Former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson dies at 75
Bill Richardson, the former New Mexico governor and United Nations ambassador known for his humanitarianism, has died at the age of 75.
Richardson "passed away peacefully in his sleep" at his home in Chatham, Massachusetts, Mickey Bergman, vice president of the ex-governor's Richardson Center for Global Engagement, said in a statement on Saturday. No cause of death was revealed.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Richardson reached the top of his political career a few years later, when he was elected governor of New Mexico in 2003, a position he would hold until 2011. He was tapped in 2008 by then-President-elect Barack Obama to serve as commerce secretary, but withdrew his nomination after a controversy over business dealings in New Mexico.
Richardson's career was also marked by numerous humanitarian efforts to rescue Americans who were detained abroad. Over the past 30 years, Richardson "traveled the world negotiating and securing the release of Americans imprisoned overseas in Bangladesh, North Korea, Sudan, Colombia and Iraq," NBC News reported. He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize days before his death.
Richardson "worked tirelessly for the causes of freedom, fairness and opportunity," and was "a masterful and persistent negotiator who helped make our world more secure," Clinton said in a statement. President Biden also released a statement saying Richardson was "determined to do the most good for his country, his beloved New Mexico and Americans around the world."
-
6 exquisite homes for skiersFeature Featuring a Scandinavian-style retreat in Southern California and a Utah abode with a designated ski room
-
Film reviews: ‘The Testament of Ann Lee,’ ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,’ and ‘Young Mothers’Feature A full-immersion portrait of the Shakers’ founder, a zombie virus brings out the best and worst in the human survivors, and pregnancy tests the resolve of four Belgian teenagers
-
Political cartoons for January 25Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include a hot economy, A.I. wisdom, and more
-
‘We know how to make our educational system world-class again’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Halligan quits US attorney role amid court pressureSpeed Read Halligan’s position had already been considered vacant by at least one judge
-
‘The science is clear’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Judge clears wind farm construction to resumeSpeed Read The Trump administration had ordered the farm shuttered in December over national security issues
-
Maduro’s capture: two hours that shook the worldTalking Point Evoking memories of the US assault on Panama in 1989, the manoeuvre is being described as the fastest regime change in history
-
A running list of US interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean after World War IIin depth Nicolás Maduro isn’t the first regional leader to be toppled directly or indirectly by the US
-
How robust is the rule of law in the US?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION John Roberts says the Constitution is ‘unshaken,’ but tensions loom at the Supreme Court
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
