Profundo Heritage Archive Interview with Jeff Bingaman

Senator Jeff Bingaman served New Mexico in Congress from 1982-2012. In this interview, conducted just days before the 2020 presidential election, he focuses on today’s political condition in the US Capitol, and his experience there, especially in his role in the passing of the Affordable Care Act. He openly and candidly presents a relevant discussion for the 2020 political state of the federal legislative branch and how this is reflected in American culture. This conversation will add value to a contemporary commentary of our current political climate for posterity. Frank Graziano starts his questions regarding Bingaman’s early years in Silver City, NM to his time studying at Harvard through law school at Stanford University, meeting his wife Anne, their subsequent move back to New Mexico, their settling in Santa Fe, Bingaman’s time in the Reserves, and follows through his time in public service. This discussion gives a background for the political career of one of the most influential contemporary New Mexico politicians.

This piece is part of the Profundo Heritage Archive of over 50+ interviews with prominent cultural figures in New Mexican conducted by Nuevo Mexico Profundo’s Frank Graziano. The complete archive will eventually reside at University of New Mexico’s Center for Southwest Research. View the list of current interviews here.

About Nuevo Mexico Profundo
Nuevo Mexico Profundo is the venture that conducts tours of New Mexico churches on the High Road, in the mountain villages, at pueblos, to raise money for the repair and restoration of these churches so important to the communities where they reside. Profundo is a collaboration started by Frank Graziano and supported by the Historic Santa Fe Foundation, Spanish Colonial Arts Society, Cornerstones Community Partnerships, New Mexico Historic Preservation Division, the Office of the New Mexico State Historian, and the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance. Given the conditions of the ongoing health crisis, tours and events planned by Profundo have been canceled for the year. This program of interviews and recording histories was put into action according to social distancing and health regulations. You can learn more about Nuevo Mexico Profundo at nuevo-mexico-profundo.com.