Richard Swett

Richard Nelson Swett
Richard N. Lantos-Swett[1]
United States Ambassador to Denmark
In office
September 8, 1998 – July 6, 2001
President Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
Preceded by Edward Elliot Elson
Succeeded by Stuart A. Bernstein
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 1991 - January 3, 1995
Preceded by Charles Douglas III
Succeeded by Charlie Bass
Personal details
Born (1957-05-01) May 1, 1957
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Katrina Lantos Swett m. 1980
Children 7
Residence Bow, New Hampshire
Alma mater Yale University
Profession Architect[2]
Religion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)

Richard Nelson "Dick" Swett (born May 1, 1957) is an American politician from the U.S. state of New Hampshire.

Early life, education and career

Swett was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and moved to New Hampshire with his family as a child. He attended Yale University and then became an architect in San Francisco.[3]

Political career

Katrina and Dick Swett, at 2008 Milford Labor Day parade

Swett became active in the Democratic Party and eventually began a political career. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1991 remaining in Congress until 1995.[3]

In the run up to Swett's 1990 campaign, former Governor of New Hampshire Meldrim Thomson, Jr. complained unsuccessfully that listing him on the ballot as "Dick Swett" would be unlawfully misleading, since he was listed as "Lantos-Swett" in the telephone book, voter registration, deed to real property, and business.[1]

Mitt Romney donated $250 to his 1992 campaign. They were fellow Mormons with homes on Lake Winnipesaukee.[4]

In 1994, Swett voted for a bill to ban assault weapons that narrowly passed by two votes in the United States House of Representatives. His stand resulted in numerous threats against his life.[5]

In 1996, Swett ran as the Democratic Party candidate for a seat in the United States Senate from New Hampshire, against incumbent Republican Bob Smith, but was narrowly defeated. Smith had established himself as the most conservative Senator from the Northeast, and Bill Clinton's coattails nearly caused his defeat.[6] On the night of the election many American media networks incorrectly projected that Swett had won.[6]

In 1998, Bill Clinton appointed Swett to be United States Ambassador to Denmark.[3] He served in that position until 2001, and then moved back to New Hampshire. Swett and Larry Coben wrote the national energy policy for Senator Joseph Lieberman's 2004 presidential campaign.[3]

Swett returned to the field of architecture, assuming the position of Managing Principal for the Washington office of Leo A. Daly before becoming co-founder and CEO of Climate Prosperity Enterprise Solutions.[3]

Personal life

Swett is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In 1980, he married Katrina Lantos, daughter of Congressman Tom Lantos, who had previously converted to the LDS Church while a student at Yale.[7] They have seven children.[3]

Publications

References

  1. 1 2 The State of New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission (September 28, 1990). "Re: Meldrim Thomson, Jr. vs. Dick Swett" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  2. ↑ Hannaford, Peter (January 17, 2006). "Architects in U.S. history; Leaders who changed a nation" (fee, via Fairfax County Public Library). Washington Times (Washington, DC). p. A15. GALE|A140964382. Retrieved 2012-04-29. delete character in |id= at position 1 (help) Gale Biography In Context. (subscription required) (book review)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Former Congressman Richard Swett Named Chairman Of Sestar". Sestar News. July 8, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  4. ↑ Sherman, Amy (January 31, 2012). "NEWT GINGRICH SAYS IN 1992 MITT ROMNEY GAVE CAMPAIGN DOLLARS TO THREE DEMOCRATS" (fee, via Fairfax County Public Library). Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, FL). GALE|A278637226. Retrieved 2012-04-29. delete character in |id= at position 1 (help) Gale Biography In Context. (subscription required)
  5. ↑ "Congressman Reports Threats After Vote". The New York Times. May 11, 1994. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  6. 1 2 Crabtree, Susan (December 2, 1996). "1996 Ad". Insight on the News. Retrieved 2012-04-29. An incorrect exit poll by Voter News Service, or VNS, resulted in an early and ultimately incorrect projection of victory in New Hampshire for Democratic Senate candidate Dick Swett over Republican incumbent Sen. Robert C. Smith. "Every election night, you know, its cardiac-arrest time in some state, in some race - sometimes in several races," CBS' Dan Rather explained at 9:40 p.m. EST. "This race is as hot and tight as a too-small bathing suit on a too-long car ride back from the beach." But the network "oops" came too late for a number of newspapers that featured Swett's exit-poll victory in their early editions.
  7. ↑ "Elder Holland praises late Congressman Lantos". Mormon Times. February 7, 2009. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
    Johnson, Page (February 7, 2009). "Lantos tribute honors his family commitment; Elder Holland praises life, efforts of late congressman". Church News (Deseret News Publishing Company). Retrieved 2012-04-29.

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Charles Douglas III		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district
1991–1995 		Succeeded by
Charles F. Bass
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Edward Elliott Elson		 United States Ambassador to Denmark
1998–2001 		Succeeded by
Stuart A. Bernstein

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