Nov 16, 2007 4:00 pm US/Central
'Claytie' Offers Advice On Presidential Race
Former Texas Gubernatorial Candidate Clayton Williams Reminds Politicians To 'Be Careful'
Oilman Says Comments During Campaign Against Ann Ricahrds Cost Him Top State Post
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
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President George H.W. Bush calls Clayton Williams' new book, 'Claytie,' "a story about entrepreneurship in Texas."
Claytie.org
With the Iowa caucus just six weeks away, presidential hopefuls are trying to figure out how to compete against a woman -- Hillary Clinton. They might take a lesson from the Texas governor's race of 1990.
"My goal is to make Texas great again. Thank you and God Bless You," then-candidate Clayton Williams said during his Whistle Stop Campaign.
When the West Texas oilman took on Democrat Ann Richards, it was billed as "Claytie and the Lady." And it got nasty real fast.
"Clayton Williams in his own words," a Richards campaign ad touted "On rape. 'It's like the weather. If it's inevitable, relax and enjoy it.' "
Many believe that remark cost Williams the governor's race. Even 20 years later, it's still a political legend.
"But I don't remember what I said. And maybe some people do. But it's history and once it was in print it didn't matter," he said during a sit down interview with CBS 11.
Then, there was the appearance where the rookie politician Williams refused to shake Richard's hand.
"I was really surprised by it," Richards said of the snub.
"Walking up there and I got to thinking about the comments and my bank was dealing drugs … I lost my temper. In politics, you got to be careful you don't lose your temper and make mistakes," he said.
Williams chronicles his mistakes, as well as, his successes in this new book "Claytie," which was co-written by Mike Cochran, a veteran Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Associated Press writer.
For those trying to take on the former First Lady, the 76-year-old Williams has this advice: "Hope for a male candidate."
"Yeah it's more difficult, and it's more delicate. And, uh, I think it's tougher."
And though feelings were tough, he reached out to Richards when he learned of the illness that eventually would take her life.
"I wrote her a letter and said, 'Okay we had some bumps, but let's get together later. Let's talk about the fun part we had without anything else.' And she wrote back, 'Soon as I get better,' something like that, 'I look forward to that.' "
Former Congressman Jim Wright says the rape joke not only lost Williams the governor's race, it ultimately put George Bush in the White House.
"If I hadn't been defeated, George wouldn't run for president and he wouldn't be president today, so said, all the troubles in the world are Claytie's fault?," the businessman quipped.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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