Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson dies at 75

Former Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson — one of the state’s most famed politicians and a lifelong fighter for those imprisoned abroad — died at his summer home in Massachusetts on Friday night.

He was 75 years old. A cause was not given.

Mickey Bergman, vice president of the Richardson Center, said Richardson “died peacefully in his sleep.”

“There was no illness,” Bergman said.

Richardson’s political ambitions sparked in the Land of Enchantment, where he served more than a dozen years as a congressman and was elected the 30th governor, serving two terms from 2003-11. But they took him far from home — freeing prisoners in the Middle East and trying to tamp down nuclear tensions in Korea.

As governor of New Mexico, Richardson abolished the death penalty, legalized medical marijuana, laid the foundation for the Spaceport, raised the minimum wage for teachers and championed a future for the state in renewable energy.

“I think he touched a lot of lives and changed a lot of lives of people in New Mexico through his political agenda, and through his caring about people in New Mexico,” said Diane Denish, who served as Richardson’s lieutenant governor. “But I would say at the end of the day — and I’ve heard people talk about this — all that stuff kind of doesn’t matter. He was just really a good guy with a big heart.”

On the national and international stage, Richardson served as ambassador to the United Nations, U.S. Energy secretary and made an unsuccessful run for president in 2007, before endorsing Barack Obama in the 2008 election.

In his political career, Richardson also battled through controversy and scandal that traced back to his time as governor and as U.S. Secretary of Energy — particularly allegations of a “pay-to-play” scheme back home in New Mexico that ultimately forced him withdraw as a nominee to Obama’s cabinet.

Current and former leaders across the state and nation took to social media and released statements mourning Richardson’s death, calling him “an exceptional public servant,” “incredible force” and “a good guy.”

Former President Bill Clinton in a statement called Richardson “a devoted public servant and skilled diplomat whose career improved countless lives in New Mexico, across America, and around the world. ... Bill worked tirelessly for the causes of freedom, fairness, and opportunity.”

“Whether in an official or unofficial capacity, he was a masterful and persistent negotiator who helped make our world more secure and won the release of many individuals held unjustly abroad,” Clinton said.

Clinton described Richardson — the only Hispanic governor during his two terms — as a “trailblazer whose career helped pave the path for other Latino Americans to serve at the highest levels of American government.”

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement that “New Mexico, our country, and, frankly, the entire world lost a champion today.” She called Richardson a mentor who was “instrumental” in her own political journey.

“Richardson was a titan among us, fighting for the little guy, world peace, and everything in between,” she said. “He was a visionary who saw the potential of our great state before so many others did. He saw us taking on Hollywood and reaching for the stars, launching both the film and space industries that continue to reap significant economic benefits today. His reputation preceded him around the globe: Bill Richardson is someone who gets things done.”

Early life

William Blaine Richardson III was born on Nov. 15, 1947, in Pasadena, California but grew up at his family’s home in Mexico City. He attended a prep school in Massachusetts and in 1971 earned a master’s degree in international diplomacy from Tufts University in Boston.

His career in public service had humble beginnings: an internship for Republican U.S. Rep. F. Bradford Morse of Massachusetts that turned into a staff position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Afterward, Richardson got into congressional relations in the U.S. State Department for several years and married Barbara Flavin, his high school sweetheart.

Richardson’s time in New Mexico began in 1978, when he moved to Santa Fe and became executive director of the state’s Democratic Party. He made an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 1980 before securing a spot in the 3rd Congressional District — at the time a newly-created seat — two years later.

Denish said she first met Richardson, and learned of his competitive spirit, around this time when she was helping his opponent Tom Udall’s campaign. She said that, over their 40-year-friendship, “he never let me forget that, because I wasn’t on his team.”

Richardson served 14 years in the House seat and held many titles, including chairman on both the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Native American Affairs and as deputy whip for the House Democratic caucus.

During this time, Richardson began going on diplomatic missions overseas, a passion that would persist far past his decades-long political career and into the final days of his life.

In 1994 and 1995, Richardson made two trips: to North Korea to talk nuclear weapons as an envoy for Clinton’s administration, then to Iraq, where he negotiated with Saddam Hussein to release two American prisoners.

