Facebook Twitter Email
FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2003

The Senate late Thursday approved the nomination of Ross Swimmer as special trustee at the Department of Interior.

The vote was 73 to 24 with 4 senators not voting. The 24 who voted no were all Democrats, mostly from Western states but also from New York, New Jersey and Maryland.

The vote was the first in history that an Indian affairs nominee was not approved by unanimous Senate consent. Objections to Swimmer, a former assistant secretary and former principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, had delayed his confirmation for more than a month.

Get the Story:
Swimmer OK'd (AP 4/11)

Roll Call:
Senate Vote on Ross O. Swimmer (April 10, 2003)

Relevant Links:
Office of Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

Related Stories:
Swimmer still not confirmed as special trustee (4/7)
Senate panel approves Ross Swimmer nomination (03/06)
Swimmer says role in trust reform not conflicted (3/5)
Senate committee to take up Ross Swimmer again (3/4)
Daschle statement in opposition to Swimmer (3/4)
Senate committee to take up Ross Swimmer again (3/4)
Swimmer confirmation delayed (2/27)
DOI says Swimmer ready to answer questions (2/27)
Campbell asked to delay vote on Ross Swimmer (2/26)
Senate panel eager to confirm Swimmer as trustee (02/13)
Swimmer can't recall Navajo involvement (02/13)
Swimmer says he will be independent trustee (02/13)
Swimmer spoof rings true for some (2/12)
Swimmer slow to recall Reagan era 'fallout' (01/17)
Swimmer was promised BITAM job (1/16)
Tribes moving to oppose Swimmer nomination (01/06)
Unfit officials stick it to Indians again (12/09)
A super assistant secretary, in all but name (05/03)
Swimmer legacy still haunts BIA (02/12)
Reagan's Indian chief is back (11/20)