 1983 – February 13, 1997 |
|
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Bill Redmond |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Blaine Richardson III
November 15, 1947 Pasadena, California, U.S. |
| Died | September 1, 2023 (aged 75) Chatham, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Barbara Flavin
(m. 1972) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Tufts University (BA, MA) |
William Blaine Richardson III (November 15, 1947 – September 1, 2023) was an American politician and diplomat. He served as the 30th governor of New Mexico from 2003 to 2011. He also worked as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary during the Clinton administration. Before that, he was a U.S. congressman.
In 2008, Richardson was considered for a top job in the cabinet for the Obama administration. However, he later decided not to take the position. Richardson was known for his work in diplomacy. He often gave advice on issues with North Korea and visited the country many times. He also helped free American citizens held in other countries, like journalist Danny Fenster from a prison in Myanmar in 2021.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Blaine Richardson III was born in Pasadena, California, on November 15, 1947. He spent his childhood in Mexico City, Mexico. His father, William Blaine Richardson Jr., was an American bank executive. His mother, María Luisa López-Collada Márquez, was Mexican-born. Richardson's father wanted him to be born in the United States, so his mother traveled to California for his birth.
Richardson was a U.S. citizen from birth. He grew up in a large home in Mexico City and was raised as a Roman Catholic. When he was 13, his parents sent him to Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts, for school. He played baseball there as a pitcher. He then went to Tufts University in 1966 and continued playing baseball.
Richardson earned a bachelor's degree from Tufts University in 1970. He studied French and political science. He also earned a master's degree in international affairs from Tufts in 1971. He married Barbara Flavin in 1972.
Early Political Career
After college, Richardson worked for a Republican Congressman from Massachusetts. He also worked for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Later, he worked for the Henry Kissinger State Department during the Nixon administration.
U.S. Representative
In 1978, Richardson moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 1980, he ran for the House of Representatives as a Democrat but lost. Two years later, in 1982, he was elected to represent New Mexico's new third district. This district covered most of the northern part of the state. Richardson served in Congress for 14 years. He held many town meetings to hear from people in his district.
He became a leader in the Democratic Party as a deputy majority whip. He became friends with Bill Clinton and worked with him on important issues. Richardson played a key role in supporting the NAFTA in 1993. For his work with Mexico's president, he received the Order of the Aztec Eagle, Mexico's highest award for a foreigner.
President Clinton sent Richardson on various foreign policy missions. In 1996, he traveled to Baghdad to negotiate with Saddam Hussein. He helped secure the release of two American workers. Richardson also visited many other countries, including Nicaragua, Cuba, India, and North Korea. He helped free American Evan Hunziker from North Korean custody in 1996. He also helped an American named Eliadah McCord get a pardon in Bangladesh. Because of these missions, Richardson was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times.
Ambassador to the United Nations
From 1997 to 1998, Richardson served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. In this role, he traveled to Afghanistan to meet with the Taliban. He tried to negotiate a ceasefire, but it did not last.
U.S. Secretary of Energy
On July 31, 1998, Richardson became the United States Secretary of Energy. During his time, there was a concern about a scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The scientist, Wen Ho Lee, was suspected of sharing nuclear secrets. He was later cleared of these charges.
Richardson worked to make security stronger at the Department of Energy. This led to the creation of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). He also became the first Energy Secretary to create a plan for getting rid of nuclear waste. He worked to return federal lands to Native American tribes. For example, 84,000 acres were returned to the Northern Ute Tribe of Utah. He also started the Tribal Energy Program.
Governor of New Mexico
First Term
Richardson was elected governor of New Mexico in November 2002. He won against John Sanchez. He became the only Hispanic Governor in the United States at that time. In his first year, he worked to cut taxes to help the economy grow. He also helped New Mexico become the first state to provide life insurance for New Mexico National Guard members on active duty.
He started Richardson's Investment Partnership (GRIP) in 2003. This program helped fund big public projects in New Mexico. One project was building a new commuter rail line, the Rail Runner. He also supported LGBT rights. He added sexual orientation and gender identity to New Mexico's civil rights laws.
In 2003, Richardson supported a law allowing New Mexicans to carry concealed handguns. He also supported a law allowing undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses. He said this helped improve public safety and reduced the number of uninsured drivers.
In 2004, Richardson became Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association. In 2005, he announced that New Mexico would work with billionaire Richard Branson. Their goal was to bring space tourism to the planned Spaceport America near Las Cruces, New Mexico. In 2006, Forbes magazine named Albuquerque, New Mexico, the best city for business and careers. This was partly due to Richardson's changes.
In September 2006, Richardson flew to Sudan. He successfully negotiated the release of journalist Paul Salopek, who had been imprisoned. In January 2007, he helped arrange a 60-day ceasefire in Darfur, Sudan.
Second Term
Richardson won his second term as Governor of New Mexico on November 7, 2006. He received the highest percentage of votes for a governor in the state's history.
In December 2006, Richardson said he would support a ban on cockfighting in New Mexico. He signed the bill into law on March 12, 2007. This made New Mexico one of the few places in the U.S. where cockfighting is illegal.
In March 2009, he signed a bill that ended the death penalty in New Mexico. This made New Mexico the second U.S. state to do so by law since the 1960s. He received an award for this from Death Penalty Focus.
In December 2010, Richardson returned to North Korea in an unofficial role. He met with North Korean officials to try to reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula. He suggested setting up a hotline between North and South Korean forces. He also proposed a military group to monitor disputes.
Richardson's second term as governor ended in 2011. He could not run for governor again due to term limits.
2008 Presidential Campaign
Richardson ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008. He dropped out of the race on January 10, 2008, after not doing well in the early contests.
He was later considered as a possible vice presidential candidate for Barack Obama. However, Obama chose Joe Biden instead.
Secretary of Commerce Nomination
After Barack Obama won the 2008 election, Richardson was often mentioned for a job in Obama's cabinet. He was considered for Secretary of State because of his diplomatic experience. Later, Obama chose Richardson to be the Commerce Secretary.
On January 4, 2009, Richardson decided not to accept the nomination. He said this was due to an investigation into some business dealings in New Mexico. He stated he was innocent. The investigation was later dropped in August 2009.
Private Diplomacy
Richardson visited North Korea many times. In 1996, he helped negotiate the release of Evan Hunziker, an American civilian held by North Korea.
In 2011, he became a special envoy for the Organization of American States. Richardson also started the Richardson Center. This foundation helps negotiate the release of political prisoners around the world.
In January 2013, he led a group to North Korea. This group included Google chairman Eric Schmidt. Richardson called it a "private, humanitarian" trip. He tried to talk to officials about Kenneth Bae, a U.S. citizen held in North Korea. Bae was later released in November 2014.
In March 2016, Richardson tried to negotiate the release of American college student Otto Warmbier from North Korea. Warmbier was released in June 2017 but sadly died later that month.
In November 2021, Richardson went to Myanmar. He negotiated with the military leader, Min Aung Hlaing. He successfully secured the release of U.S. journalist Danny Fenster from prison.
Post-Gubernatorial Career
After his time as governor, Richardson joined several boards and organizations. He worked with APCO Worldwide and the World Resources Institute. He also joined the advisory board for Grow Energy and Refugees International.
In 2012, Richardson became chairman of the Board of Directors for Car Charging Group. This company operates public electric vehicle charging stations in the United States.
Death
Richardson passed away at his summer home in Chatham, Massachusetts, on September 1, 2023. He was 75 years old.
See also
- Electoral history of Bill Richardson
- William Barloon
- List of Hispanic Americans in the United States Congress
- Unsuccessful nominations to the Cabinet of the United States
