Bill Weld

{{main|Weld family}}

Weld was born in Smithtown, New York. Weld's father, David (1911–1972), was an investment banker; his mother, Mary Nichols Weld (1913–1986), was a descendant of William Floyd, a signatory of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. His ancestor Edmund Weld was among the earliest students (Class of 1650) at Harvard College; eighteen other Welds have attended Harvard, and two Harvard buildings are named for the family.{{cite web |url=https://harvardmagazine.com/1998/11/welds.html |title=The Welds of Harvard Yard: History through a family lens |last1=Lambert |first1=Craig |work=Harvard Magazine |date=November–December 1998 |access-date=February 19, 2015 |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116013344/https://harvardmagazine.com/1998/11/welds.html }} A distant cousin, General Stephen Minot Weld Jr., fought with distinction in the Civil War.Eicher, John H. and Eicher, David J. Civil War High Commands, p. 760. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8047-3641-3}}Eicher, John H. and Eicher, David J. Civil War High Commands, p. 559. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8047-3641-3}}

Weld attended Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in classics from Harvard College in 1966. He studied economics at University College, Oxford.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} On return to the US he graduated with a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1970.{{cite web|author=U.S.A. |url=http://willamette.edu/cla/classics/careers/weld/ |title=Classics: William Weld |publisher=Willamette.edu |date=July 31, 1945 |access-date=July 26, 2016}}

His siblings are Francis "Tim" Weld, David Weld, and Anne (married name Collins). His maternal grandfather was the ichthyologist and ornithologist John Treadwell Nichols, and his first cousin is the novelist John Nichols.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BNk1AQAAIAAJ&q=%22mother's+father,+John+Treadwell+Nichols%22|title=The New York Times Biographical Service|via=Google Books|access-date=July 26, 2016|date=July 1992}}

Weld began his legal career as a junior counsel on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee's impeachment inquiry staff during the 1974 impeachment process against Richard Nixon. He contributed to the groundbreaking "Constitutional Grounds for Presidential Impeachment" report, which detailed the historical basis and standards for impeachment of a president. He also worked on researching whether impoundment of appropriated funds was an impeachable offense. Among his colleagues was Hillary Clinton.{{cite interview |last=Weld |first=Bill |interviewer=Timothy Naftali |title=An Oral History Interview with William Weld |url=https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/forresearchers/find/histories/weld-2011-09-28.pdf |work=Richard Nixon Oral History Project |publisher=Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum |location=Yorba Linda, California |date=September 28, 2011 |access-date=November 6, 2019}}

Weld's experience serving on the impeachment inquiry staff sparked his interest in criminal law. He returned afterward to Massachusetts, where he ran unsuccessfully for Massachusetts Attorney General in 1978. He lost to Democratic incumbent Francis X. Bellotti by 1,532,835 votes (78.4%) to 421,417 (21.6%).

In 1981, Weld was recommended to President Reagan by Rudy Giuliani, then Associate U.S. Attorney General, for appointment as the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts. During Weld's tenure, the Attorney General's office prosecuted some of New England's largest banks in cases involving money-laundering and other white-collar crimes. Weld expanded an ongoing public corruption investigation of the administration of Boston Mayor Kevin White. More than twenty city employees were indicted, pleaded guilty, or were convicted of a range of charges, including several key political supporters of the Mayor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/best-of-boston-archive/1994/bill-weld/|title=Bill Weld|date=January 1, 1994}} In 1985, The Boston Globe said Weld "has been by far the most visible figure in the prosecution of financial institutions."{{cite news |first=Marco |last=Battaglia |title=The Fourth Estate, the 2016 United States of America Presidential election, and The United States Supreme Court |url=http://iowafreepress.com/2016/06/20/the-fourth-estate-the-2016-united-states-of-america-presidential-election-and-the-the-united-states-supreme-court/ |work=Iowa Free Press |date=June 20, 2016 |access-date=May 26, 2017 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205003839/http://iowafreepress.com/2016/06/20/the-fourth-estate-the-2016-united-states-of-america-presidential-election-and-the-the-united-states-supreme-court/ |archive-date=December 5, 2019 }}

Weld gained national recognition in fighting public corruption: he won 109 convictions out of 111 cases.{{Citation|last=Mullaney|first=Marie Marmo|title=Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1988–1994|year=1994|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-31328-3-123|page=[https://archive.org/details/biographicaldire0000mull/page/183 183]|url=https://archive.org/details/biographicaldire0000mull/page/183}}

In 1983, The Boston Globe stated: "The U.S. Attorney's office has not lost a single political corruption case since Weld took over, an achievement believed to be unparalleled in the various federal jurisdictions."

File:Reagan Contact Sheet C46515 (cropped).jpg in 1988]]

In 1986, President Reagan promoted Weld to head of the Criminal Division of the Justice Department in Washington, where Weld oversaw 700 employees. Serving from September 15, 1986, until March 29, 1988,{{Cite web |title=In re Caucus Distributors, Inc., 106 B.R. 890 {{!}} Casetext Search + Citator |url=https://casetext.com/case/in-re-caucus-distributors-inc-1 |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=casetext.com}} Weld was responsible for supervising all federal prosecutions, including those investigated by the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as the work of the 93 U.S. Attorneys (who by then included Rudy Giuliani in Manhattan). During this time, Weld worked on some of the Reagan administration's most significant prosecutions and investigations, including the capture of Panama's Manuel Noriega on drug trafficking charges. Bill Weld was on the prosecution team against James Beggs, Administrator of NASA, and General Dynamics that caused Beggs to take a leave of absence shortly before the Challenger Disaster. After the trial completely exonerated Beggs, Weld was asked to apologize to Beggs. He refused.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=1987-06-23 |title=JUSTICE DEPT. SAYS IT WAS WRONG TO PROSECUTE GENERAL DYNAMICS |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/23/us/justice-dept-says-it-was-wrong-to-prosecute-general-dynamics.html |access-date=2023-11-24 |issn=0362-4331}}

While serving as the Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department Criminal Division, Weld wrote a memorandum in 1988 to the House Judiciary Committee that formally reviewed the recommendations of the House Select Committee on Assassinations final report and reported conclusions of active investigations on the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.{{cite web|title=Letter from Assistant Attorney General William F. Weld to Peter W. Rodino Jr., undated|url=http://jfk.hood.edu/Collection/Weisberg%20Subject%20Index%20Files/J%20Disk/Justice%20Department%20of/Justice%20Department%20of%20JFK-King%20Reinvestigation/Item%2014.pdf|access-date=October 19, 2014}} In light of investigative reports from the FBI's Technical Services Division and the National Academy of Sciences Committee determining that "reliable acoustic data do not support a conclusion that there was a second gunman" in the Kennedy assassination, and that all investigative leads known to the Justice Department for both assassinations had been "exhaustively pursued", the Department concluded "that no persuasive evidence can be identified to support the theory of a conspiracy in either the assassination of President Kennedy or the assassination of Dr. King."

