Richard Graves

* Season 2
* Season 1

 Basic Information

 Portrayal

**Richard August Graves** (born October 6, 1941) is an American politician and author who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1989 to 1997 and the 25th Governor of New Mexico from 1979 to 1987.

## Biography

### Early life

Richard August Graves was born on October 6, 1941 in El Prado, New Mexico, United States of America to Earl Herbert Graves, a rancher and Vera Camille Graves, a schoolteacher.

He married Margaret Davis in a small ceremony on his ranch in Gallup, New Mexico in 1981.

## Characters met

* Ramona Alvarez
* Burns
* Rudy Giuliani
* Jeremy Graves
* Margaret Graves
* Olivia Graves
* Trevor Lloyd
* Isaiah Miller
* Lawrence Mills
* Bill Richardson
* Samantha Vega
* Walsh
* Laura Wolf

## Behind the Scenes

Richard Graves was portrayed by Nick Nolte in Seasons 1 and 2 of *Graves*.

### Appearances

* *Graves* - "Evil Good and Good Evil" (First appearance)
* *Graves* - "You Started Everything"
* *Graves* - "Nothing Can Come from Nothing"
* *Graves* - "That Dare Not Speak"
* *Graves* - "Lions in Winter"
* *Graves* - "A Tincture of Madness"
* *Graves* - "The Careless Giant"
* *Graves* - "TV is the Shepherd"
* *Graves* - "Through a Glass Gravely"
* *Graves* - "Not Giants, But Windmills"
* *Graves* - "Half a World Gone Mad"
* *Graves* - "In His Labyrinth"
* *Graves* - "The Opposite of People"

### Description

#### Season 1

"*Richard Morgan Graves was born December 2nd, 1941 in El Prado, New Mexico, the first son of a rancher, Earl Herbert Graves, and a schoolteacher, Vera Camille Graves. Like the generations of Graves before him, Richard spent his boyhood on the family ranch, helping his parents herd cattle, milk cows and wrangle horses. Student Body Class President in high school, Richard went on to major in History and Economics at the University of Texas in Austin, where he distinguished himself as an outspoken orator on the all star UT Debate Team. After college, Graves enlisted in the Army and served two tours in Vietnam. Graves left the service in 1966 with the rank of Staff Sergeant and awards such as the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Before beginning a career in politics, Graves earned a law degree from Emory University and moved back to his home state of New Mexico where he made a name for himself at the Santa Fe law firm Hobart & Buckley. As a young lawyer, Graves earned a reputation for his quick mind and cunning persuasion tactics. In 1974, Graves was appointed U.S. Attorney by President Richard Nixon and focused his term on issues such as drug trafficking, domestic abuse and welfare fraud. During his tenure, Graves successfully prosecuted more than two dozen criminal drug cases and effectively lowered the state’s crime rate by 10%. In 1977 Graves prosecuted the high-profile case Pratt Vs. New Mexico, convicting Harlan Pratt, a member of the Hennepaw tribe, for murder and arson after a fire at the Albuquerque Federal Building killed two government workers. In a heavily publicized trial, Graves’ successful prosecution of Pratt brought him into the national spotlight. During this time, Graves was approached by the RNC to run for Governor. Initially reluctant to relinquish his position as U.S. Attorney, believing that his influence was best wielded in the courtroom, Graves eventually came around and at the age of 37 was elected the 25th Governor of New Mexico. His first term as Governor ushered in a new era of conservatism in the state, a small preview of what he would eventually accomplish throughout the nation. Branded a folksy, no-nonsense cowboy who could get the job done, Graves exploded on the political scene. People related to him because he grew up on a ranch and talked plain; they respected him because he spoke his mind and didn’t back down. Popularizing the “Average Joe” phenomenon, Graves marked a psychological shift in the electorate: for the first time, voters no longer wanted their leaders to be ivy league elites and so-called experts. They preferred somebody whom they felt they could talk to and have a beer with — somebody like them. And for a great many Americans, Graves was the candidate who could articulate their economic concerns, satisfy their conservative values, alternately justify and assuage their fears. After two successful terms as Governor, Graves set his sights on the presidency and announced his run in June 1987. He took the nation by storm after winning the Republican nomination and then the presidency in what many considered a major political upset against opponent Vice President Cole Haverford. As President, Graves’ favorables within the Republican party are still the highest the GOP has ever seen. With his iconic gruff delivery, Graves’ State of the Union addresses are studied to this day as blueprints of modern conservatism. Among his many initiatives as President was the Tax Reform Act of 1989, a complete tax overhaul which reduced individual income taxes, capital gains and estate tax rates and tightened the money supply to lower inflation. In just over two years, these measures provided effective tax incentives for businesses and relief for millions of Americans. President Graves’ economic reforms, affectionately called “Gravenomics,” helped instate one of the country’s greatest periods of unified growth and reduced poverty.*"
―*Official description*

### Trivia

* Although his official description lists Richard Graves as being born on December 2, 1941, "Evil Good and Good Evil" lists his birthday as October 6, 1941.
* Although his official description lists Richard's full name as Richard Morgan Graves, "TV is the Shepherd" lists it as Richard August Graves.