Graham "Richo" Richardson was a key member of Labor's most successful federal government and the personification of much that was ugly in Labor politics.

As boss of the NSW Right and "Minister for Kneecaps", he was widely feared as a number-cruncher, fixer and kingmaker.

Both during and after his time in politics, he was dogged by claims of sleaze and sharp practice.

Richardson denied almost everything but had only himself to blame if he wasn't believed. After all, he called his memoir Whatever It Takes and in it, said he lied when he had to.

He was a major contributor to the factional stability enjoyed for most of the nine years of Bob Hawke's government - before he threw his formidable influence behind Paul Keating - and the prime minister valued his acute political intelligence.

He

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