Ann Richards, the last Governor of Texas I voted for and one of the few class act politicians this state has produced, died yesterday:
Ann Richards, who shed the role of homemaker to rise through Texas politics to become the state's 45th governor and a national celebrity, died Wednesday after a six-month battle with cancer. She was 73.
Richards was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in March.
Richards was the quintessential Texas woman, with a sassy homespun charm, sharp wit and tough pioneer spirit. With bright silver hair, a weathered face and an affinity for cobalt blue suits and pearls, Richards was instantly recognizable to national television audiences.
As a Democratic politician, Richards' 1990 race for governor against Republican cowboy oilman Clayton Williams became a battle of the sexes. Her victory symbolically broke down gender barriers for a generation of Texas women who were seeking professional careers.
Richards labeled her administration the "New Texas," appointing more Hispanics, blacks and women to state boards and commissions than any previous governor. She pushed for increases in public education funding and promoted business expansion in the state.
A recovering alcoholic, Richards also pressed lawmakers to increase funding for drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs.
Polls showed Richards was the most personally popular governor in 30 years. But a liberal image kept her job approval rating beneath 50 percent, and she lost her 1994 re-election bid to Republican George W. Bush, the future president.
Late in her term as governor, the Houston Chronicle asked Richards how she viewed her gubernatorial legacy.
"How about, 'She changed the economic future of Texas,'" Richards replied. "And that really beats what I feared my tombstone was going to say, and that was: 'She kept a really clean house.'"
I had the pleasure of meeting Governor Richards twice. Once at her inauguration in 1991, and again as documented here.
Okay, so that last one isn't quite so impressive.
Richards was one of the few politicians I could cast a ballot for and not feel like I'd just supported the lesser of two evils. Her biggest mistake, and one which we're still paying for today, was not taking George W. Bush more seriously in the 1994 election.
Chuck has a great story about Richards here. And Capitol Annex has a nice collection of links.
Rest in peace, Governor. And thanks.
When I voted for Ann, it was one of the few times I felt like my vote mattered. She showed that you could have a few good one-liners AND have some class and substance.
Thanks for linking to the Capitol Annex. I read the story that Molly Ivins recounted about Governor Richards and thought it was great. I hadn't heard that one before. Ann will be missed.
Her arrogance wouldn't let her take either Bush Sr or Bush Jr seriously.
I lived in Texas for about a year while she was governor and it was great to be able to be PROUD of someone in office.
I agree, she didn't take Bush seriously enough, but she was still my favorite politician by a long shot.
The world has truly suffered a loss.