[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 199 (Thursday, December 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S18637-S18639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will now 
proceed to executive session to consider en bloc the nominations listed 
in the order of December 7, 1995; that the nominations be confirmed, 
the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be 
immediately notified of the Senate's action, and that the Senate return 
to legislative session.
  The nominations considered and confirmed en bloc are as follows:

                          Department of State

       A. Peter Burleigh, of California, a Career Member of the 
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be 
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United 
     States of America to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri 
     Lanka, and to serve concurrently and without additional 
     compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 
     of the United States of America to the Republic of Maldives.
       Sandra J. Kristoff, of Virginia, for the rank of Ambassador 
     during her tenure of service as U.S. Coordinator for Asia 
     Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
       John Raymond Malott, of Virginia, a Career Member of the 
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be 
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United 
     States of America to Malaysia.
       Kenneth Michael Quinn, of Iowa, a Career Member of the 
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be 
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United 
     States of America to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
       William H. Itoh, of New Mexico, a Career Member of the 
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador 
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
     America to the Kingdom of Thailand.
       Frances D. Cook, of Florida, a Career Member of the Senior 
     Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be 
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United 
     States of America to the Sultanate of Oman.
       J. Stapleton Roy, of Pennsylvania, a Career Member of the 
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be 
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United 
     States of America to the Republic of Indonesia.
       Thomas W. Simons, Jr., of the District of Columbia, a 
     Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career 
     Minister, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 
     of the United States of America to the Islamic Republic of 
     Pakistan.
       Richard Henry Jones, of Nebraska, a Career Member of the 
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador 
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
     America to the Republic of Lebanon.
       James Franklin Collins, of Illinois, a Career Member of the 
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be 
     Ambassador at Large and Special Advisor to the Secretary of 
     State for the New Independent States.
       Charles H. Twining, of Maryland, a Career Member of the 
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be 
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United 
     States of America to the Republic of Cameroon.
       Charles H. Twining, of Maryland, a Career Member of the 
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to serve 
     concurrently and without additional compensation as 
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United 
     States of America to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
       James A. Joseph, of Virginia, to be Ambassador 
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
     America to the Republic of South Africa.
       Don Lee Gevirtz, of California, to be Ambassador 
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
     America to the Republic of Fiji, and to serve concurrently 
     and without additional compensation as Ambassador 
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
     America to the Republic of Nauru, Ambassador Extraordinary 
     and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the 
     Kingdom of Tonga, and Ambassador Extraordinary and 
     Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Tuvalu.
       Joan M. Plaisted, of California, a Career Member of the 
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador 
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
     America to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and to serve 
     concurrently and without additional compensation as 
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United 
     States of America to the Republic of Kiribati.
       Jim Sasser, of Tennessee, to be Ambassador Extraordinary 
     and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the 
     People's Republic of China.
       David P. Rawson, of Michigan, a Career Member of the Senior 
     Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador 
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
     America to the Republic of Mali.
       Gerald Wesley Scott, of Oklahoma, a Career Member of the 
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador 
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
     America to the Republic of The Gambia.
       Robert E. Gribbin III, of Alabama, a Career Member of the 
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador 
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
     America to the Republic Rwanda.
       Foreign Service nominations beginning Robert S. Gelbard, 
     and ending Sandra L. Williams, which nominations were 
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of September 5, 1995.
       Foreign Service nominations beginning Paula O. Goddard, and 
     ending Michael Ranneberger, which nominations were received 
     by the Senate and appeared in the Congressinal Record of 
     September 5, 1995.
       Foreign Service nominations beginning Carol A. Peasely, and 
     ending Sarah S. Olds, which nominations were received by the 
     Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of September 
     22, 1995.
     
[[Page S18638]]

       Foreign Service nominations beginning Henry Lee Barrett and 
     ending Harry L. Tyner, which nominations were received by the 
     Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of October 
     31, 1995.


nomination of james r. sasser to be ambassador to the people's republic 
                                of china

