Richard Wilson Riley

1. Richard Wilson Riley Politician “Anything that is important in life is affected by education.” By: Sydney, Kendal, and Sarah

2. Richard Wilson Riley’s Biography • Born: January 22, 1933, in Greenville, South Carolina. • Attended Greenville High School and was an avid football player. • Graduated from Furman University for undergraduate school in 1954. • Served two years in the U.S. Navy. • Graduated from University of South Carolina law school in 1959.

3. Biography continued • Graduated from University of South Carolina law school in 1959. • Served as legal council to the judiciary committee of the U.S. Senate • 1963-1977- Riley served as South Carolina State Representative and State Senator. • 1978-1986- Riley served as South Carolina Governor. • Riley contracted an intensely painful back disease known as rheumatoid spondylitis. After several years of illness, Riley returned to a career in politics. • Married to Ann Osteen Yarborough. • They have four children.

4. Political Positions • 1959: Judiciary committee of the U.S. Senate • 1962: South Carolina House of Representatives • 1966-1976: South Carolina State Senate • 81st Governor of South Carolina Jan.10, 1979-Jan. 15,1987 • Active in National Governors’ Association • 1982: Chairman of South Carolina’s Governors’ Association • 1985: SC Regional Education Board • 1986: Democratic Leadershipcouncil • Member of National Assessment Governing Board – 1987-1991 • Member of Clinton’s first transition team – 1991-1993 • Secretary of Education (since 1993)

5. Riley’s Terms in Office • In General Assembly he worked for the passage of the Home Rule Act, revised SC state constitution, worked on the kindergarten program, and the judicial reform. He chaired the committee on Aging. • Governor of SC major legislation was the Education Improvement Act, on council for Radioactive Waste Management • Member of the National Convention to prevent infant mortality • Chairman on the advisory committee to SC regional project on infant mortality • Chairman of SC Corporation Coalition to improve maternal and child health • Involved in the SC museum

6. Awards • Named by President Jimmy Carter head of the State Planning Council on Radioactive Waste Management. • 1981: Riley received the Connie Award for special conservation achievement from the National Wildlife Federation. • 1983: Riley received the Government’s Social Responsibility Award from The Martin Luther King Junior Foundation. • 1984: Riley received from the SC Education Association, “Friend of Education Award” three times. • 1986: Riley received the National Service Medal from Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge for leadership in public education.

7. Interview • How has GHS changed since you went to school there? • ~ Mr. Riley said that when he attended GHS only 600-700 students went there and integration had not happened yet. He has recently attended some GHS sporting events like basketball and football games. Secretary Riley said that when he attended GHS, teachers gave more attention to students that were college bound. Now, he feels that GHS has a stronger emphasis on high achievement for all children and it’s a “no nonsense school” with strong parent support.

8. Interview • How do you feel about your children continuing the legacy at GHS? • ~ Mr. Riley said that it is important to him that his children and grandchildren continue the legacy. He loves GHS and is glad that his family will continue supporting the school. • Did your experience at GHS influence your actions as Governor? • ~ Secretary Riley got experience in winning and losing in politics from GHS. He ran for Junior class president and lost, but the following year he ran for senior class president and won.

9. Interview • What was your experience like as Governor and Secretary of Education? • ~As Governor, Mr. Riley knew the state system well and studied the constitution. He was an executive (CEO, leader) for the state and worked on balancing the budget. “I loved serving as Governor.” His second term as Governor emphasized his hope for better education in SC. President Clinton then asked him to be Secretary of Education. ~ As Secretary of Education, he served two terms. “There I was asked to follow what I did for South Carolina for education for the whole nation.”

10. Interview • How has the political world influenced your view on education? • ~ “Anything that is important is affected by education.” • ~ Mr. Riley enjoyed politics of education being involved with schools and working with the children. Schools should work as centers of communities. Each should support each other as a community and school working together.

11. Interview • What was your experience like in the navy? What are your views on the war in Iraq? • ~ Mr. Riley was an officer on a minesweeper and then head of communications. There was a lot of leadership involved in his communications role. • ~ He is very worried about the situation in Iraq, but feels that since the U.S. has gotten involved they must finish what they started. Mr. Riley feels it is good that the U.S. is cutting back on the number of troops being sent to Iraq. “We should support our troops in all ways, but go all forward to share responsibilities with other countries.” • He feels that there was a reason for the strike back with Afghanistan resulting from 9-11, but Iraq was a “preemptive strike”. He felt the U.S. should not get involved in other countries’ business.

12. Interview • What do you feel is your most important work and why? • ~ Secretary Riley felt that the Education Improvement Act and its many sub parts were his most important contributions toward education and his terms in office. He said that anything having to do with education was very important to him. He hopes that education today still benefits from his input.

13. Individuals with Disabilities Act • How important education was to Secretary Riley • 1) Provide a better curriculum for students with disabilities. • 2) Provide a better working environment. • 3) Provide families and teachers more equipment and facilities so that they can have more knowledge on how to teach disabled children. • 4) Strengthen early intervention to help ensure that every child starts school ready to learn. • “ These proposals will help local communities in their efforts to create safe, disciplined schools that have high expectations for all their students, that have well prepared teachers, and that will strengthen the involvement of students with disabilities and their families in their children’s education. We look forward to working with you as we all strive to improve the IDEA in order to improve results for children with disabilities.

14. Live Links • http://webpages.charter.net/thomas1756/richriley/ • http://www.sciway.net/hist/governors/riley.html

15. GROUP MEMBERS • Kendal – set up the interview, worked on background colors, sounds, clip art, animation, and information on slides 1-6. Made up 4 questions for the interview. • Sarah – worked on information put into slides 1-6 and animation for all slides. Found works to analyze by Richard Wilson Riley. Slide 14, Live Links. Made up 4 questions for the interview. • Sydney – worked on collecting information put onto slides 1-6. Found works to analyze by Richard Wilson Riley. Wrote down information off of the Hall of Fame plaque. Made up 4 questions for the interview. *** All members of the group participated in the interview and analyzing of the interview. All three members put in ideas for the analysis of Riley’s work in general.