Richard Swett

Richard Nelson Swett Richard N. Lantos-Swett
United States Ambassador to Denmark
In office September 8, 1998 – July 6, 2001
President	Bill Clinton George W. Bush
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	(1957-05-01) May 1, 1957 Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Katrina Lantos Swett m. 1980
Children	7
Residence	Bow, New Hampshire
Alma mater	Yale University
Profession	Architect
Religion	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)

Richard Nelson "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 then became an architect in San Francisco.

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 1991 remaining in Congress until 1995.

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.

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

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.

In 1996, Swett ran as the Democratic Party candidate for a 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. On the night of the election many American media networks incorrectly projected that Swett had won.

In 1998, Bill Clinton appointed Swett to be 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.

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.

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. They have seven children.

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
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN

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	United States Ambassador to Denmark 1998–2001	Succeeded by Stuart A. Bernstein

102nd	Senate: W. Rudman | R. Smith	House: R. Swett | W. Zeliff
103rd	Senate: R. Smith | J. Gregg	House: R. Swett | W. Zeliff