Richard O. Ristine graduated from Wabash College and subsequently served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, rising to the rank of captain. After completing his Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School, he was admitted to the Indiana State Bar Association and entered the political arena, eventually becoming Lieutenant Governor of Indiana. Post his political career, Ristine remained active in the legal field and held positions on various corporate boards. He also chaired the Indiana Historical Society.

Richard O. Ristine's political career reveals a calculated approach to policymaking, particularly in balancing economic pragmatism with ideological consistency. His support for Indiana's first sales tax in 1963, while serving as Lieutenant Governor, indicates a willingness to adopt fiscally conservative measures. Ristine's military background in World War II further suggests a disciplined, perhaps even rigid, adherence to duty and order that permeates his policy decisions. His post-political roles in legal practice and corporate governance underscore a pragmatic yet principled engagement with both public and private sectors.