Nomination of J. William Middendorf II To Be Permanent Representative of the United States to the Organization of American States

The President today announced his intention to nominate J. William Middendorf II to be Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the Organization of American States, with the rank of Ambassador.

Mr. Middendorf recently served as chairman of the finance committee of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. During the 1980 Presidential campaign, Mr. Middendorf served as coordinator of the International Economic Advisory Committee and the Naval Advisory Committee. He was also a member of the Strategic Minerals Task Force.

Mr. Middendorf was president and chief executive officer of Financial General Bankshares, Inc. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands from 1969 to 1973 and as Under Secretary and Secretary of the Navy from 1973 to 1977. Mr. Middendorf's long career in investment banking culminated in 1962 with the formation of his own partnership, which he left in 1969 to enter government service.

He has been active in the Republican Party, serving as treasurer of the Republican National Committee, a delegate or alternate to three Republican National Conventions, and treasurer of the 1968 transition committee. He is the author of numerous articles, a frequent lecturer on major international security and economic issues, and is a member of several national and international organizations concerned with defense, trade, and monetary questions.

Mr. Middendorf was born in Baltimore, Md., on September 22, 1924. He received a bachelor of naval science degree from Holy Cross College in 1945 and a bachelor of arts degree from Harvard University in 1947. In 1954 he received an M.B.A. from New York University Graduate School of Business Administration.

Mr. Middendorf is married to the former Isabelle Paine, and they have four children.