Preceded by Edward Elliot Elson Alma mater Yale University Education Yale University Preceded by Charles Douglas III Name Richard Swett Party Democratic Party | Political party Democratic Role American Politician Succeeded by Charles Bass Children 7 Spouse Katrina Swett (m. 1980) | |
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President Bill Clinton
George W. Bush Born May 1, 1957 (age 66)
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania ( 1957-05-01 ) Residence Bow, New Hampshire, United States Books Leadership by Design: Creating an Architecture of Trust | ||
Vision 2020 ambassador richard swett faia
Richard Nelson "Dick" Swett (born May 1, 1957) is an American politician from the U.S. state of New Hampshire.
Contents
- Vision 2020 ambassador richard swett faia
- Early life education and career
- Political career
- Personal life
- Publications
- References
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.
Political career
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.
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.
Mitt Romney donated $250 to his 1992 campaign. They were fellow Mormons with homes on Lake Winnipesaukee.
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.
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. On the night of the election many American media networks incorrectly projected that Swett had won.
In 1998, Bill Clinton appointed Swett to be United States Ambassador to Denmark. 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.
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.
Swett is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.
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. They have seven children.