Bill Richardson
William Blaine Richardson III (November 15, 1947 – September 1, 2023) was an American politician, author, and diplomat who served as the 30th governor of New Mexico from 2003 to 2011. He was also the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary in the Clinton administration, a U.S. congressman, chair of the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and chair of the Democratic Governors Association.
Bill Richardson | |
|---|---|
Richardson in 2006 | |
| 30th Governor of New Mexico | |
| In office January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2011 | |
| Lieutenant | Diane Denish |
| Preceded by | Gary Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Susana Martinez |
| 9th United States Secretary of Energy | |
| In office August 18, 1998 – January 20, 2001 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Federico Peña |
| Succeeded by | Spencer Abraham |
| 21st United States Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office February 18, 1997 – August 18, 1998 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Madeleine Albright |
| Succeeded by | Richard Holbrooke |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 1983 – February 13, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Bill Redmond |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Blaine Richardson III November 15, 1947 Pasadena, California, U.S. |
| Died | September 1, 2023 (aged 75) Chatham, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Education | Tufts University (BA, MA) |
In December 2008, Richardson was nominated for the cabinet-level position of Secretary of Commerce in the first Obama administration but withdrew a month later, as he was being investigated for possible improper business dealings. Although the investigation was later dropped, it damaged Richardson's popularity and diminished his influence as his second and final term as New Mexico governor concluded.
Richardson occasionally provided advice on diplomatic issues pertaining to North Korea and visited the nation on several occasions, including efforts to release American detainees. He completed a number of private humanitarian missions, one of which secured the release of U.S. journalist Danny Fenster from a Myanmar prison in November 2021.