Bill Richardson: A Study in Nuance

By DON ROLLINS

Although a mere nanosecond on the great American political timeline, 2006 was an especially eventful year. US House Minority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) resigned his post while unsuccessfully fending off a money laundering charge. George W. Bush appointee, Samuel Alito, was seated as the 110th US supreme court justice. And Democrats swept the off-year elections, assuming control of both the US Senate and House, installing Nancy Pelosi as the first female Speaker of the House.

These events have impacted the republic well beyond 2006. A greedy egoist brought shame on his office, party, supporters and nation. Republicans further packed a conservative court for the ages. And a centuries old, gender-based barrier to power was finally and forever breached.

Set against this political mosaic were the scores of state-level initiatives and programs introduced by 28 Democratic and 22 Republicans governors. Per the nature of statehouse politics, some were dumb, some made sense and a bunch more were simple payback to the forces that put or kept them in office.

Although not embraced by some of his own key donors, the most sensical idea put forth by the 2006 gubernatorial class belonged to New Mexico Democrat, Gov. Bill Richardson. Deep into his first of two terms, Richardson proclaimed 2006 “The Year of the Child” and called upon the state legislature to rethink how New Mexico formulates, funds and measures preschool though college education — with additional emphasis on their and their families’ health care needs.

Not for the first or last time, Richardson’s original proposals were picked over by corporate-minded Republicans determined to refund rather than invest surplus tax dollars. Yet the governor wrangled his proposals through a maze of confrontations and compromises, ultimately achieving a good if not perfect version of his ends — a recurring theme in a long political career.

Richardson died on Sept. 1 at age 75. Despite early Republican connections he over time became a fixture within the Democratic Party, serving in multiple roles: Staff member, US State Department and Foreign Relations Committee; US representative from New Mexico; US ambassador to the United Nations; secretary of energy; governor of New Mexico.

Richardson’s back story began with a relatively privileged upbringing in a mixed race (Latino and Anglo) home. After college, graduate school and a promising amateur baseball career in New England, he moved to New Mexico, where he lost an initial bid for state representative, but two years later won the seat that launched his career.

Richardson declared as a Democrat for the 2008 presidential election, but soon left the race due to poor showings. His next venture was focused on international diplomacy with an emphasis on using non-government channels and methods: He founded the nonprofit Richardson Center for Global Engagement in 2011, specializing in human exchanges and releases between hostile governments.

Few political figures remain in the public eye for decades without controversies, and that reality was brought home to Richardson via assorted, serious allegations: paying hush money to an unnamed person related to a 2004 sexual affair; lying to the grand jury investigating the Clinton-Lewinsky incidents; violating campaign finance restrictions while governor.

None of these allegations were ultimately proven, yet none read as totally unmerited. Whatever their accuracy, they no doubt played a role as Richardson was often mentioned but uniformly passed over by subsequent Democratic administrations.

Richardson’s later years were mostly given to representing the families of overseas detainees and hostages. He and Richardson Center staff traveled to Russia last year on behalf of basketball star Brittany Griner, and American serviceman Paul Whelan.

History will largely be kind to Bill Richardson and his keen political instincts. As was evident back in 2006, he understood the role of nuance in the rough business of governing. And when to let go of the perfect and embrace the good.

Don Rollins is a retired Unitarian Universalist minister in Jackson, Ohio. Email donaldlrollins@gmail.com.

From The Progressive Populist, October 15, 2023

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