In March 1988, Weld resigned from the Justice Department, together with Deputy Attorney General Arnold Burns and four aides, in protest of improper conduct by Attorney General Edwin Meese.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/30/us/high-justice-aides-quit-amid-concern-over-meese-s-role.html|title=High Justice Aides Quit Amid Concern Over Meese's Role|first=Philip|last=Shenon|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 30, 1988}}{{cite news|first=William|last=Yardley|title=Arnold Burns, Who Left Justice Dept. in Protest, Dies at 83 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/02/us/politics/arnold-burns-who-left-justice-dept-in-protest-dies-at-83.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1382013787-AxfkPD7M4+7KCbuSn2GgzA |work=The New York Times |date=October 1, 2013|access-date=October 17, 2013}} In July 1988, Weld and Burns jointly testified before Congress in favor of a potential prosecution of Edwin Meese for his personal financial conduct, following a report by a special prosecutor investigating Edwin Meese. Meese resigned from office in July 1988 shortly after Weld's and Burns's testimony.

Weld was a senior partner at Hale and Dorr from 1988 until 1990.{{Cite web |title=Weld to join Boston law firm – UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/04/27/Weld-to-join-Boston-law-firm/9439578116800/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=UPI |language=en}}

{{see also|1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|1993–1994 Massachusetts legislature|1994 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|1997–1998 Massachusetts legislature}}

File:William F. Weld (MA).jpg

File:Bush Contact Sheet P17081 (cropped).jpg in 1990]]

File:Bill Weld in Lowell 1994.jpg in 1994]]

File:Bill Weld Cummings Center.jpg at Cummings Center with Cummings Properties president James McKeown and founder Bill Cummings.]]

In 1990, Weld announced his candidacy for Governor of Massachusetts to replace the outgoing Michael Dukakis.{{cite news |title=Politics in Massachusetts: More Division Than Vision |first=Fox |last=Butterfield |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/18/us/politics-in-massachusetts-more-division-than-vision.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 18, 1990 }} Although Republicans made up under 14% of the Massachusetts electorate and a Republican had not won the gubernatorial election since 1970, Weld's liberal stances on social issues made him a viable candidate for office in the heavily Democratic state.{{cite news |title=Fiscal Crisis Could Open Door to the G.O.P. in Massachusetts |first=Fox |last=Butterfield |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/24/us/fiscal-crisis-could-open-door-to-the-gop-in-massachusetts.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 24, 1990 }} At the state Republican convention, party officials backed Steven Pierce over Weld, and initial polling had Pierce ahead by 25 percentage points.{{cite news |title=Silber Wins Democratic Contest in Massachusetts |first=Fox |last=Butterfield |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/19/us/silber-wins-democratic-contest-in-massachusetts.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 19, 1990 |access-date=January 29, 2013}} However, Weld gained enough support to force a primary, and in an upset election, he won the Republican nomination over Pierce by a 60–40% margin.{{cite news |title=The 1990 Campaign: Stunning Primary in Massachusetts |first=Fox |last=Butterfield |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/20/us/the-1990-campaign-stunning-primary-in-massachusetts.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 20, 1990 |access-date=January 29, 2013}}

In the general election, he faced John Silber, the president of Boston University. Polls showed Weld anywhere from a statistical tie to trailing by as many as ten points.{{cite news |title=The 1990 Campaign: Politics of Rage Dominate Contest in Massachusetts |first=Fox |last=Butterfield |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/01/us/the-1990-campaign-politics-of-rage-dominate-contest-in-massachusetts.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 1, 1990}} Voter dissatisfaction with the state's Democratic majority gave Weld support for his promises to reduce the state deficit, lower the unemployment rate, and cut taxes,{{cite news|last=Healy |first=Patrick |url=http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/w/william_f_weld/index.html?offset=40&s=oldest |title=William F. Weld News |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=May 19, 2016}} while Silber's statements to the right of Weld on social issues caused many Democratic voters to vote for Weld.{{cite news |title=The0 1990 Elections: Massachusetts; Weld Reaffirms Pledge To Shrink Government |first=Fox |last=Butterfield |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/08/us/the-1990-elections-massachusetts-weld-reaffirms-pledge-to-shrink-government.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 8, 1990}} On November 6, 1990, he was elected as the 68th Governor of Massachusetts by a 50–47% margin, to become the first Republican governor of Massachusetts since Francis W. Sargent left office in 1975. Governor Weld is generally considered to have been a moderate or liberal Republican governor.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/15/us/politics/bill-weld-trump-2020.html|title=Bill Weld Will Challenge Trump for 2020 Republican Nomination|last=Burns|first=Alexander|date=February 15, 2019|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=February 16, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/02/15/william-weld-challenge-donald-trump-gop-nomination-2020/2881686002/|title=Ex-Massachusetts Gov. William Weld to challenge Trump for Republican nomination in 2020|website=USA Today|access-date=February 16, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/02/15/695100977/former-republican-gov-bill-weld-considers-a-primary-challenge-to-trump|title=Former Gov. Bill Weld Considers A Republican Primary Challenge To Trump|website=NPR|date=February 15, 2019|access-date=February 16, 2019|last1=Naylor|first1=Brian}}{{Cite web|url=https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/weld-looks-to-make-trouble-for-trump/|title=Weld looks to make trouble for Trump|last=Jencunas|first=Brian|date=February 16, 2019|website=CommonWealth Magazine|access-date=February 16, 2019}} He is fiscally conservative and socially liberal.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/07/us/massachusetts-governor-cruises-election-road.html|title=Massachusetts Governor Cruises Election Road|last=Rimer|first=Sara|date=September 7, 1994|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=February 16, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/04/us/1990-campaign-weld-hopes-personality-his-opponent-s-will-help-him-massachusetts.html|title=The 1990 Campaign: Weld Hopes Personality (His Opponent's) Will Help Him in Massachusetts|last=Butterfield|first=Fox|date=November 4, 1990|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=February 16, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}