Following those trips, Clinton named Richardson ambassador of the United Nations and, a year later, appointed him as U.S. Energy Secretary.

In 2001, Richardson, then 53, told the Journal he was eyeing the governor’s seat but remained coy. He said, at the time, “I still have the juice and the hunger, but I won’t decide until early next year.”

On Nov. 6 2002, Richardson broke an eight-year Republican hold on the governor’s office, calling his victory — with 56% of the vote — “a mandate for change” and vowed to “be on the side of ordinary New Mexicans.”

Richardson made some consequential moves during his time as governor, among them abolishing the death penalty, allowing concealed carry of handguns, requiring convicted drunken drivers to have interlocks installed and making New Mexico the 12th state to legalize medical marijuana.

Denish said Richardson always “gave her the green light” as lieutenant governor on opportunities she really cared about, which can be rare in that dynamic.

She described him as a politician who could “share the credit” in the big moments.

“I think that’s really hard for most people in today’s world,” Denish said, “I really admired that about Bill.”

She said he also had a “great sense of humor” that he would wield in strained situations, something she witnessed first hand with a Korean delegation at a dinner in Santa Fe.

“When he was in a tense situation... I think he always could kind of open the door for conversation by using his humor,” Denish recalled. “Just watching him with a sense of levity with those people. And getting them to laugh. Seemed like a real milestone.”

As governor, Richardson also touted progressive future plans for the state, announcing that he wanted to turn New Mexico into the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy and made plans to build the now-famous Spaceport America with Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson.

Denish called the launch of Spaceport America one of the proudest days working beside him. It was something that, in the end, she felt he never got the full credit he deserved for making happen.

“He really brought a sense of complete optimism and hopefulness to space exploration and space flights for civilians,” Denish said. “I thought he conveyed the majesty of the universe, the possibilities of seeing the majesty of the universe.”

Presidential run

In 2007, after skating to a second term as governor, Richardson announced a run for president against Democratic contenders including Obama and Hillary Clinton, splitting diplomatic missions with the campaign trail.

Richardson conceded the Democratic nomination and, despite calls from Bill Clinton to endorse his wife, endorsed Barack Obama.

On Saturday, Obama, on Twitter, called Richardson “one of the most distinguished public servants of our time.”

“He was a tireless diplomat, the type of advocate who brought a glimmer of hope — and in many cases freedom — to those Americans detained abroad under the most trying circumstances,” he said.

In 2008, Obama interviewed Richardson for Secretary of State but named him Secretary of Commerce.

Within months of his nomination, Richardson stepped down due to an investigation into a complicated “pay-to-play” scheme involving a political donor receiving high-dollar contracts in the state.

No charges were ever filed, but it was one of several investigations opened into Richardson related to his presidential campaign and time as governor.

By the end of his second term, Richardson’s approval rating had dived from 61% in 2008 to 33% in 2010, and Republican Susana Martinez was elected to the governor’s seat soon after, defeating Denish.

Richardson mostly disappeared from the public eye after his term as governor ended, focusing his efforts on diplomacy, including forming the Richardson Center to negotiate the release of political prisoners, and writing books .

In the last several months, Richardson assisted in getting Navy veteran Taylor Dudley and pro-basketball player Brittney Griner both released from Russia in a prisoner exchange.

In the last week, Richardson was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in rescuing Americans over the years.

Denish said she saw Richardson just a few weeks ago, when he delivered the eulogy at the funeral of Eric Witt, who worked with Richardson to develop the state’s film incentive package.

“He was in fine form, he told some very funny stories,” Denish said of Richardson. She added, of his passing, “he deserved that easy path away, out of life … just went to sleep and didn’t wake up.”

At the beginning of it all, when he was sworn in as governor, Richardson told those gathered before him, “do not judge me on my promises: judge me on my results.”

And five years later, when he dropped out of the presidential race, he said, simply, “I gave the best I had.”

Photos of Bill Richardson, world traveler, politician, New Mexico icon

Matthew Reisen covers criminal justice for the Albuquerque Journal. Follow him on Twitter at @MReisen88, call him at (505) 823-3563 or reach him via email at mreisen@abqjournal.com.