Friday political trivia

LBJ with his cabinet circa 1966: National Archives and Records AdministrationAs a former cabinet secretary in Bill Clinton’s administration, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson’s endorsement of Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton is highly irregular for going against the people who placed him in such an esteemed position. Yet it is not unprecedented.

In 1968, two John Kennedy-appointed cabinet secretaries – Wendell Wirtz of Labor and Orville Freeman of Agriculture – did not join up with Robert Kennedy’s presidential campaign, opting to stay with Lyndon Johnson and subsequently campaign for Hubert Humphrey’s bid.

Freeman’s choice was bit more dificult, having been governor of Humphrey’s home state of Minnesota until taking John Kennedy’s cabinet offer. In fact, Freeman hadn’t actually endorsed Kennedy until Humphrey had dropped out of the race in 1960, though Kennedy asked him to deliver his nominating speech at the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles – a big deal in those days. Robert Kennedy had even floated Freeman as a possible runningmate for Jack that year. Yet, eight years later, he stuck with Johnson and Humphrey.

Another interesting fact: at 96 years old, Wirtz is the oldest living cabinet member.