Former SC Governor, US Secretary of Education Dick Riley reflects on 90 years of service to South Carolina and the nation

Richard W. “Dick” Riley is probably among the many final statesmen South Carolina has produced. After serving within the South Carolina home and senate, he grew to become the state’s first two-term governor earlier than serving two phrases as U.S. secretary of schooling below President Invoice Clinton. He has acquired further accolades and honors past these posts, as nicely.

Nonetheless energetic at his Greenville regulation agency, Riley not too long ago turned 90, and took time to replicate on a number of the highlights of his illustrious profession, in addition to problems with right now that concern him.

Maybe the crown jewel of his time as governor was the passage of the Schooling Enchancment Act (EIA), which added a penny to the state gross sales tax, all of which went to public schooling. He remembered the joy of the marketing campaign for the act.

“The EIA… was a part of a motion,” Riley recalled. “And also you don’t have a motion with only one social gathering. It’s a must to get everyone concerned. I had committees that had Democrats, Republicans, individuals who had been to the precise or left or the center, that didn’t matter. And we had giant rallies. And the subsequent factor you already know, it was shifting.

“And everyone was into it,” he added. Folks on the road, everyone that had kids or was interested by kids, was into the EIA. And that to me was probably the most thrilling factor I’ve ever been into in public life. And the outcomes of it have been excellent. The years after it had been all improved loads in each angle of public schooling.”

Riley thinks deeply about many points, and in schooling, retaining lecturers is a vital one.

“It’s an issue. And it’s an enormous downside in form of rural areas that aren’t populated and have cash hassle,” mentioned the previous governor. “We’ve gotta have lecturers that need to keep, which are anxious to remain, that need to the longer term. And to try this, they’ve received to have a authentic pay quantity, and likewise they must be handled as professionals. I used to fret loads about being a instructor. Does it elevate that individual? It ought to.”

When Riley served as nationwide secretary of schooling, he mentioned his private friendship with President Clinton helped him succeed.

“I had a detailed relationship with the President. There was a sure refined competitors amongst cupboard officers as to who will get the president’s consideration. And he and I had been shut, shut pals. We had related states and related issues. And after I would submit a difficulty to the White Home for his or her help, it at all times got here proper again, ‘I help it one hundred pc.’ And we received all the things handed we actually tried to get handed.”

Clinton’s religion in Riley gave him one other alternative to serve the nation, as a potential nominee to the U.S. Supreme Courtroom. This time, nevertheless, Riley selected to go.

“Invoice Clinton appreciated my background, appreciated the truth that I used to be very a lot into the courtroom system or no matter. So he instructed me to think about it,” Riley defined. “However these justices spend most of their time studying lengthy briefs on very complicated points. Time and again and all day lengthy. I’m form of a folks individual. And I get extra executed working with folks than I can studying lengthy briefs. I made a decision I might do higher good as Secretary of Schooling than within the Supreme Courtroom. However that was an important honor simply to be thought of.”

Reaching a milestone in life comparable to turning 90 has triggered Riley to provide a lot thought to the world state of affairs. He expressed a few of his ideas, in addition to his chief hope for the longer term.

“It’s a must to fear about Russia, you are concerned about China. The place we’re going with Ukraine and so forth. I help the Ukrainian folks, I like ‘em loads. And boy, they’re courageous souls, they usually consider of their democracy and their nation.

“So I suppose if something may occur, world peace could be my hope. And peace within the classroom or wherever you see violence happen.”

One other fear of Riley’s is the January 6, 2021 revolt on the US capitol, and its implications for the way forward for American democracy. Nonetheless, he stays optimistic due to the massive variety of good folks he is aware of are on the market throughout the nation and world.

“The concept of residing 90 years and having 1000’s of pals, all the world over,” provides him pause and likewise amazes him, mentioned Riley. However he’s grateful for the life he has lived and the folks he’s lived amongst and labored with. “I’ve most likely extra pals than anyone on the planet,” he marveled. “That’s a wild assertion,” he acknowledged with amusing. “Anyhow, I really like ‘em all.”

And contemplating Riley’s lifetime of service to the state – and the nation – it’s not arduous to consider that South Carolina loves him again.

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