Nomination of Lee L. Verstandig To Be Under Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

The President today announced his intention to nominate Lee L. Verstandig to be Under Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He would succeed Philip Abrams.

Since June 1, 1983, Dr. Verstandig has been serving as Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs. Previously he served at the Environmental Protection Agency as Acting Administrator and Acting Assistant Administrator for Legislation. He was Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs at the Department of Transportation in 1981-1983. He served as a member of the board of directors of Amtrak in 1982.

He was administrative assistant and legislative director to Senator John H. Chafee in 1977-1981; associate dean of academic affairs and dean of political affairs for special studies at Brown University in 1970-1977; professor of history and political science at Roger Williams College in 1963-1970 and served as its department chairman in 1965-1967. He is the author of numerous articles and books on government, political history, education, and public policy.

Dr. Verstandig graduated from Franklin and Marshall College (A.B., 1959), the University of Tennessee (M.A., 1961), and Brown University (Ph.D., 1970). He is married, has one child, and resides in Washington, DC. He was born September 11, 1937, in Memphis, TN.