WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed by unanimous consent Friday native Utahn Tom Korologos as the new U.S. ambassador to Belgium, considered a key diplomatic post because both NATO and the European Union have headquarters there.
The confirmation comes just a week after his hearing, where a parade of senators from both parties praised, joked and reminisced about his 40 years as one of Washington's top lobbyists. No senators even bothered to ask him any questions.
However, Korologos, 71, said in his opening statement at that hearing, "I know how to negotiate. I know how to build consensus. I know how to close the deal. And as many of you know firsthand, I am also able to twist arms and kick shins if I have to in order to get my point across. In other words, I've been in training for this position all my life."
Most recently, Korologos was senior counsel to Ambassador L. Paul Bremer in Iraq, and helped lead postwar rebuilding efforts there. He also helped lead administration lobbying in Congress for appropriations needed for the rebuilding.
Korologos noted in his confirmation hearing that while America and Belgium are allies, Belgium did not join coalition forces against Iraq. However, he said seeking help from it in the rebuilding of Iraq will be among his highest priorities as ambassador.
Korologos has been a top advisor to GOP presidents and presidential candidates; was the top aide to former Sen. Wallace F. Bennett, R-Utah; was a journalist for the Salt Lake Tribune; and even first coined the phrase "Greatest Snow on Earth" that now appears on Utah license plates
But Korologos is known most for his 40 years as a top lobbyist in Washington who shepherded more than 400 people through the confirmation process, including controversial Supreme Court nominees. He literally wrote the book, called Korologos's Commandments, that most nominees follow as they move through confirmation.
Korologos orchestrated a dream confirmation hearing of his own last week. Instead of the usual two home state senators speaking on his behalf, he had six Senate leaders come to endorse him. No one spoke any criticism of him.
His large, extended Greek-American family filled every available chair in the room, notably including his wife, former Labor Secretary Ann McLaughlin, and a daughter, Paula Cale, who is a Hollywood actress. who starred in such TV series as "Murphy Brown."
"He brings great diplomatic talents to this responsibility — and many public services of a very distinguished nature," said Sen. Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., at the confirmation hearing.
Former Senate Democratic Leader Robert Byrd, D-W.V., said, "He has time and again shown that even party activists can be fair, they can be honest, they can be straightforward."
Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, said, "We need a man in Brussels, where the European Union is headquartered, who has the capacity to cut through all of the camouflage . . . and get to the heart of the problem very quickly. I have watched Tom do that now for 40 years."
Korologos joins a relatively small number of Utahns who have served as ambassadors.
Businessman John Price is currently ambassador to the African island nations of Mauritania, Seychelles and the Comoros Republic. GOP gubernatorial candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. was ambassador to Singapore, and held ambassador rank as deputy U.S. trade representative. Former Rep. David King, D-Utah, who now lives in Maryland, was ambassador to Mauritania and Madagascar.
E-mail: lee@desnews.com