Former U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson, died on Friday, 8 January 2021, at the age of 75. He was a prominent politician who served in top roles within the government, in two presidential administrations. His death was reported by a family friend.
Bill Richardson was born on 15 November 1945 in Pasadena, California. He earned his law degree from Tufts University and earned his master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University. He began to hone his political chops while serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, followed by a stint in the Connecticut General Assembly.
In 1991, Richardson got a job in the legislative office of then-Texas Congressman Vic Fazio and was subsequently appointed a deputy White House domestic policy adviser for President Bill Clinton. After Clinton left office, he served as a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The latter position made Richardson the highest-ranking Latino in the United States government at the time, and he was later honored by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for his efforts on behalf of Latinos.
In 2008, Richardson made a short-lived bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. He was also known for his humanitarian efforts to free hostages, to improve U.S. diplomatic relations with nations and to rattle the cages of dictators, such as his unsuccessful mission to secure freedom for 240 North Korean prisoners in 2007.
While out of office, Richardson stayed active in politics, speaking for Liberal Democratic causes. In 2012, he joined the Mitt Romney presidential campaign as an informal adviser. In 2014, he authored his memoir, Earning the Rockies: How Geography Shapes America’s Role in the World.
Though Richardson was a centrist Democrat, he was admired by both liberals and conservatives for his courage and ability to gain bipartisan support for his initiatives. He will be remembered as a dedicated public servant who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of citizens around the world. His legacy will continue to grow with each passing year, and he will not be forgotten.
