Yesterday America lost a great lady, great policitian, a great human being.I am from Texas and for me there was no greater symbol of smart and compassion than Ann Richards. She spoke to truth, she took no prisoners.
I remember vividly her campaign for governor against Clayton Williams. Claytie, as he was known, was the biggest mysogynist asshole of a bubba to ever seek office and that is saying much for Texas. As an oil tycoon, he was of no worry to most Texans, but as a candidate he embarrassed the hell out of us. He was quoted as saying..."its like rape, you might as well lay back and enjoy it." He also commented on Ann's sobriety that in celebrating an occassion he hoped she didn't go out and get drunk.
The campaigns were oddly, but typical of Texas politics, neck and neck until one fateful night. Both candidates attended a publicized event and meeting in front of cameras and bright lights Ann politely extended her hand to Claytie. In Texas you do that. Hell even before a big boxing match, that is done. You shake the hand of your opponent. Claytie declined. Right there in front of God, the Alamo and in the shadow of empty Lone Star Beer bottles, and the media, Claytie did not act the gentleman. You could hear the collective gasp all across the state. And that is when he lost.
Ann rode into the capitol after that and we enjoyed fairness, a leveling of opportunity for women and minorities, corrections in guvmint excess. And she looked fantastic doing it.
She had a sign posted for her parking place that said "big hair parking only". She was fun, she was smart, and she brooked no nonsense.
She was my role model. Her passing concerns me. Texas, to my knowledge has no one to replace her. We have had a few great voices come from that state. Barbara Jordan, Bob Bullock, Ann Richards, and Molly Ivins. Molly is that last survivor and yet, she too has a relapse with Cancer. I hold dear that idea that she will conquer this bout too, but even if she does, hers is the last voice of reason our state has.
What did Texas do to weed out its smart, its compassion, its eye for fairness? How much oil is in the water that it clogged the heart of our legacy?
There are many many quotes out there about Ma Richards. But the one that most typifies her character is this one. Remembered by Molly Ivins in her book, "She can't Say That, Can She?":
"Several years ago there was a big political do at Scholz Beer Garten in Austin and everybody who was anybody in political Texas was there, meetin' and greetin' at a furious pace. About halfway through the evening, a little group of us got the tired feet and went to lean our butts against a table by the back wall of the Garten. Like birds in a row were perched Bob Bullock, the state comptroller; me; Charlie Miles, a black man who was then head of Bullock's personnel department (and the reason Bullock had such a good record on minority hiring); and Ms. Ann Richards.
Bullock, having been in Texas politics for thirty some-odd years, consequently knew every living sorry, no-account sumbitch who ever held office. A dreadful old racist judge from East Texas came up to him, "Bob, my boy, how are yew?" The two of them commenced to clap one another on the back and have a big greetin'.
"Judge," said Bullock. "I want you to meet my friends. This is Molly Ivins with the Texas Observer."
The judge peered up at me and said, "How yew, little lady?"
"This is Charles Miles, who heads my personnel department." Charlie stuck out his hand and the judge got an expression on his face as though he had just stepped into a fresh cowpie. It took him a long minute before he reached out, barely touched Charlie's hand and said, "How you, boy?" Then he turned with great relief to pretty, blue-eyed Ann Richards and said, "And who is this lovely lady?"
Ann beamed and said, "I am Mrs. Miles.""
Rest in Peace, Ma.
