Nomination of Smith Hempstone, Jr., To Be United States Ambassador to Kenya

The President today announced his intention to nominate Smith Hempstone, Jr., to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Kenya. He would succeed Elinor Greer Constable.

Mr. Hempstone has been a syndicated columnist since 1970. He has served as editor-in-chief of the Washington Times, 1984 - 1985, and executive editor of the Washington Times, 1982 - 1984. Prior to this, Mr. Hempstone wrote a twice-weekly syndicated column, 1975 - 1982, and served as associate editor and editorial page editor of the Washington Star, 1970 - 1975. In addition, he served as foreign correspondent for the Chicago Daily News and the Washington Star in Latin America, 1965 - 1967. He was a Nieman fellow at Harvard University, 1964 - 1965, and served as African correspondent for the Chicago Daily News, 1961 - 1964.

Mr. Hempstone graduated from the University of the South, Sewanee, TN, (B.A., 1950). He was born February 1, 1929, in Washington, DC. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1950 - 1952. Mr. Hempstone is married, has one child, and resides in Bethesda, MD.