Nomination of Fred J. Eckert for the Rank of Ambassador While Serving as United States Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome

The President today announced his intention to nominate Fred J. Eckert, of Virginia, for the rank of Ambassador during the tenure of his service as United States Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome. He would succeed Millicent Fenwick.

Mr. Eckert began his career as a public relations executive with the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America in Ossining, NY, 1964-1965. He then became public relations specialist, General Foods Corp. in White Plains, from 1965 to 1967. Mr. Eckert joined the advertising and public relations agency of Rumrill-Hoyt, Inc., in Rochester as an account executive in 1967, and was with them until he became chief executive of municipal government, Town of Greece, NY, from 1970 to 1973. He was elected to the New York State Senate in 1973, and served until 1982. He was also president of Eckert Associates, Inc., in Rochester, 1973-1982 and 1984. Mr. Eckert was appointed as Ambassador to Fiji, the Republic of Kiribati, the Kingdom of Tongo and Tuvalu in 1982, and served until 1984 when he was elected to be a Member of Congress, New York's 30th Congressional District, until January 1987.

Mr. Eckert graduated from North Texas State University (B.A., 1965). He was born May 6, 1941, in Rochester, NY. He resides in Arlington, VA, with his wife and two children.