Bill Richardson

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Bill Richardson

William Blaine ("Bill") Richardson (born November 15, 1947 in Pasadena , California ) is an American politician and former governor of the state of New Mexico . He is a member of the Democrats and was a candidate for his party's presidential nomination in the 2008 presidential election until he withdrew his candidacy on January 10, 2008.

Live and act

Richardson's mother was Mexican and his father was an American businessman. He spent his childhood in Mexico City until he was 13 . Richardson is currently the highest-ranking US politician who belongs to the Hispanic ( Latinos ) population .

Under the presidency of Bill Clinton he was Secretary of Energy (1998-2000) and Ambassador to the United Nations (1997-1998). Before that, he was a member of the US House of Representatives for seven terms . Under the Clinton administration he represented the USA in numerous foreign policy missions, e. For example, the successful release of US prisoners in Iraq in July 1995 and the emigration of three imprisoned Cuban dissidents to the USA in February 1996. He is chairman of the Democratic Party gubernatorial club, alongside the chairman of the Democratic National Committee , the highest Organ of the party, currently the highest Democratic official in the United States.

He supported Senator John Kerry in the 2004 presidential campaign. Both John Kerry and his predecessor candidate Al Gore ( 2000 presidential election ) reported in the media that Bill Richardson was high on the list of possible vice presidential candidates . In September 2006, he obtained the release of US journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Salopek and two other hostages who were held captive in Sudan .

Governor of New Mexico

In November 2002, he defeated the Republican candidate John Sanchez in the fight for governor in New Mexico and won the state back for the Democrats. He succeeded Republican Governor Gary E. Johnson and was elected the only current US governor who belongs to the Hispanic population. In 2006 he was re-elected with 68 percent against Republican candidate John Dendahl . In March 2009, Richardson signed a bill abolishing the death penalty and converting it to life imprisonment with no parole. This made New Mexico the 15th US state without a death penalty .

Since the New Mexico constitution prohibits a third term of governor, Richardson could not run again in 2010. His lieutenant governor Diane Denish applied for his successor, but was defeated by Republican Susana Martinez , who replaced Richardson on January 1, 2011.

Presidential candidacy

Bill Richardson during his presidential campaign (2007)

On January 21, 2007, Richardson announced his intention to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in the 2008 election . In May 2007 he officially declared his candidacy.

At the winter meeting of the Democratic party leadership in January 2007, he called for American troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2007. On January 10, 2008, Richardson resigned from his application due to his poor performance in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries . At the end of March 2008, he announced his support for the US presidential candidate Barack Obama .

Waiver of ministerial office

On December 3, 2008, President-elect Obama announced that he would elect Richardson as the new Secretary of Commerce . Richardson decided on January 4, 2009, however, to decline the nomination. He justified this with an ongoing investigation into corruption against him. The suspicion is unfounded, but the procedure jeopardizes the confirmation as minister by Congress , which is necessary for an official appointment. In view of the difficult economic situation, he could not in good conscience ask for such a delay. The President-elect accepted the decision. In place of Richardson, Obama nominated Republican Senator Judd Gregg , who initially accepted, but after a brief period of reflection also resigned the office that ultimately went to Democrat Gary Locke , the former governor of Washington .

Web links

Commons : Bill Richardson  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. n-tv: Searching for candidates in the USA
  2. Florida: Lawmaker Obtains 3 Cubans' Freedom in: Los Angeles Times, February 13, 1996, accessed September 19, 2011
  3. US media: Presidential candidate Richardson gives up
  4. ^ Spiegel Online: Influential Governor Richardson speaks out for Obama
  5. ^ Allegations of corruption. Obama's trade minister-designate quits. Spiegel Online, January 4, 2009, last accessed on January 25, 2009