[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




WYCHE FOWLER'S CONFIRMATION AS UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate my good 
friend and former colleague Wyche Fowler on his confirmation as United 
States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. This is a great and well-deserved 
honor for the former Senator from Georgia. Even more important, it is a 
blessing for America.
  Because his was a recess appointment, Wyche Fowler already has served 
with great distinction and success for over 1 year in Saudi Arabia. 
President Clinton appointed him to this post just days before the June 
25, 1996, terrorist bombing of the United States military residence in 
Dahran. Although he took the ambassadorship at one of the most tenuous 
moments in United States-Saudi diplomatic relations, Wyche embraced the 
challenge and helped cement the United States relationship with Saudi 
Arabia, one of our most important allies.
  Wyche was sworn in as Ambassador on August 16, 1996. His appointment 
came at an important moment in the relationship between the United 
States and Saudi Arabia. Despite the difficulties that have surrounded 
the bombing investigation, he has served his country well and protected 
American interests in the region with tenacity and skill.
  Of course, Mr. President, this is no surprise to those of us who have 
followed Wyche Fowler's career of public service or worked closely with 
him during his 16 years in Congress. Elected to the Senate in 1986, 
Wyche served on the Appropriations, Budget, Energy, and Agriculture 
Committees. As assistant floor leader, he helped fashion a bipartisan 
consensus on major public policy issues. Many of us remember Wyche 
Fowler as an unusually reflective Member of this body, who talked often 
of conserving our natural resources and energy sources. I can remember 
listening with humor and fascination as he used electric toothbrushes 
to point out the danger of decadent applications of technology.
  Before becoming the first Atlantan elected to the Senate, Wyche 
Fowler represented Atlanta's First District in the House of 
Representatives. First elected in 1977, he served on the Ways and Means 
and Foreign Relations Committees, as well as the Select Committee on 
Intelligence and the Congressional Arts Caucus.
  Wyche's legislative record is long and distinguished: he tried to 
stop oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and protect 
national wetlands; recodified and strengthened the national historic 
preservation law; established joint public/private ventures in 
alternative energy; and ensured interest-free relief for farmers in the 
Farm Credit System overhaul.
  The consensus-building skills Wyche learned in Congress have stood 
him in good stead in Riyadh. Just as valuable, Mr. President, is his 
affable personality. All his colleagues in the House and Senate 
remember Wyche Fowler as a genial and charismatic fellow, not to 
mention a great singer of hymns and a superb storyteller. In fact, 
Wyche used to entertain us with the same country songs he performed as 
a teenager on an Atlanta talent show. Though the Saudis may not 
appreciate country ballads, I am sure that they will find Wyche Fowler 
every bit as hard-working, engaging, and honest as the people of 
Georgia and his colleagues have.
  And, Mr. President, Wyche is genuinely fascinated by Saudi Arabia's 
people and culture. He has begun to learn Arabic, and already has 
indulged his enthusiasm for Arabian history and archaeology by trekking 
on camel through the deserts of Saudi Arabia's Empty Quarter.
  America is fortunate to have Wyche Fowler as its Ambassador to Saudi 
Arabia. His diplomatic skills will see us successfully through a 
delicate and vital period in our relations with that nation. In this 
instance, Mr. President, Georgia's loss was the Nation's gain.




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