Richard N. Swett

Richard Nelson Swett (born May 1, 1957) is an American politician and diplomat from the U.S. state of New Hampshire who served as the U.S. representative for New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district from 1991 to 1995. He also served as the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark from 1998 to 2001.

Dick Swett
United States Ambassador to Denmark
In office
September 8, 1998 – July 6, 2001
PresidentBill Clinton
George W. Bush
Preceded byEdward Elliot Elson
Succeeded byStuart 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 byCharles Douglas III
Succeeded byCharlie Bass
Personal details
Born (1957-05-01) May 1, 1957
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
​
(m. 1980)​
Children7
Residence(s)Bow, New Hampshire, U.S.
Alma materYale University
ProfessionArchitect[1]

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 then became an architect in San Francisco.[2]

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 November 1990 but was defeated at the election in November 1994.[2]

In the run up to Swett's 1990 campaign, former Governor of New Hampshire Meldrim Thomson, Jr. complained unsuccessfully that listing him on the ballot as "Dick Swett" would be unlawfully misleading, since he was listed as "Lantos-Swett" in the telephone book, voter registration, deed to real property, and business.[3]

Mitt Romney donated $250 to his 1992 campaign. They were fellow Mormons with homes on Lake Winnipesaukee.[4]

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.[5]

In 1996, Swett ran as a Democratic Party candidate for the Class 2 seat in the United States Senate from New Hampshire, against incumbent Republican Bob Smith, but was narrowly defeated. Smith had established himself as the most conservative Senator from the Northeast, and Bill Clinton's coattails nearly caused his defeat.[6] On the night of the election many American media networks incorrectly projected that Swett had won.[6]

In 1998, Bill Clinton appointed Swett to be United States Ambassador to Denmark.[2] 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.[2]

Swett returned to the field of architecture, assuming the position of Managing Principal for the Washington office of Leo A. Daly before becoming co-founder and CEO of Climate Prosperity Enterprise Solutions.[2]

Swett is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.[7]

On August 12, 2019, Swett endorsed Joe Biden for President.[8]

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 and unsuccessful congressional candidate, who had previously converted to the LDS Church while a student at Yale.[9] They have seven children.[2]

Publications
  • Swett, Richard N. (2005). Leadership by design : creating an architecture of trust. Colleen M. Thornton, chief researcher; translations of Danish texts by Peter Wedell-Wedellsborg and Kenneth Krabat. Atlanta, GA: Greenway Communications. ISBN 0975565400. LCCN 2005282484.

References
  1. Hannaford, Peter (January 17, 2006). "Architects in U.S. history; Leaders who changed a nation" (fee, via Fairfax County Public Library). Washington Times. Washington, DC. p. A15. GALE|A140964382. Retrieved 2012-04-29. Gale Biography In Context. (subscription required) (book review)
  2. "Former Congressman Richard Swett Named Chairman Of Sestar". Sestar News. July 8, 2011. Archived from the original on May 4, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  3. The State of New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission (September 28, 1990). "Re: Meldrim Thomson, Jr. vs. Dick Swett" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 4, 2009. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  4. Sherman, Amy (January 31, 2012). "NEWT GINGRICH SAYS IN 1992 MITT ROMNEY GAVE CAMPAIGN DOLLARS TO THREE DEMOCRATS" (fee, via Fairfax County Public Library). Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, FL. GALE|A278637226. Retrieved 2012-04-29. Gale Biography In Context. (subscription required)
  5. "Congressman Reports Threats After Vote". The New York Times. May 11, 1994. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  6. Crabtree, Susan (December 2, 1996). "1996 Ad". Insight on the News. Retrieved 2012-04-29. An incorrect exit poll by Voter News Service, or VNS, resulted in an early and ultimately incorrect projection of victory in New Hampshire for Democratic Senate candidate Dick Swett over Republican incumbent Sen. Robert C. Smith. "Every election night, you know, its cardiac-arrest time in some state, in some race – sometimes in several races," CBS' Dan Rather explained at 9:40 p.m. EST. "This race is as hot and tight as a too-small bathing suit on a too-long car ride back from the beach." But the network "oops" came too late for a number of newspapers that featured Swett's exit-poll victory in their early editions.
  7. "ReFormers Caucus – Issue One". Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  8. Sexton, Adam (August 12, 2019). "Former congressman Swett endorses Biden in NH primary". WMUR. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  9. "Elder Holland praises late Congressman Lantos". Mormon Times. February 7, 2009. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
    Johnson, Page (February 7, 2009). "Lantos tribute honors his family commitment; Elder Holland praises life, efforts of late congressman". Church News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved 2012-04-29.

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