Bill Richardson
Public servant
Born: Pasadena, California

Bill Richardson was elected governor of New Mexico in 2002. A four-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, Richardson served in Congress and was the first Hispanic to hold two Cabinet positions—U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Secretary of Energy.

“My mother spoke to me in Spanish and my father spoke to me in English. I grew up totally bilingual and bicultural.”

After high school, Bill Richardson turned down a spot on the Kansas City Athletics baseball team to attend college. On a class trip to Washington, D.C., he heard a speech by Senator Hubert Humphrey that inspired him to pursue public service.

“I don't want to be just another Hispanic politician. Hispanics don't just care about civil rights, immigration, and affirmative action. We care about jobs, education, and other mainstream American issues.”

In addition to serving in Congress and as Secretary of Energy, Richardson successfully negotiated the release of Americans held hostage in North Korea, Iraq, Cuba, and Sudan.

Bill Richardson, public servant. Photograph by Celia Alvarez Muñoz, taken at the Office of the Governor, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

“I see myself as an American internationalist enormously proud of his Hispanic heritage. Because of our culture, we have a special responsibility to become bridges to Latin America and the Caribbean and to engage more internationally. We need to take risks. So run for office, use your biculturalism, be a citizen of the world!”