Pete Domenici of New Mexico

On the passing of Pete Domenici –

New Mexico’s longest serving member of the United States Senate, Pete Domenici, has died.  He stepped down from the Senate years ago when a medical diagnosis revealed a serious health issue that, apparently never materialized.

Anyway, I got to know Pete Domenici when he was serving as Albuquerque’s City Commission Chairman (the de-facto Mayor).   And, he worked hard at getting to know the reporters.

It was either during his run for Governor, or his run for the US Senate, that I went by the Domenici house on Madison NE in Albuquerque.  I arrived shortly after breakfast, to be greeted by his lovely wife Nancy, and a huge pile of dishes.  She had just finished feeding Pete, herself, and their 7 kids.  There were pots and pans and dishes everywhere – and I think they were eating off benches because there wasn’t room for chairs in the small kitchen.    Things changed.

In 1970, he chose to step to a bigger stage and run for Governor of New Mexico against one of the state’s most prominent, and best loved politicians, Bruce King.  Pete lost.

During the campaign, I traveled much of the state (TV news did that back in those days so the public could be informed of the issues – they don’t really do that anymore).

I recall one stop, specifically.  It was at a supermarket in Socorro.   I was a reporter one-man-band, carrying the camera and taking film of his hand shaking.  Because I had been on TV, people would come up to me to say hi, and I would then point them in the direction of Pete Domenici and strongly suggest they go shake HIS hand so I could take their picture.   I’m not sure he realized that more recognized me at that time, than knew him.

Fast forwarding a couple years to the campaign he won to become the United States Senator in 1972 – replacing Clinton P. Anderson. Domenici was fortunate enough to have a donor from California that loaned him a 20-seater airplane that flew across the state time and time again.   Because the plane was big enough, and fast enough, quite often the campaign would call reporters and ask them to “come along for the ride”.  Of course, the candidate got coverage on TV (or print, or whatever).

After the campaign was over, I got to sit in the co-pilot seat when the plane was returned to home base in southern California.  I do not know, to this day, who owned the plane or who provided it to the campaign – such things weren’t reported in those days.   

During his term in the United States Senate, I had occasion to interview him quite often, and for about 12 years “work with him” on legislation involving the Rural Electrification Act.  That’s the FDR program that guarantees loans for consumer owned electric cooperatives to extend, or continue to provide electricity to farms, ranchlands, and other places in this country that investor-owned-utilities would not serve.  The government guarantees provided light and power to “the little guy at the end of the line”.

Domenici, as Budget Committee Chair, played a significant role in keeping the wolves (republicans who didn’t like the New Deal program) away.   He was the recipient of a national award for supporting the program through many years.

While political leaders certainly aren’t white knights all their lives, nor is anyone, 

I can say, without question, that Pete Domenici was good for New Mexico.  He worked hard for us, and we appreciate it. And, I appreciate the opportunity to have worked with him, covered him, and gotten to know him.

He always called me “Beemer”! 

I’ll never forget that!

Rest In Peace!