They say time waits for no man, but on rare occasions it does seem to stand still. Such a moment came for New Mexico at 2:32 p.m. on October 3, 2007 as news flashed that NM U.S. Senator Pete Domenici would not seek re-election to the exclusive club of 100 where he has served longer than any other New Mexican and from where he carved out an historic record of achievement that brought untold billions into the state since he was first elected in 1972.

The news was particularly poignant as the AP reported in late night dispatches that the 75 year old ABQ native was suffering from a serious brain ailment that often leads to dementia. That revelation comes on the heels of a Survey USA poll that showed Pete's approval rating diving to 41%, increasing the promise of a hotly contested battle for re-election; a battle that would be played out under the klieg lights of television and put his frailty squarely in the faces of voters.

By concluding his career now, Domenici will leave with his dignity intact and with accolades from across the political spectrum.

"For more than three decades, Senator Domenici has been a respected and powerful champion for New Mexico’s interests in the US Senate." Said Big Bill.

HE BELONGED TO US

Domenici has been the state's political Godfather. He knew how to accumulate power and he knew how to use it. And he used it to distribute largess to federal installations without which many New Mexico towns would have dried up and blown away. He reached the pinnacle of his career in the 80's as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee when he became a serious prospect for the 1988 vice-presidential ticket with George Bush.

He has been the personification of the NM Republican Party, so much so that his retirement news set off a scramble by top insiders to come up with notable candidates for offices that could be impacted by his departure.

Until the US Attorney scandal, his age and the Iraq war sent his approval ratings tumbling, Domenici had demonstrated political appeal with Hispanics, Native Americans as well as Anglos, an impressive achievement for a Republican.

His uniquely American life began humbly as the son of immigrant Italian parents in downtown Albuquerque. Today at 4 p.m. he returns to deliver a political valedictory in his neighborhood of birth at Saint Mary's High school where he graduated and where his sister is principal.

Pete Domenici was a Tiger Woods of politics. He excelled when the pressure was on and when the stakes were highest. He could have made millions in the private sector, but chose La Politica and the joys and challenges of the public life. New Mexico went along for the ride and reaped benefits beyond its highest expectations.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Monahan by Bralley (2007)

Bralley snapped this pic of me doing a TV interview in the eye of the political storm set off by Pete's retirement announcement. The intensity of the moment is evident as it was taken immediately after Domenici had finished his speech carried statewide.

This is an excerpt of our dispatch from St. Mary's High School in downtown ABQ on that day in October of 2007:

The past was honored and Pete Domenici was venerated, but the birth pangs of the political future shared equal time Thursday on one of the most storied days in the history of La Politica. I was positioned just yards from the Senate legend as he uttered the words that will change the politics of our lifetime.

"I come here today, to the site of the school I attended as a boy, to tell you that I will not run for re-election to the United States Senate." Domenici announced.

The atmosphere was one of nostalgia and pride in the native son who went to the senate in 1973 and went on to become the state's longest-serving senator. In the crowd were the old warhorses of New Mexico politics who were with Pete at the beginning of his fabled run. They included former NM Congressman Manuel Lujan, attorney Billy Marchiondo, "Smokey" Sanchez Davis and businessman Bing Grady.

Domenici, now frail at 75, kept his emotions in check and spoke of the work to come in his remaining 14 months, but the tears flowed freely among men as well as women. Members of his large family seemed to be bracing themselves as they stood erect behind the man who has insured that their name will be known as long as there is a place called New Mexico.

A VERY HUMAN MOMENT

Domenici and his wife, Nancy, seemed at peace. Introducing her, he described how she has recently been helping him to better pronounce his vowels and speak more forcefully on his weekly radio program. The humanity of the moment overwhelmed the audience.

The great wave of history represented by the occasion was brought home as Domenici explained how in 1972 he became the first New Mexico Republican Senator elected since Bronson Cutting 38 years earlier, in 1935. I had heard him say it before, but on this day the statement had my head swirling with images of nearly a century of our state's politics and people, and I admit it sent a chill up my spine.

INSIDE THE DEPARTURE

Domenici chief-of staff Steve Bell described for me the phone call placed to the President by Senator Domenici to tell him of his plans to retire.

"It was a five to seven minute conversation. I talked with the President's chief of staff the next day to find out what had been said on the President's end, but he told me the President had the room cleared while he talked with Senator Domenici. That's something special," said a wistful Bell.

Domenici abandoned lofty rhetoric in summing up his acclaimed career.

"We left the state in better shape than we started." He declared.

Soon after, it was over. The Senator took no questions. He was in the arms of those who will now finally reclaim him from a lifetime on the political stage.

I was there and that's the way it was. 

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2017