Skip to content
RollCall logo

Heard on the Hill

Bill Richardson, a public life in photos, 1947-2023

Cigar chomping, dancing, baseball hurling also part of the Richardson vibe

Then-New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson speaking at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.
Then-New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson speaking at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. (Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call)
By Jason Dick
Posted September 5, 2023 at 3:29pm

Corrected 6:57 p.m. | When Bill Richardson died on Sept. 1, he left behind a legacy in public life that stretched from his time as a staffer on Capitol Hill for Rep. Frank Bradford Morse, R-Mass., to being elected eight times to the House as a Democrat from New Mexico, stints as President Bill Clinton’s United Nations ambassador and Energy secretary, two terms as New Mexico governor and a wild, unprecedented side gig as a kind of private diplomat who helped secure the release of American hostages in North Korea, Russia and other global hot spots. A gregarious retail politician, he was also a heck of a baseball player, making him a regular participant in the annual Congressional Baseball Game.

Then-Rep. Richardson, D-N.M., works out at a baseball practice for an upcoming Congressional Baseball game in the early 1990s. (Marty La Vor/CQ Roll Call archives)
Then-Energy Secretary Richardson testifies in 1999 during a joint hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on a defense bill, which requires the creation of a National Nuclear Security Administration within the Department of Energy. (Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call)
Then-Rep. Richardson as a masked man on Nov. 6, 1988. (Stephen Rosenberg/CQ Roll Call)
Then-Rep. Richardson congratulates Rep. William Huston Natcher, D-Ky., on his milestone 18,000th House vote in 1994. (Chris Martin/CQ Roll Call)
Then-Rep. Richardson and cigar, out on the dance floor at the 28th Annual Democratic Congressional dinner on April 29, 1991. (Jamie Howren/CQ Roll Call)
Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., right, talks with Richardson after a meeting in the Hart Senate Office Building on Oct. 6, 2021. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

This report was corrected to reflect the location of the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Recent Stories

Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., is seen outside the Capitol after House votes on July 25.

Nevada’s Horsford likely to rejoin Ways and Means panel

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks on the final night of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. Three Republicans are squaring off Tuesday for the chance to face Warren in November.

Few GOP challengers in solidly blue Massachusetts

From left, Reps. Sean Casten, D-Ill., Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., and Dan Kildee, D-Mich., are seen on the first night of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 19. McGarvey is among the members scheduled to perform at the Congressional Record 2024 music event on Sept. 17.

The happy-to-be-there caucus

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, collectively hit three swing states on Thursday.

Takeaways from first Harris interview, Trump’s vow to ‘produce babies’

New Jersey Democrats on Thursday chose longtime state legislator Nellie Pou to replace Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J., on the ballot in November. Pascrell, pictured here, died last week.

NJ Democrats pick longtime legislator to replace Pascrell on November ballot

Former President Donald Trump said he would "lower the cost of energy," if reelected.

Trump vows EPA rollbacks as climate becomes hot campaign issue