The business community reacted strongly to Weld's leadership. In a 1994 survey of chief executives conducted by the Massachusetts High Technology Council, 83% of those polled rated the state's business climate as good or excellent{{snd}}up from 33% at the beginning of his term. Proponents might claim that Weld's leadership changed the minds of 50% of the CEOs surveyed while others would note the national economic trends or other factors might play a part. Weld also reaped the benefits of the 1990s' prosperity, as the state's unemployment rate fell by more than 3 percentage points during his first term, from 9.6% in 1991 to 6.4% in 1994. As a result, Weld received grades of A in 1992,{{cite web|last=Moore|first=Stephen|work=Policy Analysis No. 167|publisher=Cato Institute|url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa167.pdf|title=A Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors|date=January 30, 1992|access-date=September 7, 2015}}{{cite web|last=Moore|first=Stephen|publisher=Cato Institute|url=http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/fiscal-policy-report-card-americas-governors|title=A Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors|date=January 30, 1992|access-date=September 7, 2015}} B in 1994,{{cite web|last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Stansel|first2=Dean|work=Policy Analysis No. 203|publisher=Cato Institute|url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa203.pdf|title=A Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 1994|date=January 28, 1994|access-date=September 7, 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Stansel|first2=Dean|publisher=Cato Institute|url=http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/fiscal-policy-report-card-america-governors-1994|title=A Fiscal Policy Report Card on America Governors: 1994|date=January 28, 1994|access-date=September 7, 2015}} and B in 1996{{cite web|last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Stansel|first2=Dean|work=Policy Analysis No. 257|publisher=Cato Institute|url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa257.pdf|title=A Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 1996|date=July 26, 1996|access-date=September 3, 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Moore|first1=Stephen|last2=Stansel|first2=Dean|publisher=Cato Institute|url=http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/fiscal-policy-report-card-americas-governors-1996|title=A Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 1996|date=July 26, 1996|access-date=September 3, 2015}} from the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, in their biennial Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors. In 1993 he supported adoption of a gun control bill in Massachusetts that included limits on gun purchases under age 21, as well as prohibiting certain types of weapons, which was not ultimately passed.{{cite news|last=Rimer |first=Sara |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/01/us/in-shift-massachusetts-governor-backs-gun-law.html |title=In Shift, Massachusetts Governor Backs Gun Law |location=Massachusetts |website=The New York Times |date=October 1, 1993 |access-date=May 19, 2016}} He has since renounced this proposal.[https://www.facebook.com/BillWeld2016/posts/1743221959255516 "A personal message for Delegates to the Libertarian National Convention"], Facebook.com. Weld is pro-choice and helped to introduce legislation to make it easier for women to access abortion procedures.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/05/opinion/governor-weld-s-example-on-abortion.html|title=Governor Weld's Example on Abortion|date=October 5, 1991|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 16, 2019|issn=0362-4331}} As Governor, he supported gay rights. In 1992, he signed an executive order to recognize domestic partnership rights for same-sex couples.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/08/05/Mass-governor-to-recognize-same-sex-partners/6337712987200/|title=Mass. governor to recognize same-sex partners|work=United Press International|access-date=February 16, 2019}} In 1993, he signed into law legislation protecting the rights of gay students.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/08/us/gay-rights-law-for-schools-advances-in-massachusetts.html|title=Gay Rights Law for Schools Advances in Massachusetts|last=Rimer|first=Sara|date=December 8, 1993|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 16, 2019|issn=0362-4331}} He also said he would recognize same-sex marriages that might be performed out of state following a court decision in Hawaii.{{Citation |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8404732.html|title=Weld: Mass. would honor out-of-state gay unions Marriage ruling stayed in Hawaii|last=Vaillancourt|first=Meg|date=December 5, 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213220440/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8404732.html|archive-date=February 13, 2016}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/04/us/hawaii-judge-ends-gay-marriage-ban.html|title=Hawaii Judge Ends Gay-Marriage Ban|last=Goldberg|first=Carey|date=December 4, 1996|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 16, 2019|issn=0362-4331}} Weld signed into law the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 that created the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) and the legal framework for charter schools in Massachusetts.{{cite news|last=Carapezza|first=Kirk|date=April 26, 2016|title=How Massachusetts Became The Best State In Education|publisher=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/04/26/468237538/how-massachusetts-became-the-best-state-in-education|access-date=August 15, 2022}} During his term, he launched a successful effort to privatize many state's human services, laying off thousands of state employees.{{cite web|url=http://workingmass.org/privatization-real-story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226081236/http://workingmass.org/privatization-real-story |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 26, 2011 |title=Privatization: The Real Story |website=Workingmass.org |access-date=May 19, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/19960401/news/304019977 |title=Weld gears up to privatize entire MBTA bus system |location =New Bedford, MA |website=Southcoasttoday.com |access-date=May 19, 2016}} One of the social services Weld opposed and eventually ended was a program providing higher education to prison inmates.{{cite book|title=So You've Been Publicly Shamed|first=Jon|last=Ronson|year=2015|publisher=Picador}} He also worked to expand Medicaid access by requesting more federal funding and, then, allowing more residents to qualify for the plan to both solve budget problems and increase access to health care in the state.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-does-william-weld-believe-where-the-candidate-stands-on-5-issues|title=What does William Weld believe? Where the candidate stands on 5 issues|date=February 15, 2019|website=PBS NewsHour|access-date=February 16, 2019}} After cutting state spending year-over-year for his first two years, the Republican Party lost its ability to sustain a veto in the legislature due to losses in the Massachusetts State Senate, forcing Weld to make greater concessions to Democratic legislators.{{cite web|url=http://nepr.net/news/2016/05/02/the-week-ahead-on-beacon-hill-77/ |title=The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill |website=Nepr.net |date=May 2, 2016 |access-date=May 19, 2016}}

In 1994, Weld won reelection with 71% of the vote in the most one-sided gubernatorial contest in Massachusetts electoral history.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} Weld carried all but five towns in the whole state, even carrying Boston.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

In 1995, Weld eulogized one of his longtime supporters, former Massachusetts House member Mary B. Newman, stating, "Mary Newman, for years the grande dame both of Cambridge and its Republican party, launched me in politics by serving as chair of my statewide campaign in 1978.""[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/440852956/ Mary Newman, 'fighting Quaker' of the Massachusetts GOP; at 86]" (obituary). Boston, Massachusetts: The Boston Globe, December 9, 1995, p. 19.

