February 20, 1998
UN ambassador to speak at UW Feb. 23
William Richardson, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, will hold a “town meeting” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23 in 210 Kane Hall on the University of Washington campus. The town meeting is presented by the George Taylor Institute of the UW’s Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies.
Richardson will make some brief remarks about the U.N. and then open the remainder of the time for questions from the audience. Richardson’s appeareance is presented in cooperation with the World Affairs Council and The Henry M. Jackson Foundation.
Richardson was named U.N. ambassador by President Clinton in December 1996. He is the first Hispanic American ever to serve in a foreign policy cabinet level position. In addition to serving as a member of the president’s cabinet, Richardson also is on the National Security Council.
Richardson served in Congress as the representative from New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District, from which he was elected eight times. As a member of Congress, he was part of the House Democratic leadership, serving as chief deputy whip.
As a diplomatic troubleshooter, Richardson has worked to free hostages and prisoners in several countries. Richardson earned an international reputation when, as a congressman, he won the release of a U.S. Army pilot in North Korea in 1994, two U.S. defense contractors who’d accidentally crossed the Iraqi border in 1995, and, in 1966, three Red Cross workers being held in Sudan.
In spring 1997, he was dispatched by President Clinton to central Africa, where he successfully brought together former Zairian president Mobutu Sese Seko and Alliance leader Laurent Kabila for their first meeting. This helped to avert a crisis in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Richardson has twice been nominated for the Nobel peace prize, most recently in January 1997.
Richardson received a B.A. from Tufts University and an M.A. from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
