Appointment of Elliot L. Richardson as Special Representative of the President for the Multilateral Assistance Initiative for the Philippines

The President today announced the appointment of Elliot L. Richardson to serve as Special Representative of the President for the Multilateral Assistance Initiative for the Philippines. As Special Representative, Ambassador Richardson will oversee and promote United States participation in the Multilateral Assistance Initiative (MAI). The MAI is a multisectoral, multilateral program of international support for democracy and economic growth in the Philippines. It is designed to help the Philippines restructure its economy in order to achieve broadly based, self-sustaining growth led by the private sector and to improve the quality of life of the people of the Philippines. Ambassador Richardson will work closely with the Philippine Government, the Congress, responsible U.S. Government agencies, other bilateral donor countries and multilateral institutions, and the private sector in carrying out his responsibilities as Special Representative.

Ambassador Richardson has a distinguished record of public service spanning more than four decades. Among the positions in which he served are Ambassador at Large and Special Representative of the President to the Law of the Sea Conference, 1977 - 1980; Secretary of Commerce, 1976 - 1977; Ambassador to the Court of St. James, 1975 - 1976; Attorney General of the United States, 1973; Secretary of Defense, 1973; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1970 - 1973; and Under Secretary of State, 1969 - 1970. Ambassador Richardson was the attorney general of Massachusetts, 1967 - 1969, and the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, 1965 - 1967.

Ambassador Richardson graduated from Harvard College (A.B., 1941) and Harvard Law School (LL.B., 1947). He was born July 20, 1920, in Boston, MA. Ambassador Richardson served in the U.S. Army, 1942 - 1945. He is married, has three children, and resides in McLean, VA.