Following his landslide victory as governor, Weld briefly considered running for the presidency in 1996.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

{{Main|1996 United States Senate election in Massachusetts}}

On November 30, 1995, Weld announced that he would challenge incumbent Democratic Senator John Kerry in the 1996 election.{{cite news |title=Governor Weld of Massachusetts Is to Challenge Senator Kerry in '96Contest |first=Fox |last=Butterfield |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/30/us/governor-weld-of-massachusetts-is-to-challenge-senator-kerry-in-96contest.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 30, 1995}} Weld, who was among the first reasonably well-funded Republican Senate candidates in Massachusetts since Edward Brooke was unseated in 1978, said of the race, "I've spent some time recently considering where I can do the most good for the people of Massachusetts, and right now the fights that matter most to the people of this state are in another arena, Congress."

The race was covered nationwide as one of the most closely watched Senate races that year. Noted for how civil their respective campaigns were of one another,{{cite news |last=Warner |first=Margaret |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/election/june96/massachusetts_6-5.html |title=Online NewsHour: Massachusetts Senate race – Clash of the Titans |date=June 5, 1996 |publisher=PBS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119063603/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/election/june96/massachusetts_6-5.html |archive-date=January 19, 2014 |access-date=August 23, 2016}} Kerry and Weld negotiated a campaign spending cap and agreed to eight separate debates leading up to the election.{{cite news|last1=Bash|first1=Dana|last2=Hirschkorn|first2=Phil|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/29/kerry.weld/|title=Weld: Kerry prone to 'analysis paralysis'|publisher=CNN|date=July 30, 2004|access-date=August 23, 2016}} Though facing a traditional uphill battle in a state where Democrats outnumbered Republicans 3-to-1, and running the same year as the presidential election, Weld was a popular incumbent governor and polled even with Kerry throughout the election.{{cite news|last1=Greenblatt |first1=Alan|last2=Marshall|first2=Robert|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9610/23/2cq.senate.overview/index.shtml|title=AllPolitics – CQ's Senate Overview – Still Anybody's Call|publisher=Congressional Quarterly|date=October 23, 1996|access-date=August 23, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Warner |first=Margaret |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/election/september96/kerry_weld_9-19.html |title=Online NewsHour: Kerry/Weld: Dead Heat |date=September 19, 1996 |publisher=PBS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119061948/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/election/september96/kerry_weld_9-19.html |archive-date=January 19, 2014 |access-date=August 23, 2016}}

In the end, Kerry won re-election by a vote of 1,334,135 (52%) to 1,143,120 (45%), the last seriously contested Senate race in Massachusetts until the special election for Ted Kennedy's seat in 2010. Notably, President Bill Clinton won Massachusetts in 1996 with 61.5% of the vote.

In July 1997, Weld was nominated to become United States Ambassador to Mexico by President Bill Clinton. His nomination stalled after Senate Foreign Relations committee Chairman Jesse Helms refused to hold a hearing on the nomination, effectively blocking it. Helms was also a Republican and their party held the majority in the chamber, but Helms objected to Weld's moderate stance on social issues such as his support for gay rights, abortion rights and the legalization of medical marijuana. This refusal to hold hearings was also rumored to be at the request of former attorney general and friend of Helms, Edwin Meese. Meese reportedly had a long-standing grudge against Weld stemming from Weld's investigation of Meese during the Iran–Contra affair. Meese denied the speculation, asserting that he wished to keep his distance from Weld.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/02/us/in-washington-few-trifle-with-jesse-helms.html|title=In Washington, Few Trifle With Jesse Helms|first1=Richard L.|last1=Berke|first2=Steven Lee|last2=Myers|date=August 2, 1997|work=The New York Times}} Weld publicly criticized Helms, which the White House discouraged him from doing, but Weld relished the opportunity, saying: "It feels like being in a campaign. I feel newly energized. I love to stir up the pot. I seem to click on more cylinders when the pot is stirred up." Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said that Weld's chances of being confirmed weren't "very good, and that he hurt himself by attacking the chairman unfairly and with political rhetoric that was just uncalled for." There was speculation that the White House would let his nomination "die", but he refused, saying that he hoped President Clinton "does not plan to give in to ideological extortion" and that "I wanted to send a message that I wanted to be captain of my ship [the nomination] even if it's going to bottom." Some speculated that attacking the more conservative Helms was a way to position him to pick up votes from fellow moderate Republicans in a potential run for president in 2000, but he rejected this, saying that "I've had a lot of people come up to me on the street and say, 'Give 'em hell. That's the Bill Weld we know and love.'"{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/28/us/massachusetts-governor-seeking-post-will-resign.html |title=Massachusetts Governor, Seeking Post, Will Resign |work=The New York Times |author=Richard L. Berke |date=July 28, 1997 |access-date=September 30, 2014}}

Weld resigned the governorship on July 29, 1997, to devote his full attention to campaigning for the ambassadorship, even though few thought he would be successful; there was speculation that he was really resigning because he had become tired of serving as governor. A bipartisan majority of Senators signed letters demanding that Helms advance his nomination, but Helms refused.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/29/us/it-s-mexico-or-bust-as-restless-massachusetts-governor-resigns.html |title=It's Mexico or Bust as Restless Massachusetts Governor Resigns |work=The New York Times |author=Sara Rimer |date=July 29, 1997 |access-date=September 30, 2014}} After an intensive six-week battle,{{cite web|url=https://articles.latimes.com/keyword/william-f-weld |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006195808/http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/william-f-weld |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |title=William F Weld |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=September 30, 2014}} Weld conceded defeat and withdrew his nomination on September 15, 1997. He commented, "I asked President Clinton to withdraw my name from the Senate so I can go back to New England, where no one has to approach the government on bended knee to ask it to do its duty."{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-16-mn-32752-story.html |title=Weld Drops Bid for Mexico Post, Blisters Capital |work=Los Angeles Times |author=Tyler Marshall |date=September 16, 1997 |access-date=September 30, 2014}}

