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| Former Texas governor Ann Richards dies at 73 |
| 2006-09-14 |
| Former Gov. Ann Richards, the witty and flamboyant Democrat who went from homemaker to national political celebrity, died Wednesday night after a battle with cancer, a family spokeswoman said. She was 73.She died at home surrounded by her family, the spokeswoman said. Richards was found to have esophageal cancer in March and underwent chemotherapy treatments. The silver-haired, silver-tongued Richards said she entered politics to help others — especially women and minorities who were often ignored by Texas’ male-dominated establishment. She was governor for one term, losing her re-election bid to Republican George W. Bush. She grabbed the national spotlight with her keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention when she was the Texas state treasurer. Richards won cheers from delegates when she reminded them that Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, “only backwards and in high heels.” Richards sealed her partisan reputation with a blast at George H. Bush, a fellow Texan who was vice president at the time: “Poor George, he can’t help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.” Four years later, she was chairwoman of the Democratic convention that nominated Bill Clinton for president. She polished Texas’ image, courted movie producers, championed the North American Free Trade Agreement, oversaw an expansion of the state prison system, and presided over rising student achievement scores and plunging dropout rates. She took time out to celebrate her 60th birthday by earning her motorcycle driver’s license. Throughout her years in office, her personal popularity remained high. One poll put it at more than 60 percent the year she lost to Bush. Richards went on to give speeches, work as a commentator for CNN and serve as a senior adviser in the New York office of Public Strategies Inc., an Austin-based consulting firm. But politics took a toll. It helped break up her marriage. And public life forced her to be remarkably candid about her 1980 treatment for alcoholism. The 1990 election was rough. Her Democratic primary opponent, then-Attorney General Jim Mattox, accused her of using illegal drugs. Williams, an oilman, banker and rancher, spent millions of his own money on the race she narrowly won. After her unsuccessful re-election campaign against Bush, Richards said she never missed being in public office. Asked once what she might have done differently had she known she was going to be a one-term governor, Richards grinned. “Oh, I would probably have raised more hell.” |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #12 My memory of Ann Richards was when she first ran for TX governor against a salty cowboy opponent (name escapes). Her opponent was caught on video shortly before the election saying "sounds like she's hitting the bottle again". Good ole TX politics. I never cared for Ann. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-09-14 21:29 |
| #11 I didn't like her politics, but she could wing that snark. RIP Ann. |
| Posted by: djohn66 2006-09-14 16:24 |
| #10 Well, my Dad used to say that the time to criticize someone was not at their passing, so I'll heed his advice. I'll leave ya'll to your lovefest. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-09-14 14:36 |
| #9 RIP Ann Richards. You were capable of credible opposition. The "poor George, he can't help it, he was born with a silver shoe in his mouth" was classic, SNARK! |
| Posted by: TomAnon 2006-09-14 14:20 |
| #8 Bush: saddened by death of one-time rival Richards |
| Posted by: flyover 2006-09-14 13:12 |
| #7 And she was a big Stevie Ray Vaughan fan too. RIP. |
| Posted by: xbalanke 2006-09-14 12:03 |
| #6 Ann Richards was what Molly Ivins thinks she is. |
| Posted by: flyover 2006-09-14 09:29 |
| #5 If you can't fill the till, then don't pass the bill. -- Ann Richards |
| Posted by: flyover 2006-09-14 09:28 |
| #4 Gov Richards was Old School political fun. I enjoyed listening to her even when I disagreed with her. She'll be missed. RIP. |
| Posted by: JDB 2006-09-14 03:30 |
| #3 Yes -- have to admit... she is the only Dem in a major political race I ever voted for. But only once, before GWB challenged her. A lady to be admired. She effected the lives of many folks. All for the good. Fought the hard battles and usually won. Didn't always agree with her, but she made you proud to be a Texan. As she would have it. |
| Posted by: Sherry 2006-09-14 01:40 |
| #2 Loved her comment on Bush: when asked how the political neophyte, yadda-yadda, had beaten her, she replied, "honey, if I knew that I'd still be governor." Great lady. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2006-09-14 01:09 |
| #1 Didn't agree with her politically, but the woman had class, courage, and a sense of humor. She will be missed. |
| Posted by: DMFD 2006-09-14 00:26 |