Belying their image of self-effacing tact, U.S. Foreign Service officers long have complained about the penchant of presidents of both parties to reward campaign contributors with diplomatic positions. It’s a self-interested objection, but also a fair one.
According to the president of the American Foreign Service Association, Bill Clinton is following in his predecessors’ footsteps. S.A. “Tex” Harris says that the president has bestowed ambassadorships on financial angels “who are not qualified by experience in foreign affairs.”
In Clinton’s defense, a Congressional Quarterly tally shows that 82 percent of his ambassadorial nominees have been Foreign Service veterans, compared to 71 percent for George Bush and 67.5 percent for Ronald Reagan.
The improvement is admirable, and not every non-career ambassador is unqualified. (Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan, once the ambassador to India, and former Vice President Walter Mondale, the current ambassador to Japan, are examples of outstanding non-career envoys.)
Even more admirable would be a moratorium on appointing contributors to ambassadorships. As a candidate, Clinton promised change; this is an ideal arena in which to make good on that promise.
