Via Reuters: Ex-Texas Gov. Ann Richards dies

Former Texas Governor Ann Richards, who sparred with former President George H.W. Bush and later lost the state’s top job to his son, President George W. Bush, died on Wednesday. She was 73.[…]

Richards served as Texas governor from 1991 to 1995, when she lost the job to George W. Bush.

Richards jumped to national prominence at the 1988 Democratic National Conventional for her jibe about then-Vice President George H.W. Bush.

“Poor George, he can’t help it … He was born with a silver foot in his mouth,” she said.

Most non-Texans probably remember Richards for that quote from 1988. Although she did have a national presence, partly as the result of the power of her personality. She also was considered a possible Democratic Veep candidate in the 1990s.

As Chris Lawrence rightly notes:

It’s not often that a one-term governor makes as large a splash on the national political scene as Richards did

Richards was Governor of Texas during a large chunk of my graduate school career, so I very much remember her time in office. Indeed, the 1990 election was first chance I had to vote in the state of Texas. It was an ugly campaign. I recall Steven L. quipping two years later that he thanked God for the Louisiana governor’s race, as it was the only thing that made the Texas race look better (that was the year the Louisianans had to choose between David Duke, former Grand Dragon of the KKK and Edwin Edwards, who had serious corruption allegations dogging him, i.e., voters had to choose between the crook and the Klan).

The NYT has a more extensive obituary: Ann Richards, Ex-Governor of Texas, Dies at 73.