Tom Udall in Confirmation hearings
On Foreign Policy:
Ambassador to New Zealand & Samoa: work on China threats
Former Sen. Tom Udall is President Joe Biden's pick to be ambassador to New Zealand and the Independent State of Samoa, the White House said. Udall said in a statement that he is honored to be
nominated to this post "working with one of our closest partners and allies" to face challenges like Covid-19 and threats from China.
Source: Politico.com on 2021 Ambassadorial Confirmation Hearing
Jul 16, 2021
On Principles & Values:
Work across the aisle; build relationships and coalitions
Bipartisan governance, negotiating solutions and compromises with political rivals while aspiring to "win them over to your view" in the long run, is a value Udall said he inherited listening in on conversations with his
father about "his day job" in Washington, often with the participation of his uncle, Morris "Mo" Udall. "They thought big, but then they did the hard work, working across the aisle, building the relationships, building coalitions."
"I'm a westerner at heart," Udall said, "and when you're a true westerner from the Rocky Mountain region of the west,
you may venture out in your life ... but eventually you return to your home, the place you belong."
Source: Las Cruces Sun-News on 2021 Ambassador Confirmation Hearing
Jul 16, 2021
On Civil Rights:
Strong advocate for Native American tribes
Udall is described as being a strong advocate for Native American tribes. Udall's proudest achievement as a senator, he says, was working with tribal leaders to advance their priorities and to support
New Mexico's 23 tribes. His advocacy included securing investments in Native-language revitalisation.
Source: Newshub (New Zealand) on Ambassadorial Confirmation Hearing
Jul 7, 2021
On Foreign Policy:
Udall appointment strategic; New Zealand important ally
Analytical reporting by Reuters suggests Udall's appointment as Ambassador is strategic for President Biden, as New Zealand "has been an important ally" in the Asia Pacific region.
New Zealand's relationship with the US appears far more optimistic with Biden in the top job, whose left-leaning values align much better with the Labour Government than those of former President Trump.
Source: Newshub (New Zealand) on Ambassadorial Confirmation Hearing
Jul 7, 2021
On Principles & Values:
Udall a troubled optimist; Senate is broken and not working
Udall retired this year after two terms in the Senate. In his farewell speech, he spoke about his concerns for the United States and a political system he described as "broken". "The Senate is broken. It's not working for the American people,"
Udall said. "We are becoming better and better warriors. We're good at landing a punch - at exposing hypocrisy and riling each other up. But we aren't fostering our better angels." He described himself as a "troubled optimist" in the speech.
Source: Newshub (New Zealand) on Ambassadorial Confirmation Hearing
Jul 7, 2021
On Principles & Values:
Udall comes from a family of American politicians
He's the son of Stewart Udall, who was Secretary of the Interior from 1961 to 1969. He's also the nephew of former Arizona Congressman
Morris Udall, the cousin of former Colorado Senator Mark Udall, and the second cousin of Republican Utah Senator Mike Lee.
Source: Newshub (New Zealand) on Ambassadorial Confirmation Hearing
Jul 7, 2021
Page last updated: Mar 21, 2022