Ann Richards said "I don't want my tomsbstone to read 'She kept a really clean house'. I think I'd like them to remember me by saying she opened government to everyone." As a one-term Texas Governor, she was the first woman in Texas state-wide government, and hired more women and minorities than any of her predecesors.
Though a much-loved icon, she lost to George W. Bush in 1994, probably because she vetoed legislation allowing the carrying of concealed weapons, automatic weapons and cop-killer bullets. She also blocked legislation that would allow destruction of the Edwards aquifer, a water system that today serves 1.7 million Texans, including all of San Antonio. Both were unpopular in Texas at the time.
One of her most famous lines regarding the Vice President George H.W. Bush, was "poor George, he was born with a silver foot in his mouth." She also commented to an audience that after years of listening to George Bush, they were finally hearing what a real Texas accent sounded like.
You can see that she herself was silver-tongued. One of my favorite lines, which I frequently quote, but never knew whom I was citing, was about women's ability: "Ginger Rogers does everything Fred Astaire does, but she does it backwards and in high heels." Which pretty sums up her life.
Ann Richards was larger than life. Even when she was diagnosed with esophageal cancer last March, she tackled it with energy. She died last night, at age 73, surrounded by family and Democrats.
She will be missed.
I wonder what the world would look like today if she had not lost the governorship to George W. back in 1994.
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