Sid Cassidy Appointed As U.S. Ambassador
Following in the footsteps of former U.S. Presidents John Adams, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, James Buchanan, and other well-known Americans including Joseph Kenny (the father of President John Kennedy), Sid Cassidy was unexpectedly appointed as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom (formally known as the US ambassador to the Court of St. James’s).
He will take the position of Ambassador Jane Hartley in one of the most prestigious posts in the U.S. Foreign Service due to the special relationship between the United States and United Kingdom.
Ambassador Cassidy will move within six week with his wife Kara from Boca Raton, Florida to the Winfield House located in Regent’s Park.
“While the next stage in Sid’s professional career has taken an unexpected political turn, his appointment makes sense once you think about it,” commented Steven Munatones. “Not only did Sid coach the American relay team that set three world records across the English Channel in 1990 – that still remarkably stand to this day, but he also very ably navigated the hallways of FINA and the IOC to get the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim added as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. His lobbying efforts over the decades have been multi-faceted: spanning both the educational and political realms – and, frankly, against all odds.
He is a unique type of individual who is not only highly persuasive with an infectious personality that puts everyone at ease, but he is also a great listener and can present well in any circumstance or setting. Over the last 30+ years, he has demonstrated his political skills not only with IOC, FINA and NBC executives, but also among the world’s elite athletes where sometimes tempered flared and hard decisions had to be explained and accepted.
His appointment is certainly an out-of-the-box decision, but in these uncertain times, it is a perfect match for the skills, experience and outlook of Ambassador Cassidy.
Sure there will be no more flip flops and short pants for the man known as Mr. Open Water from Florida, but he can dress up well and will be an engaging, quick-witted, charismatic ambassador for the U.S.”
Cassidy still needs to be officially ratified by the U.S. Senate, but political commentators believe his appointment will not present any major problems.
For more information, visit the United States Department of State here.
Photo above shows Sid Cassidy who presented at the United Nations during the 2011 Global Open Water Swimming Conference and International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremonies where he explained the background of open water swimming at the Olympic Games.
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