America’s Funniest Governor
Last week when I paid tribute to Molly Ivins, many readers said they wished someone would do the same for Molly’s good friend and partner-in-liberalism, Texas Governor Ann Richards (1933-2006).
Richards became instantly famous when, as Texas State Treasurer, she delivered the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, an epic vivisection of fellow Texan George HW Bush:
But that was just one of her many hilarious speeches. Here’s a memorable moment from her 1995 commencement address to Mount Holyoke College:
I come from a short line of women governors. The only other woman that was governor of Texas was a woman named Miriam Amanda Ferguson… and she was called “Ma” Ferguson because she was married to “Pa” Ferguson. Anyway, Ma ran a couple of times—initially she was elected Governor because Pa had been impeached.
I was born the same year that she took office the last time she was elected. But, what’s important for me to tell you about Ma, was her gaining undying notoriety when there was a big issue in Texas, and that was whether or not children were going to be punished for speaking Spanish in the public schools. When Ma was asked what she thought about the issue she said, If the English language was good enough for Jesus Christ it was good enough for the school children of Texas.