File:WilliamWeld.jpg

Weld was a partner in the Boston and Manhattan offices of the international law firm McDermott Will & Emery from 1997 to 2001, and head of the New York office from 2000 to 2001.[https://www.mwe.com/en/press-room/2006/11/william-weld-rejoins-mcdermotts-new-york-office William Weld Rejoins McDermott's New York Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818111457/https://www.mwe.com/en/press-room/2006/11/william-weld-rejoins-mcdermotts-new-york-office |date=August 18, 2016 }} (press release), McDermott Will & Emery (November 16, 2006). Weld was registered as a lobbyist for McDermott Will & Emery. Between 2007 and 2011, Weld was a lobbyist for defense contractor Raytheon, CNX Gas Corporation, Sony Electronics and shoemaker New Balance.{{cite web | url=https://publicintegrity.org/politics/bill-weld-president-election-2020-campaign/ | title=9 things to know about Bill Weld | date=February 22, 2019 }} In December 2000, the private equity firm Leeds Equity Partners announced that Weld would join the firm, to be renamed Leeds Weld & Co., as a general partner, effective on January 1, 2001.[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Former+Massachusetts+Governor+William+F.+Weld+Joins+Leeds+Equity...-a067927020 Former Massachusetts Governor William F. Weld Joins Leeds Equity Partners, New York-Based Private Equity Firm; Firm to be Renamed Leeds Weld & Co.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821184522/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Former+Massachusetts+Governor+William+F.+Weld+Joins+Leeds+Equity...-a067927020 |date=August 21, 2016 }} (press release), Leeds Equity Partners (December 13, 2000). At the private equity firm, Weld later "reduced his role to a senior advisor while considering a run for New York governor" in 2005.Emily Thornton, [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2005-10-12/john-edwards-hits-the-street John Edwards Hits the Street], Bloomberg News (October 13, 2005). Weld rejoined McDermott Will & Emery in 2006. Weld was admitted to the bar in New York in 2008.[https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/attorney/AttorneySearch Attorney Search], New York State Unified Court System (search for "William F. Weld"). In 2012, Weld moved to the Boston law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo, becoming a partner there and a principal with the firm's government relations affiliate, ML Strategies LLC.Sheri Qualters, [http://www.nationallawjournal.com/id=1202575290138?slreturn=20160707134941 Former Mass. Governor Weld to join Mintz Levin], National Law Journal (October 17, 2012).Scott Flaherty, [http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202759294906/Mintz-Levins-Weld-Joins-the-Presidential-Election-Circus?slreturn=20160707134903 Mintz Levin's Weld Joins the Presidential Election Circus], Am Law Daily (June 3, 2016).

During the re-election campaign of President George W. Bush, who was running against Weld's old foe John Kerry, Weld helped Bush to prepare for the debates.

From January to October 2005, Weld was chief executive of Decker College in Louisville, Kentucky. His term ended as the college was closing under bankruptcy protection following a disagreement with the U.S. Department of Education about accreditation of its construction-related courses and online instruction. This matter would follow Weld into the 2006 race for Governor of New York, with former U.S. senator from New York Alfonse D'Amato asserting that Weld was responsible and oversaw "multimillion dollar looting".{{cite news |last=Barrouquere |first=Brett |title=Probe haunts Weld in bid for N.Y. governor |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/governors/articles/2006/02/14/probe_haunts_weld_in_bid_for_ny_governor/ |work=The Boston Globe |date=February 14, 2006 |access-date=January 25, 2016}}{{cite news |title=Weld Is Criticized by D'Amato |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/04/nyregion/04weld.html |work=The New York Times |date=January 4, 2006 |access-date=January 25, 2016 | first=Patrick D. | last=Healy}}

On March 27, 2016, The Wall Street Journal reported as part of an opinion article that "Bankruptcy trustee Robert Keats alleged [Ralph] LoBosco", a Department of Education employee, "was trying to exact revenge against Decker CEO William Weld". The article continued: "Education Department administrative law judge Robert Layton recently affirmed a 2012 bankruptcy court finding that the Council on Occupational Education had failed to tell the truth in stating that Decker's online programs were never accredited. The Council's 'factually erroneous' assertion caused the Education Department to withdraw federal student aid in 2005, which precipitated Decker's bankruptcy."{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-americans-hate-government-1459117724|title=Why Americans Hate Government: The regulators who destroyed Decker College have never been held accountable.|date=March 27, 2016|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=August 23, 2016}}

After being Governor of Massachusetts, Weld moved to New York in 2000. On April 24, 2005, it was reported that he was in talks with the New York Republicans to run for Governor of New York in 2006, against likely Democratic nominee Eliot Spitzer. Incumbent GOP Governor George Pataki announced on July 27 that he would not seek a fourth term. On August 19, 2005, Weld officially announced his candidacy for Governor of New York, seeking to become the second person after Sam Houston to serve as governor of two different U.S. states.{{cite magazine|author=on |url=http://ballot-access.org/2006/04/29/new-york-libertarians-nominate-william-weld-for-governor/ |title=New York Libertarians Nominate William Weld for Governor |magazine=Ballot Access News |date=April 29, 2006 |access-date=May 19, 2016}}

In December 2005, Weld received the backing of the Republican county chairs of New York State during a county chairs meeting. On April 29, 2006, Weld received the Libertarian Party's nomination for Governor Of New York.{{cite web|url=http://hammeroftruth.com/2006/04/11/bill-weld-as-a-libertarian-party-candidate-in-new-york/#comment-98208|title=Bill Weld as a Libertarian Party Candidate in New York?|work=Hammer of Truth|date=April 11, 2006|access-date=May 19, 2016}} Weld reportedly offered his chief rival for the nomination, former Republican Assembly leader John Faso, the chance to join his ticket as a candidate for lieutenant governor, an offer Faso reportedly declined.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/nyregion/01gov.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss|newspaper=The New York Times|title=Weld-Faso? Faso-Weld? The Kingmaker From Nassau Holds the Cards|first=Patrick|last=Healy|date=June 1, 2006|access-date=April 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703141510/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/nyregion/01gov.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss|archive-date=July 3, 2014}} Faso gained increasing support from party leaders in various counties, including Westchester and Suffolk, both of which had large delegate counts to the state convention.

File:Gary Johnson and William Weld inside house (croppd) 1x1.jpg in June 2016]]

On June 1, 2006, the Republican State Convention voted 61% to 39% to endorse Faso over Weld. On June 5, Stephen J. Minarik (the chairman of the state Republican Party, and Weld's most prominent backer), called on Weld to withdraw from the race in the interest of party unity.{{cite news|first=Patrick |last=Healy|title=G.O.P. Chief in N.Y. Urges Weld to Quit Governor's Race|date=June 5, 2006|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/05/nyregion/05cnd-gov.html?hp&ex=1149566400&en=0743a7fd44898ee5&ei=5094&partner=homepage|access-date=August 5, 2008}} Weld formally announced his withdrawal from the race the following day and returned to private life. Spitzer would go on to defeat Faso by the largest margin in New York gubernatorial history.{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/NY/2006-11-07-governor-spitzer-faso_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=Spitzer elected New York governor |agency=Associated Press | date=November 8, 2006}}

Weld publicly endorsed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for the presidency on January 8, 2007; he was a co-chairman for Romney's campaign in New York State.{{cite news |title=Weld backs Romney for Oval Office |first=Brian |last=Mooney |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/09/weld_backs_romney_for_oval_office/ |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=January 9, 2007 }} On the same day that Weld endorsed Romney, Gov. and Mrs. Weld also raised $50,000 for Romney's exploratory committee. Weld personally made a donation of $2,100, the maximum allowed per person per election at the time. After the maximum allowed rose to $2,300, Weld donated another $200.

