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Obama picks crony for London job
Peter Dominiczak21 May 2009
Barack Obama is to appoint a close friend and major financial backer as the new US ambassador to London.
Louis Susman, a lawyer and financier with little experience of foreign affairs, is expected to be confirmed as the capital's ambassador by President Obama in the coming weeks.
Buckingham Palace is said to have approved the appointment this month. It comes despite the President promising to end cronyism inWashington.
London has often been used as a retirement posting for backers of US presidents, offering a comfortable home in one of the best mansions in the city, Winfield House in Regent's Park.
The appointment of American diplomats with little experience has caused controversy in recent years. Senior diplomats had called on President Obama to end the tradition of awarding the position to friends and financial backers.
Other candidates for the plum diplomatic posting are said to have included Oprah Winfrey and Caroline Kennedy.
Morton Abramowitz, a retired diplomat, called on Mr Obama to “declare that he will not appoint ambassadors who have secured their posts through financial contributions and who have little background to merit any such appointment”.
Ronald Neumann, a former career diplomat and ambassador and president of the Washington-based American Academy of Diplomacy, today said that ambassadors to Britain should have more experience.
He said: “You would think with our most important ally we might occasionally send someone with some experience.” Mr Susman, 71, vice-president of Citigroup until he retired in February, is a long-time supporter of the Democrats and personal friend of Mr Obama. As a member of the President's inner circle, he was nicknamed the Vacuum Cleaner by the Chicago Tribune newspaper for his ability to hoover up campaign funding.
Like Mr Obama, he has a house in an expensive area of Chicago beside Lake Michigan. He raised at least $500,000 for Mr Obama's campaign and a further $300,000 for his inauguration.
Two of the ambassadors sent to London by President George W Bush were accused of paying scant attention to diplomatic affairs during their time in the capital.
William Farish, a Texan multi-millionaire, was described by another diplomat as “invisible” in British political life.
The outgoing ambassador, Robert Tuttle, a former California car dealer, is said to have entertained more than 25,000 people at the Regent's Park mansion in the less than four years he has held the post.
London is not the only posting used for political patronage. The ambassador to Dublin will be Dan Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers NFL team, who campaigned for Mr Obama.
Most of the real political work of an embassy given over to friends and backers — up to 30 per cent of such appointments — is left to the deputies, who are career diplomats.
Reader views (1)
Barrack Obama has promised many things, change being one, he has delivered on nothing. Cronyism, is the manna with which the democratic party lives. This is a disaster over here.
- James Andrews, sacramento, California USA, 22/05/2009 04:52
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