Dorothy Williams Bibliography
NAME:
DATE:
UNIVERSITY:
Dorothy Ann Willis Richards was the 45th Governor of Texas and a famous US politician. She was a Democrat who rose to national prominence in her role as Texas State Treasurer. Her popularity grew after she spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 1988. Ann served as Governor of Texas from 1991 until 1995 when George W. Bush defeated her. Ann is also notable for being Texas’s second female governor. Ann was an outspoken feminist with a famous one-liner (Green, 2016). Verdeutscher (2016) defines formalized Ann was well-known for her fiery personality, a razor-sharp wit, and liberal views. Ann Richards fought for women’s and minority rights and improved women’s and minority status in Texas.
Ann Richards was born in a one-room apartment in Lake View, Texas. She lives in Waco, Texas, just 8 miles from where she was born. Her father worked in a pharmaceutical business, and she was the only kid. During WWII, the family relocated from Los Angeles to San Diego, where they remained until the end. Ann was an intelligent student who participated in classroom debates. Aside from that, she was chosen to represent her school and was selected to represent the institution in a debate tournament in Austin. Ann graduated from high school in 1950 and was accepted to Baylor University the following year. She was awarded a full academic bursary for her outstanding debating skills (Holley, 2016).
She met and married David R. Richards while attending Baylor University. They were the parents of four children. After graduating in 1954, the couple relocated to Austin for her spouse to attend the University of Texas Law School. She earned her teaching certificate and, after completing her studies, became a social studies lecturer at Fulmore High School. Ann got interested in policy at this time, and she became a member of the Democratic Party’s liberal wing, which she helped develop. In 1957, the couple relocated to Dallas, where David worked as a labor lawyer for a major corporation. Ann spent her time between 1957 and 1962 dividing her attention between her family and politics. During her tenure, she was also President of the North Dallas Democratic Women’s Wing. She returned to Austin in 1969 for a surprising victory in the Waddington Campaign.
In 1975, Ann was elected to the position of county commissioner. Her dedication to Ann Richards earned her a Democratic nomination for county commissioner, making her the first woman in Travis County history. Her tireless work and extensive grassroots knowledge enabled her to overcome her Republic opponent easily. She held the role until 1982 when she left the company. Throughout her active years, President Jimmy Carter named her to the President’s Advisory Committee, which she served on until her death. She was the first woman to hold a state-wide position in Texas in almost fifty years (Mayer, 2016)
During her tenure as State Treasurer, Ann restructured the agency to guarantee that the state received the highest amount of interest feasible. The state of Texas is expected to have raised more than $1.8 billion. The amount was higher than the previous year’s revenue. She is renowned for her dedication and being a highly engaging and persuasive public speaker across the whole Texas political scene, not to mention humorous (Mayer, 2016). Ann gained national attention in 1988 when she delivered a speech at the Democratic Global Convention in Philadelphia. She acquired national renown when she said this about the wealthy George H.W. Bush, who was then Vice President of the United States: “Poor George, he couldn’t seem to keep his cool. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth, which he has kept ever since.” Ann won the general election in 1990 by a huge margin against the Republican candidate, who had no leadership. As a result, she was just the state’s second female governor in its history. Mariam was the first woman to be elected in 1924.
Ann has laid the groundwork for future generations of Texas women. Her viewpoint, attention, feminine social welfare efforts, and political skill established a high bar for future generations to follow. Ann was a fantastic example of commitment, and she demonstrated that everyone in their lives could achieve their objectives if they put in the necessary effort. Ann’s life was full of ups and downs and challenges. Her marriage, children, and professional responsibilities were obstacles she had to overcome, yet she never gave up and lived for a purpose. Her entire life had been devoted to Texas citizens. She was a staunch opponent of corruption and a proponent of excellence. Her political efforts were commendable, and she was constantly on the lookout for thought-provoking ideas. Ann’s life and political dedication brought the previous era to an end and established new growth standards in Texas. Her contributions to the elimination of bribery and corruption in the system have long been recognized. Furthermore, Ann’s accomplishments in promoting women’s rights will be remembered for a long time.
References
Mayer, R. (2016). Ann Richards Biography U.S. Governor (1933–2006). Biography.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016, from
http://www.biography.com/people/annrichards9457298#governor-of-texasGreen, J. (2016). About Ann Richards | Ann Richards Invitational Roundtable | Rosalind Chait Barnett | Brandeis University. Brandeis.edu. Retrieved 27 April 2016, from
http://www.brandeis.edu/barnett/annrichards/aboutann.htmlHolley, J. (2016). Former Texas Governor Ann Richards Dies. Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016, from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2006/09/14/AR2006091400591.html