Weld was also active in campaigning for Romney in New Hampshire, where both governors have been known to travel together. Weld went on to endorse Barack Obama over John McCain in the general election.{{cite news| url=https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/portsmouth-herald/2008/10/25/weld-backs-obama/52220829007/ | work=Portsmouth herald| first=Holly | last=Ramer | title=Weld backs Obama | date=October 25, 2008}} Weld endorsed Romney in the 2012 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/08/28/william-weld-firmly-mitt-romney-camp-even-convention-delegate/7PCNH1bh2helnAGNzoNyVO/story.html |title=William F. Weld firmly in Mitt Romney's camp, even as N.Y. convention delegate – Political Intelligence |work=The Boston Globe |date=August 28, 2012 |access-date=May 19, 2016}}

In February 2016, Weld endorsed Ohio Governor John Kasich for the Republican presidential nomination.{{cite news |title=Former Massachusetts Gov. Weld Backs Kasich for President |url=https://www.necn.com/news/local/massachusetts/former-massachusetts-gov-weld-backs-kasich-for-president/86775/ |agency=AP |publisher=necn |date=Feb 23, 2016}}

{{main|Gary Johnson 2016 presidential campaign}}

File:Gary Johnson and William Weld Libertarian campaign rally at University of Nevada, Reno (28520324150).jpg

On May 17, 2016, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party's 2012 presidential nominee and the leading candidate for its 2016 nomination, announced his selection of Weld to be his choice for running mate.{{cite web|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ea9c644d880c49baaeeee7a360b5b070/libertarian-gary-johnson-secures-running-mate|title=Libertarian Gary Johnson secures running mate|last=Peoples|first=Steve|agency=Associated Press|access-date=May 19, 2016|archive-date=April 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412121149/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ea9c644d880c49baaeeee7a360b5b070/libertarian-gary-johnson-secures-running-mate}}{{cite news|last1=Stout|first1=Matt|last2=Sappochetti|first2=John|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/herald_bulldog/2016/05/bill_weld_top_of_vp_list_for_libertarian_candidate|title=Bill Weld top of VP list for Libertarian candidate|work=Boston Herald|date=May 17, 2016|access-date=August 23, 2016}} The vice-presidential candidate is formally nominated separately from and after the presidential candidate under the Libertarian Party's rules, although as the presidential nominee Johnson was first allowed to speak about his endorsement of Weld. Both candidates won their nominations on a second ballot after narrowly failing to attain an absolute majority on the first ballot.{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2016/05/29/libertarian-party-officially-picks-former-massachusetts-gov-bill-weld-vice-presidential-nominee-heated-convention|title=Libertarians pick former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld as vice presidential nominee after heated convention|date=May 29, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://reason.com/reasontv/2016/05/30/heres-what-happened-at-the-libertarian-n|title=Here's What Happened at the Libertarian National Convention|date=May 30, 2016}} Weld accepted the Libertarian Party's nomination for vice president at the Libertarian National Convention in Orlando, Florida on May 29.{{cite tweet|user=ClareMalone|number=737040244822925312 |title=Gary Johnson has his vp pick: William Weld wins the nomination on the second ballot with 50.57% of vote|first=Clare|last=Malone |date=May 29, 2016}}{{Primary source inline|date=December 2019}}

During the campaign, Weld took the lead on fundraising operations, as well as appearing on national television and at campaign rallies across the nation.{{cite web|url=http://www.unitedliberty.org/articles/19576-johnson-weld-nyt-interview|title=4 things you should know from Gary Johnson & Bill Weld's livestream with The New York Times|website=unitedliberty.org}}{{cite web|url=http://patch.com/massachusetts/beaconhill/libertarian-vp-candidate-bill-weld-rallies-boston-one-last-time|title=Libertarian VP Candidate Bill Weld Will Rally Boston One Last Time|date=October 30, 2016}} Together, Johnson and Weld were the first presidential ticket to consist of two governors since the 1948 election when Thomas Dewey of New York ran as a Republican with Earl Warren of California and Strom Thurmond of South Carolina ran as a States' Rights Democrat with Fielding L. Wright of Mississippi.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/gary-johnson-the-third-party-candidate|title=The Libertarians' Secret Weapon|first=Ryan|last=Lizza|date=July 18, 2016|magazine=The New Yorker}} Despite polling higher than any third-party campaign since Ross Perot in 1992, Johnson and Weld were excluded from the debates controlled by the Commission on Presidential Debates and their poll numbers subsequently declined.{{cite web|url=http://reason.com/blog/2016/09/16/debate-commission-blocks-gary-johnson-an|title=Debate Commission Blocks Gary Johnson and Bill Weld|date=September 16, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2016-general-election-trump-vs-clinton-vs-johnson|title=2016 General Election: Trump vs. Clinton vs. Johnson – Polls|website=The Huffington Post|access-date=January 2, 2017|archive-date=November 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108183541/http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2016-general-election-trump-vs-clinton-vs-johnson}}

Nationwide, the Johnson/Weld ticket received 4,488,919 votes (3.3%), breaking the Libertarian Party's record for both absolute vote total (previously 1,275,923 for Johnson in 2012) and percentage (previously 1.1% for Ed Clark and David Koch in 1980).

