Nomination of James R. Elichards To Be Inspector General of the Department of Energy

The President today announced his intention to nominate James R. Richards to be Inspector General of the Department of Energy.

Since 1980 Mr. Richards has served as general counsel and vice president of the National Legal Center for the Public Interest in Washington, D.C. In 1977-80 he was vice president and legal director of Capital Legal Foundation. Mr. Richards was Director of Office of Hearings and Appeals, Department of the Interior, in 1973-77, and in 1969-73 he was assistant U.S. attorney for Colorado. In 1963-65 Mr. Richards was legislative and executive assistant to Senator Peter H. Dominick (R-Colo.). Previously he was engaged in the private practice of law in Colorado for 3 years. He served 2 years as Colorado assistant attorney, acting as counsel to the State Highway and Patrol Departments, and was active politically as a member of the State Republican Central Committee.

Mr. Richards ,is a member of the District of Columbia, Colorado, and American Bar Associations. He was graduated from Western State College, Gunnison, Colo. (B.A, 1955) and the University of Colorado School of Law (LL.B., 1960).

Mr. Richards resides in Arlington, Va. He was born on November 21, 1933, in Kinder Post, Mo.