Barbara Flavin and Bill Richardson Marriage Profile

Profiled as being mismatched, Barbara and Bill Richardson have a strong, long-lasting marriage that allows one another to be who they are.

Barbara about their relationship: "... opposites attract."
Source: Barbara Ferry, SantaFeNewMexican.com, "First lady Barbara Richardson speaks out", December 30, 2002.

Born:
Bill Richardson aka William Blaine Richardson III: November 15, 1947 in Pasadena, California. Bill spent the first thirteen years of his life in Mexico City, Mexico.

Barbara Flavin: March 25, 1949 in Gardner, Massachusetts. Barbara was raised in Concord, Massachusetts.

How Bill and Barbara Met:
Barbara and Bill met in 1965 when she was 16 and Bill was a senior in high school. Barbara gave Bill a ride to school. One of his romantic gestures was to leave a sombrero and a love note on Barbara's porch. Their courtship lasted seven years.

Barbara on meeting Bill: "And that's how I met Bill. I was going back home, and I gave him a ride home. I'd known him from watching him pitch. He was this skinny, shy kid who liked to listen to Elvis you know, even at our age, Elvis was still old ... He had a good smile. He still has a good smile."
Source: Nancy Plevin, SantaFeNewMexican.com, "Barbara Richardson: ready for what lies ahead", February 12, 1997.

Wedding Date:
Bill and Barbara were married on August 5, 1972 on the Tufts University campus in Goddard Chapel in Medford, Massachusetts.

Children:
Bill and Barbara have no children.

According to a quote by Bill's sister Vesta, "the couple put off having children for the first few years of marriage, then later tried but could not conceive."
Source: SantaFeNewMexican.com

Occupations:
Bill: Governor of New Mexico, author, Congressman, UN ambassador, U.S. Energy Secretary. He officially declared his candidacy for President of the U.S. on May 21, 2007.

Barbara: Antique accessories and antique restoration business owner, advocate for literacy, childhood immunizations, and domestic violence issues.

Residences:
After living in New York City and Washington, D.C., Bill and Barbara consider Santa Fe, New Mexico their home.

Bill about Barbara's thoughts about their many moves: “She wasn’t overjoyed by the prospect of a move west, to put it mildly ... dead set against ... made our peace ... felt bad for asking her to uproot herself yet again ... "
Source: SantaFeNewMexican.com

Quotes:
Barbara about being First Lady, 2007: “We have had great experiences together in public life, and I look forward to this next one.”
Source: Leslie Linthicum, ABQJournal.com, "First Lady Prefers Low-Key, Private Life", February 18, 2007.

Barbara about being First Lady, 2002: “I’ll tell you what I tell him: ‘That’s another life and another wife.’ Honest to God. Not my bag. It’s just not something that I even want to contemplate.”
Source: Leslie Linthicum, ABQJournal.com, "First Lady Prefers Low-Key, Private Life", February 18, 2007.

Bill on their 35th anniversary: "Barbara and I have been together since we were teenagers. We have practically grown up together. Over the past 35 years Barbara has been my wife, best friend and my number one advisor. She has stood by my side through it all and on this special day I thank her for her love and devotion. Truly, there is no luckier man. Barbara here's to another beautiful 35 years."
Source: NHInsider.com, "Gov Bill richardson and First Lady Barbara Flavin Richardson Celebrate 35th Wedding Anniversary"

Vesta Richardson about their marriage: "Well, you know, they're the best partners I've ever known. Absolutely. They're partners. They talk about everything. She participates in every decision."
Source: Leslie Linthicum, ABQJournal.com, "First Lady Prefers Low-Key, Private Life", February 18, 2007.

John Flavin about campaigning: "She's not that way, and I think he respects her for that. Hers is a lonely life, because he doesn't come home until 8 or 8:30 -— when he comes home at all. And they have no children, no family. So sitting at home alone every night is pretty tough, and if he goes on the campaign trail, it will be more of the same."
Source: Leslie Linthicum, ABQJournal.com, "First Lady Prefers Low-Key, Private Life", February 18, 2007.

Leslie Linthicum about differences: "She has maintained a low-profile private life, while he has pursued a high-profile public life. She likes books and crossword puzzles and time at home, while he likes boxing and groups of 100. She is calm and good with money, while he is hyperactive and a spendthrift."
Source: Leslie Linthicum, ABQJournal.com, "First Lady Prefers Low-Key, Private Life", February 18, 2007.

Isabelle Watkins: "He respects her judgment, too. She's very good on politics. If she says something is a good idea or a bad idea, he'll take that with a lot more weight than a lot of people. It's a very long thing, and they're very, very close. I think she's terrific, and I think he feels very lucky to have her."
Source: Leslie Linthicum, ABQJournal.com, "First Lady Prefers Low-Key, Private Life", February 18, 2007.

Vesta Richardson on their finances: "She's helped him a lot," she said. "He's a financial wreck, you know. He would have been a terrible banker, because he spends more than what he has. So she controls him. No credit cards, really, just x amount of money in his wallet."
Source: Leslie Linthicum, ABQJournal.com, "First Lady Prefers Low-Key, Private Life", February 18, 2007.