{{Main|Bill Weld 2020 presidential campaign}}

File:Bill Weld campaign 2020.png

On January 17, 2019, Weld rejoined the Republican Party, increasing speculation that he would run for president.{{Cite web|url=https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/weld-rejoins-the-republican-ranks/|title=Weld rejoins Republican ranks|last=Jonas|first=Michael|date=February 4, 2019|website=CommonWealth Magazine|access-date=February 5, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wmur.com/article/former-massachusetts-gov-weld-says-hell-discuss-presidential-plans-in-nh-on-feb-15/26102252|title=Former Massachusetts Gov. Weld says he'll discuss presidential plans in NH on Feb. 15|last=DiStaso|first=John|date=January 31, 2019|publisher=WMUR|access-date=February 5, 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/02/05/2016-libertarian-veep-nominee-bill-weld-comes-home-to-republican-party/|title=2016 Libertarian veep nominee Bill Weld returns to Republican Party|first=Laurel|last=Sweet|work=Boston Herald|date=February 5, 2019|access-date=February 10, 2019}} On February 14, 2019, Weld announced that he was launching a presidential exploratory committee for the 2020 Republican primary, against incumbent Republican president Donald Trump.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/15/politics/bill-weld-2020-exploratory-committee |title=Trump may have his first 2020 Republican challenger with former Massachusetts governor |publisher=CNN |author=Veronica Stracqualursi, Harry Enten and Daniella Diaze |date=February 15, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/local/weld-forms-exploratory-committee-defends-gop-credentials/article_2ca4cb00-3aee-57f9-a793-46ec5d4acf87.html|title=Weld forms 2020 exploratory committee, defends GOP credentials|date=February 14, 2019|first=Kevin|last=Landrigan|work=New Hampshire Union Leader|access-date=February 15, 2019}} Appearing on Bloomberg News, Weld suggested that he could beat Trump in 2020 with help from independent voters.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-19/weld-says-he-can-beat-trump-with-help-from-independent-voters|title=Weld Says He Can Beat Trump With Help From Independent Voters|newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=February 19, 2019|via=www.bloomberg.com}} He accused Trump on CNN the same weekend of having "showed contempt for the American people."{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/18/politics/bill-weld-gop-cnntv/index.html|title=Potential GOP challenger: Trump 'showed contempt for the American people'|author=Eli Watkins|website=CNN|date=February 18, 2019}} Weld challenged Trump on the issue of climate disruption, saying that he had made no effort to combat the effects of global warming. "We've got the polar ice cap that's going to melt with devastating consequences if we don't get carbon out of the atmosphere", Weld told America's Newsroom, noting that he would plan ahead for an "environmental catastrophe."[https://www.foxnews.com/media/bill-weld-gop-primary-trump-doing-nothing-climate-catastrophe GOP primary challenger Bill Weld: Trump doing nothing to stop climate 'catastrophe'], Fox News, Joshua Nelson, February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

On April 15, 2019, Weld formally announced his candidacy for President of the United States on The Lead with Jake Tapper.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/15/politics/bill-weld-2020-trump/index.html|title=Bill Weld officially announces he is challenging Trump for GOP nomination in 2020|last=Brusk|first=Steve|date=April 15, 2019|publisher=CNN|access-date=April 15, 2019}} Weld received 1.3% of the vote in the Iowa caucuses and one pledged delegate on February 3.[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/02/03/us/elections/results-iowa-caucus-republicans.html Iowa Republican Caucus Results 2020], The New York Times, February 3, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

Weld suspended his campaign on March 18, 2020.{{Cite news|last=Karni|first=Annie|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/us/politics/bill-weld-drops-out.html|title=Bill Weld, Trump's Last G.O.P. Challenger, Exits Presidential Race|date=2020-03-18|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2020-03-18|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

After ending his campaign, Weld announced that he voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.{{cite tweet|user=GovBillWeld|number=1319366380039393285|title=In MA, we're not supposed to post pics of our marked ballots, so I'm not posting the proof that I gladly marked mine for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. But rest assured, that's how I voted. It's America or Trump, and I'm going with America. If you haven't already, #VOTE!|date=October 22, 2020}}

File:Governor-healey-joins-predecessors-to-celebrate-governor-dukakis-legacy 53663115686 o (Weld, Patrick, Healey).jpg and the incumbent governor Maura Healey]]

Weld is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/about/membership/roster.html?letter=W |title=Membership Roster|publisher=Council on Foreign Relations|date=February 15, 2016}} He co-chaired its Independent Task Force on North America, which studied the liberalization of markets and free trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He was a principal at Leeds, Weld & Co., which describes itself as the United States's largest private equity fund focused on investing in the education and training industry. Weld serves on the board of directors of Acreage Holdings.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/382614-boehner-joins-board-of-cannabis-company-for-push-for-medical|title=Boehner joins cannabis company board to push for medical use|last=Gstalter|first=Morgan|date=April 11, 2018|website=TheHill|access-date=December 28, 2018}} For a time, he wrote thrillers and works of historical fiction.Michael Levenson, [https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/05/20/weld-jump-into-race-par-for-course/RktL24g8b4WXcRvMvxGrmI/story.html Bill Weld's leap into race is latest swerve in a singular career], The Boston Globe (May 20, 2016).

In February 2013, Weld publicly supported legal recognition for same-sex marriage in an amicus brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court.{{cite news|last=Avlon|first=John|title=The Pro-Freedom Republicans Are Coming: 131 Sign Gay-Marriage Brief|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/28/the-pro-freedom-republicans-are-coming-131-sign-gay-marriage-brief.html|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=February 28, 2013|access-date=November 21, 2013}}

Weld joined Our America Initiative's 2016 Liberty Tour a number of times, speaking alongside other libertarian leaders and activists such as Law Enforcement Against Prohibition executive director and former Baltimore Police Chief Neill Franklin, Free the People's Matt Kibbe, Republican activists Ed Lopez and Liz Mair, Conscious Capitalism's Alex McCobin, Reason Foundation's David Nott, Foundation for Economic Education's Jeffrey Tucker, and the Libertarian Party's Carla Howell (as well as some speakers not ordinarily associated with libertarianism, such as author and journalist Naomi Wolf); the tour raised "awareness about third party inclusion in national presidential debates" and "spread the message of liberty and libertarian thought."{{cite web|url=http://www.vagazette.com/news/va-vg-liberty-tour-william-and-mary-williamsburg-1018-story.html|title=Liberty Tour comes to Williamsburg to talk election, personal freedom|first=Jack|last=Jacobs}}{{cite web|url=https://palmbeachfreepress.com/2016/09/29/liberty-tour-2016-hits-the-road-will-visit-40-states-before-election-day/|title=Liberty Tour 2016 hits the road; will visit 40 states before election day|date=September 29, 2016|access-date=November 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129144533/https://palmbeachfreepress.com/2016/09/29/liberty-tour-2016-hits-the-road-will-visit-40-states-before-election-day/|archive-date=November 29, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.wcsh6.com/news/politics/voice-of-the-voter/voice-of-the-voter-weld-in-maine/342295347|title=Voice of the Voter: Weld in Maine}}

