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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release November 26, 1997

               PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES WILLIAM LACY SWING 
                       AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE 
                    DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

The President today announced his intent to nominate William Lacy Swing, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Ambassador Swing, of Lexington, North Carolina, is currently U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, a position he has held since 1993. Since joining the U.S. Foreign Service in 1963, Ambassador Swing has devoted his career primarily to Africa, where he has had four earlier postings as Ambassador -- to South Africa, Nigeria, Liberia, and the Congo (Brazzaville). He also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in the Central African Republic and spent a sabbatical year at Harvard University focusing on African studies. Ambassador Swing's Washington tours included desk officer for Germany, Deputy Director for Central Africa, with special responsibility for Zaire, and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Personnel.

Ambassador Swing received his B.A. degree from nearby Catawba College, and a B.D. degree from Yale University. His foreign languages include French, German, Afrikaans and Creole.

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