Published: March 26, 1990

DALLAS, March 25— The Republican gubernatorial nominee apologized today for an off-the-cuff remark suggesting that some victims of rape should ''relax and enjoy it.''

The candidate, Clayton Williams, had initially played down the remark as being a joke.

Women's groups and political opponents of Mr. Williams strongly criticized the candidate for the comment.

It ''questions his ability to understand the kinds of problems faced by the people of Texas,'' said Ann Richards, the State Treasurer and a runoff candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. ''Rape is a crime of violence.''

...The headlines the next day were published in big, stark letters: “Williams Didn’t Pay ’86 Taxes.” The next week, Democrat Ann Richards came from 5 points down to win the 1990 Texas governor’s race.

“I thought right then, ‘Oh man, we just lost it,’ ” said Bill Kenyon, Williams’ former campaign spokesman.

“But nobody else asked about it. I thought it might be our lucky day.”

A quarter-century before rich asshole-vs.-Clinton, the Midland oilman blustered his way through a Texas election against a high-profile Democratic woman, and lost.

Williams is most remembered for telling reporters a rape joke. But he did not slip behind until the offhand tax comment to reporters in College Station four days before the election...