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Former U.N. Ambassador and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has died. He was 75 years old.The Richardson Center for Global Engagement said he died in his sleep at his summer home in Chatham, Massachusetts. “Governor Richardson passed away peacefully in his sleep last night. He lived his entire life in the service of others – including both his time in government and his subsequent career helping to free people held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. There was no person that Governor Richardson would not speak with if it held the promise of returning a person to freedom. The world has lost a champion for those held unjustly abroad and I have lost a mentor and a dear friend,” said Mickey Bergman, Vice President of the Richardson Center. Political careerBill Richardson has been a mainstay in New Mexico Politics since the 1980’s. He was the first representative elected to New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District when it was established in 1983. He served as the congressman until 1997. In 1997, Richardson was appointed as Ambassador to the United Nations serving through 1998. He was later appointed as United States Secretary of Energy by then-President Bill Clinton. He held that office until 2001. Richardson returned to New Mexico and was elected governor in the 2002 gubernatorial election. Richardson served two terms in office as the state’s top elected leader. In 20o7, then-Gov. Bill Richardson announced a run for president. He dropped out of the presidential race in January 2008. In December 2008, then-president-elect Barack Obama named Richardson as his choice for U.S. Secretary of Commerce. He later withdrew citing a federal investigation. Richardson held no other political office in the state after serving as New Mexico’s governor.Prisoner release and peace negotiatorIn Richardson’s final days as New Mexico’s governor, he traveled to North Korea to help ease tensions in the region. He spent four days in the country.In 2011, Richardson established the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, which focused on conflict resolution and prisoner release.Richardson was at the forefront of negotiations to release Otto Warmbier by meeting with North Korean diplomats on March 15, 2016.Richardson also played a role in the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and bringing her home from Russia.
Former U.N. Ambassador and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has died. He was 75 years old.
The Richardson Center for Global Engagement said he died in his sleep at his summer home in Chatham, Massachusetts.
“Governor Richardson passed away peacefully in his sleep last night. He lived his entire life in the service of others – including both his time in government and his subsequent career helping to free people held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. There was no person that Governor Richardson would not speak with if it held the promise of returning a person to freedom. The world has lost a champion for those held unjustly abroad and I have lost a mentor and a dear friend,” said Mickey Bergman, Vice President of the Richardson Center.
Political career
Bill Richardson has been a mainstay in New Mexico Politics since the 1980’s. He was the first representative elected to New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District when it was established in 1983. He served as the congressman until 1997.
In 1997, Richardson was appointed as Ambassador to the United Nations serving through 1998. He was later appointed as United States Secretary of Energy by then-President Bill Clinton. He held that office until 2001.
Richardson returned to New Mexico and was elected governor in the 2002 gubernatorial election. Richardson served two terms in office as the state’s top elected leader.
In 20o7, then-Gov. Bill Richardson announced a run for president. He dropped out of the presidential race in January 2008.
In December 2008, then-president-elect Barack Obama named Richardson as his choice for U.S. Secretary of Commerce. He later withdrew citing a federal investigation.
Richardson held no other political office in the state after serving as New Mexico’s governor.
Prisoner release and peace negotiator
In Richardson’s final days as New Mexico’s governor, he traveled to North Korea to help ease tensions in the region. He spent four days in the country.
In 2011, Richardson established the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, which focused on conflict resolution and prisoner release.
Richardson was at the forefront of negotiations to release Otto Warmbier by meeting with North Korean diplomats on March 15, 2016.
Richardson also played a role in the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and bringing her home from Russia.
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