Former Texas Governor, Ann Richards \Dies

Associated Press

AUSTIN ?- Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, the witty and flamboyant Democrat who went from homemaker to national political celebrity, died tonight at her home surrounded by her family after a battle with cancer, a family spokeswoman said. She was 73.

Richards was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in March and underwent chemotherapy treatments.

The silver-haired, silver-tongued Richards had said she entered politics to help others - especially women and minorities who were often ignored by Texas' male-dominated establishment.

``I did not want my tombstone to read, 'She kept a really clean house.' I think I'd like them to remember me by saying, 'She opened government to everyone,' `` Richards told an interviewer shortly before leaving office in January 1995.

Richards served as Texas governor for one term before losing a re-election bid to Republican George W. Bush.

She grabbed the national spotlight with her keynote address to the 1988 Democratic National Convention when she was the Texas state treasurer. Richards won cheers from delegates when she reminded them that Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, ``only backwards and in high heels.''

Richards sealed her partisan reputation with a blast at a fellow Texan, Bush's father, George H. Bush, then-Vice President: ``Poor George, he can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.''

Four years later, she chaired the Democratic convention that nominated Bill Clinton for president.

Richards rose to the governorship with her come-from-behind victory over millionaire cowboy Clayton Williams in 1990. She cracked a half-century male grip on the Governor's Mansion and celebrated by holding aloft a T-shirt that showed the state Capitol and read: ``A woman's place is in the dome.''

In four years as governor, Richards championed what she called the ``New Texas,'' appointing more women and more minorities to state posts than any of her predecessors.