Dave Contarino was Bill Richardson's 2002 gubernatorial campaign manager, his first term Chief of Staff, and manager of his 2008 presidential campaign. Very few are better equipped to remember the life and legacy of Governor Richardson than Dave. In this conversation we talk Dave's own path to politics and mine his expertise specifically about New Mexico, then go in depth about the inspiration, impact, and influence of Bill Richardson...from his unconventional lifestory, to his time as a rising star in the House, stint in the Clinton cabinet, two terms as Governor, groundbreaking presidential campaign, and his focus over the past decade helping to free Americans held hostage in foreign countries (including the recent release of Britt ney Griner). This is a wide-ranging conversation about a truly original and transformational figure, the late Governor Bill Richardson.
IN THIS EPISODE…
Dave’s roots near Boston and path to politics via a couple of interesting internships…
One of Dave’s early jobs as a DCCC staffer under then-operative Rahm Emanuel…
How Dave’s career took him to New Mexico and his 101 for understanding New Mexico Politics…
Dave talks the early life and political origin story of Bill Richardson…
The role Richardson’s Hispanic heritage played in his political career…
Congressman Richardson’s ascent in the House and how he started to become known as an international hostage negotiator in the 1990s…
Why the ambitious Richardson waited 20 years after he was first elected before he ran statewide…
Dave remembers some of the high points of Bill Richardson’s tenure as Governor…
Dave talks Richardson’s decision to run for President in 2008 and memories of what went right & what went wrong…
Some of the story behind Richardson’s surprise decision to endorse Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in 2008…
Dave goes in depth on the work Governor Richardson has done over the past 30 years to help free American hostages from foreign countries…
Dave closes by speaking to Governor Richardson’s political legacy…
AND ANWR, Madeline Albright, Andover, Bruce Babbitt, the big seat, Jeff Bingaman, The Boston Globe, Richard Branson, George Brown, the Cape Cod League, Bob Carr, James Carville, the Catholic Church, Henry Cisneros, Cornell University, Warren Christopher, Pete Domenici, Friends of Bill, Geronimo’s attorney, grazing fees, Brittney Griner, the Harriman Center, the head of Denver Transit, Saddam Hussein, James Inhofe, Lyndon Johnson, Judas, Sergey Lavrov, David Letterman, Manuel Lujan, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Susanna Martinez, Paul Maslin, Terry McAuliffe, Roberto Mondragon, Steve Murphy, NAFTA, Ollie North, Pasadena, Federico Pena, Mark Penn, Mark Putnam, radio actualities, the Rio Grande Corridor, Ed Romero, Pat Schroeder, the Science and Technology Committee, Hillary Tompkins, Tufts, Tom Udall, The War on the West & more!