Richard Nixon photo

White House Statement About the Failure To Confirm Ambassador G. McMurtrie Godley as an Assistant Secretary of State.

July 12, 1973

THE PRESIDENT deeply regrets the failure of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to act favorably on the nomination of Ambassador Godley for the position of Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

It is deplorable that this distinguished Foreign Service officer should be penalized for faithfully carrying out the policies of his Government, which were not set by him. The consequences of this committee action go far beyond the injustice done to an outstanding Foreign Service officer. It is not in the interest of the Foreign Service or the United States that career officers become subject to retribution for diligent execution of their instructions.

Note: Deputy Press Secretary Gerald L. Warren read the statement at his news conference at the White House on July 12, 1973.

G. McMurtrie Godley was United States Ambassador to Laos from 1969 to 1973.

Richard Nixon, White House Statement About the Failure To Confirm Ambassador G. McMurtrie Godley as an Assistant Secretary of State. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/255645

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