Throughout 2017 and 2018, Weld appeared at several state Libertarian Party conventions and endorsed various Libertarian candidates in the 2018 United States elections. In January 2019, Weld changed his party affiliation back to Republican, in preparation for his presidential run as a Republican.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/02/05/2016-libertarian-veep-nominee-bill-weld-comes-home-to-republican-party/ |title=2016 Libertarian veep nominee Bill Weld returns to Republican Party |first=Laurel J. |last=Sweet |website=Boston Herald |date=February 5, 2019 |access-date=February 5, 2019}}

Weld currently works as a lobbyist for ML Strategies. Weld's primary areas of focus as a lobbyist are helping c-level executives navigate competition, white collar investigation and litigation, and "dealing with government at all levels". Weld also specializes in ESG consulting at ML Strategies.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlstrategies.com/our-people/william-f-weld | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312062556/https://www.mlstrategies.com/our-people/william-f-weld | archive-date=March 12, 2022 | title=Global Policy | Former MA Governor | William F. Weld | ML Strategies }}

Weld also sits on the bipartisan advisory board of States United Democracy Center.{{Cite web |title=BILL WELD |url=https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/people/bill-weld/ |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=States United Democracy Center |language=en}}

After President Joe Biden ended his campaign, Weld announced that he is voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 election.{{Cite web |title=Republicans for Harris launches, aiming for Biden-like appeal to anti-Trump voters |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/04/politics/republicans-for-harris-anti-trump-gop-voters/index.html |date=August 4, 2024 |access-date=2024-08-04 |publisher=CNN |language=en}}

Weld married Susan Roosevelt Weld, a great-granddaughter of Theodore Roosevelt, on June 7, 1975.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/08/archives/susan-roosevelt-is-wed-on-li.html?ref=williamfweld | work=The New York Times | title=Susan Roosevelt Is Wed on L.I | date=June 8, 1975}} Susan Roosevelt Weld was a professor at Harvard University specializing in ancient Chinese civilization and law, and she later served as General Counsel to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. The Welds had five children: David Minot (born 1976), a professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara; Ethel Derby (born 1977), a physician; Mary Blake (born 1979), an attorney; Quentin Roosevelt (born 1981), an attorney; and Frances Wylie (born 1983), who has worked for the San Francisco Giants.{{cite web|url=http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/team/front_office.jsp?c_id=sf|title=San Francisco Giants Front Office|publisher=Major League Baseball|access-date=March 15, 2017|archive-date=September 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902093834/http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/team/front_office.jsp?c_id=sf}} The couple divorced in 2002.

Weld's second and present wife is writer Leslie Marshall. They live in Canton, Massachusetts.{{cite news|last=Murray|first=Stephanie|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/25/weld-april-trump-primary-challenge-1235859|title=Weld sets April deadline for Trump primary challenge|work=Politico|date=March 25, 2019|access-date=May 12, 2019}}

Weld is an Episcopalian.{{Cite news|last=Apple|first=R. W. Jr|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/03/us/kerry-vs-weld-an-elegant-hammering-of-a-race-remains-a-tossup.html|title=Kerry vs. Weld: An 'Elegant Hammering' of a Race Remains a Tossup|date=November 3, 1996|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 2, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}

Weld has written three mass market novels:

• Stillwater (2003) {{ISBN|0-15-602723-2}}
• Mackerel by Moonlight (1999) {{ISBN|0-671-03874-5}}
• Big Ugly (2002) {{ISBN|0-7434-1037-8}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2016 United States presidential election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Donald Trump / Mike Pence|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=62,985,153|percentage=45.9%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Hillary Clinton / Tim Kaine|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=65,853,677|percentage=48.0}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Gary Johnson / Bill Weld|votes=4,489,359|percentage=3.27}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Green Party of the United States|candidate=Jill Stein / Ajamu Baraka|votes=1,457,288|percentage=1.1}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Independent politician|candidate=Evan McMullin / Mindy Finn|votes=732,409|percentage=0.5}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Independent politician|candidate=Other third-party candidates|votes=453,896|percentage=0.3}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=1,171,436|percentage=0.9}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=137,143,218|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin|title=1996 United States Senate election in Massachusetts{{cite web|url=http://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/7116/|publisher=Massachusetts Elections Division|title=PD43+ >> 1996 U.S. Senate General Election|access-date=July 23, 2018}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=John Kerry (incumbent)|votes=1,334,345|percentage=52.7%|change={{decrease}}1.77}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Bill Weld|votes=1,142,837|percentage=45.2%|change={{increase}}4.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Conservative Party (United States)|candidate=Susan C. Gallagher|votes=70,013|percentage=2.8%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Natural Law Party|candidate=Robert C. Stowe|votes=7,176|percentage=0.3%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box write-in with party link|votes=1,515|percentage=0.1%|change={{decrease}}0.0}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=2,555,886|percentage=100.0%}}

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=1994 Massachusetts gubernatorial election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Bill Weld (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=1,533,390|percentage=70.9}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Mark Roosevelt|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=611,650|percentage=28.3}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=2,145,040|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin|title=1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election{{cite news |author= Massachusetts Secretary of State |title= 1990 Gubernatorial Election Results |url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/year_from:1990/year_to:1990/office_id:3 |work= Massachusetts Secretary of State |access-date=2019-11-19 }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Bill Weld|votes=1,175,817|percentage=50.2|change={{increase}}20.63}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=John Silber|votes=1,099,878|percentage=46.9|change={{decrease}}18.2}}

{{Election box candidate|party=Independent|candidate=Leonard Umina|votes=62,703|percentage=2.7|change=–}}

{{Election box candidate|party=Independent|candidate=Dorothy Stevens (write-in)|votes=872|percentage=0.0|change=–}}{{Election box total|votes=2,339,270|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=1978 Massachusetts attorney general election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Francis X. Bellotti (incumbent)|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=1,532,835|percentage=78.4}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Bill Weld|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=421,417|percentage=21.6}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=2,044,076|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://weld2020.org 2020 campaign site]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160702231751/https://johnsonweld.com/ Gary Johnson/Bill Weld 2016 campaign site]
• {{C-SPAN|2991}}
• [https://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e2214.htm "Weld: Politics not likely in future"]{{snd}}USA Today interview, July 2000
• [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/4thpaneltext120998.htm "Dec. 9: Fourth Panel of White House Witnesses"]{{snd}}Clinton impeachment testimony at The Washington Post
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20020418170120/http://www.nacdl.org/public.nsf/championarticles/99aug03?opendocument "Starr Teachers"]{{snd}}NACDL Notes on the Kevin White investigation

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