Richard Swett

Richard Swett
United States Ambassador to Denmark
In office September 8, 1998 – July 6, 2001
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Edward Elliot Elson
Succeeded by	Stuart A. Bernstein
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1991-January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Charles Douglas III
Succeeded by	Charlie Bass
Personal details
Born	May 1, 1957 (1957-05-01) Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Katrina Swett
Residence	Bow, New Hampshire
Alma mater	Yale University
Religion	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)

Richard "Dick" Swett (born May 1, 1957) is an American politician from the U.S. state of New Hampshire.

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 became an architect - working in Skidmore Owings and Merrill's San Francisco office.

Political career

Katrina and Dick Swett, at 2008 Milford Labor Day parade

Swett became active in the Democratic Party and eventually began a political career. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1990 from the second district of New Hampshire. He was re-elected in 1992 but lost his re-election bid in 1994 to Republican Charles Bass. Swett was the last Democrat to represent New Hampshire in U.S. Congress until 2007.

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. The Federal Assault Weapons Ban made it illegal to manufacture certain types of semi-automatic firearm for non-military and law enforcement use in the United States for a period of 10 years. The law expired in 2004 and despite numerous attempts to have it renewed nothing has reached the floor for a vote.

In 1996, Swett ran as the Democratic Party candidate for a seat in the United States Senate from New Hampshire, against incumbent Republican Robert C. Smith, but was narrowly defeated by a margin of approximately 242,000 votes for Smith to 227,000 votes for Swett. On the night of the election many American media networks incorrectly projected that Swett had won.^{[citation needed]}

In 1998, Swett was appointed by Bill Clinton to be the 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.

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.

Swett has recently returned to the field of architecture, assuming the position of Managing Principal for the Washington office of Leo A. Daly. He also owns and co-manages Swett Associates in New Hampshire.

External links

• Swett Associates
• Richard N. Swett at APCO Worldwide
• Richard Swett, Consulting Principal at the Greenway firm
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Charles Douglas III	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district 1991–1995	Succeeded by Charles F. Bass
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Edward Elliott Elson	U.S. Ambassador to Denmark 1998–2001	Succeeded by Stuart A. Bernstein