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
confirmation of Senator James R. Sasser to be the next United States 
Ambassador to the People's Republic of China. In my opinion President 
Clinton could not have made a better choice.
  During the last few months, relations between the United States and 
China have stumbled along a very rocky road. With increased tensions 
and frustrations between our two governments, we have sorely missed the 
presence of a U.S. Ambassador in Beijing to represent our policy and to 
facilitate much-needed communications. Unfortunately, the nominations 
process was held up here in our own Chambers. However, recent 
developments have encouraged me to believe that Senator Sasser will 
soon be able to take his post in Beijing.
  I am anxious to reassure the Chinese Government that the delay here 
in the Senate is in no respect reflective of the sentiment of the 
Senate about the capabilities of Jim Sasser. In fact, I could not speak 
more highly of this nominee and his outstanding capacity to serve both 
of our countries well. The Chinese are very fortunate to receive a 
representative of the United States who is close to the President and 
can communicate directly with him on important issues. In addition to 
his valuable ties to the White House, Senator Sasser is a highly 
educated, articulate, and thoughtful man. He has approached this 
position with enthusiasm and a dedication to learning about his new 
host country. I have know Jim Sasser since I first arrived in this 
Senate body 15 years ago. Over the years, I have admired his 
outstanding commitment to public service and appreciate the efforts he 
has made to improve the lives of his constituents and the citizens of 
this country. I know that, in his new capacity as Ambassador to China, 
Jim Sasser will once again display this commitment with dignity and 
strength.
  The Clinton administration has chosen wisely by nominating Senator 
Sasser to the important post of Ambassador to China. The People's 
Republic of China is an increasingly significant player in the 
international arena and in United States foreign policy. While our 
economic, political, and security ties with China have multiplied over 
the last decade, we are still facing many areas of disagreement. We 
should move quickly to install our Ambassador in Beijing, to 
demonstrate our good intentions to the Chinese. Swift Senate approval 
of Jim Sasser will offer new opportunities for communication and 
cooperation between our two countries.
  Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, the Senate has just acquitted itself very 
well by approving a list of ambassadors, particularly that of our 
former colleague, Jim Sasser.
  Jim Sasser came to the U.S. Senate in 1978. He acquitted himself 
immediately with his colleagues in a most admirable manner. We all knew 
shortly that Jim Sasser had a very keen mind and quick wit. He 
ingratiated himself very well with his colleagues and almost instantly 
became one of the most popular Senators; by the time he left here, in 
my opinion, he was the very best Senator in the U.S. Senate.
  His tenure as chairman of the Budget Committee was exemplary. Hour 
after hour after hour he sat there in the manager's chair, dealing with 
the most complex and difficult legislation of the year, and that was 
the budget.
  It is a real travesty that the confirmation of a man of his talents 
has been held up for so very long, at a time when American-Chinese 
relations need a good, strong Ambassador more than ever. I promise my 
colleagues--and of course most of you know this--that Jim Sasser will 
represent this country with great distinction. He will do it with 
dignity and with integrity.
  The Chinese will find very quickly what all of us found very quickly, 
that he is a quick learner. His integrity is absolutely unimpeachable.
  This is a great day for him and his family. His lovely wife Mary and 
their beautiful daughter Elizabeth will be accompanying him to China. 
They have waited a long time. They have been hanging by their thumbs, 
wondering whether they would be able to go to Beijing, for almost a 
year now.
  So this is a great day for the Sasser family. It is a great day for 
the Chinese. Above all, it is a great day for America, that we can 
appoint somebody of his talent and his skills.
  Finally, I want to personally, and I know I speak for almost all of 
my colleagues, wish him Godspeed and much luck. I yield the floor.
  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I am very grateful to the Senator for 
yielding me this time, because a few moments ago the Senate voted to 
confirm 19 ambassadorial nominees. I am very pleased, as I know my 
colleagues are, that these nominations are finally moving forward. I am 
especially happy to note that my friend, and I should certainly say our 
friend and former colleague, Jim Sasser, will soon be allowed to take 
his post as United States Ambassador to the People's Republic of China.
  As we enter a new century, it is my belief no other international 
relationship is filled with more potential, or fraught with more 
dangers than the United States relationship with China. In recent 
years, China has become one of the world's fastest-growing economic and 
military powers. China is already a major player in Asia, and in the 
coming years we will likely see it assert itself as a full-fledged 
international power.
  The Clinton administration has rightly concluded that it is in 
America's best interest to stay actively engaged with the Chinese. 
Although our two countries often have sharp differences on both 
economic and human rights issues, it is very important to maintain a 
constant dialogue between Beijing and Washington. Put simply, the 
future stability and prosperity of the Pacific rim are largely 
dependent on a cooperative U.S. relationship.
  Mr. President, this administration has also rightly concluded that 
the best person, the very best person, to represent America in China at 
this moment, the right person to guide our foreign policy in China 
during this critical time, is our good friend and former colleague, 
James R. Sasser of Tennessee.
  I want to congratulate Jim Sasser today. I recognize how fortunate 
our country is that he has agreed to accept this enormous challenge.
  I also want to commend President Clinton for choosing such an 
outstanding person to represent our interests in Beijing. Like many of 
my colleagues, I had the pleasure of working with him during a large 
portion of his 18 years of service to the people of Tennessee and 
America.
  During his time in this body, Jim Sasser earned a reputation as one 
of the Senate's most thoughtful and skillful Members. As my colleagues 
know, the dynamics of the Senate require that Members often put 
partisanship aside in order to get things done. Jim Sasser was someone 
whom Senators on both sides of the aisle could count on to roll up his 
sleeves and do the job right.
  Mr. President, a prominent example of Senator Sasser's skill and 
dedication can be found in his work as chairman of the Budget 
Committee. As my friend from New Mexico, Senator Domenici, will tell 
you, leadership of the Budget Committee can be one of the Senate's most 
thankless tasks. It is a difficult job, requiring an ability to balance 
the priorities of colleagues from both parties. I think all of my 
colleagues will agree that Senator Sasser's chairmanship was notable 
for its honesty, patience, and above all, fairness. It is the 
characteristic of that fairness that is the hallmark in Jim Sasser's 
life.
  In the coming days, Senator Sasser will begin to put his considerable 
talents to work as Ambassador to China. As he no doubt realizes, there 
is much work to be done. During the past year, United States-Chinese 
relations have been strained by continuing trade disputes and the 
Taiwan issue. The United States needs someone who can improve the 
dialog with China while at the same time holding firm to American 
principles. Jim Sasser is more than up to this challenge.
  Mr. President, I want to close by wishing our firend Jim Sasser and 
his family the best of luck as he continues to serve his Nation as 
Ambassador to China. I have every confidence that his tenure will be 
marked by distinction and success. I thank the Chair and yield the 
floor.

[[Page S18639]]

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I wanted to join both Senators from 
Arkansas in stating what an excellent choice Jim Sasser is for 
Ambassador to China.
  I had the good fortune to be in Beijing this summer and to see 
firsthand the importance of that post which the President has chosen 
Senator Sasser to fill. I had the good fortune to serve here in the 
Senate for 12 years with Jim Sasser. I know of his great negotiating 
skills, his great leadership ability, and I believe his great advocacy 
skills, which will serve him well and serve this country well in this 
new position which he is about to take on.
  So I think the Senate has acted very appropriately, the President has 
acted appropriately, and I look forward to the day when Jim Sasser is 
our representative, very soon, in Beijing. I again commend all Senators 
for voting for his nomination.

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