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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release August 12, 1998
               PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES WILLIAM LACY SWING 
                       AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE 
                    DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

The President today announced the appointment of William Lacy Swing to be U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ambassador Swing will serve as a recess appointee. He was nominated on March 10, 1998, and his nomination is currently pending before the Senate.

Ambassador William Lacy Swing, of Lexington, North Carolina, is a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, having joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1963. He 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 focused on African studies. Ambassador Swing's Washington tours included desk officer for Germany, Deputy Director for Central Africa, with special responsibility for the former Zaire, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Personnel.

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

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