Robert Torricelli: “last week, President Clinton called upon the Senate to use but one principal criteria when considering nominations for…”

“last week, President Clinton called upon the Senate to use but one principal criteria when considering nominations for ambassadors for the United States. In his words, that criteria simply stated is: ``Will he or will he not be a good ambassador?'' Over 30 years ago, the Senate was confronted with a similar situation to one before us today. This body was asked to assess whether Patricia Harris should be approved to be U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg. She was a prominent lawyer. There was no question about her qualifications. Indeed, during the course of her career, she went on to be Secretary of HUD and of HEW. But, in 1965, Patricia Harris represented the first African American woman to become an American ambassador. The Senate then was left with a challenge of meeting what Thomas Jefferson considered our highest calling. That is, in his words, whether this would be a nation of ``equal opportunity for all and special privilege for none.''”