President Clinton has decided to nominate outgoing Rep. Pete Peterson, D-Fla., a prisoner of war in Vietnam for 61/2 years, to be the first U.S. ambassador to Hanoi.

Peterson, a popular moderate who was assured of re-election, said last fall that he was retiring from Congress this year at the end of his third term, saying he never wanted to be a "career politician" and that he believed in term limits. He also said it was frustratingly hard to be a "bridge-builder" in the increasingly fractious Congress.The likely move faces an uncertain future in the Senate. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a good friend of Peterson's and himself a former POW, is a strong backer. "I will do everything I can to see that he is confirmed," McCain said this week. "He's a fine man who served his country with honor."

But the key vote rests with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jesse Helms, R-N.C., a foe of normalizing relations with Vietnam. Helms has backed legislation that would bar funds to upgrade the U.S. mission in Hanoi to full embassy status, even though both countries last year agreed to full diplomatic relations and the Vietnamese have sent an ambassador here.

Helms's office had no comment Thursday, saying it had not received the nomination. A veteran Senate source said it was unclear whether Helms will allow an ambassador to Hanoi on his watch as chairman.

View Comments

Peterson, who served 26 years in the Air Force, was in the computer business before being elected to Congress in 1990.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.