Rumors Place Foley In Tokyo Reports Say He’ll Be Named Ambassador To Japan

Former House Speaker Tom Foley is again the subject of a rumor involving a prestigious diplomatic position. This time, he’s being touted as the next U.S. ambassador to Japan.

Foley was named by two newspapers in the last 10 days as the heir-apparent to the job formerly held by ex-Vice President Walter Mondale.

Both The Japan Times, an English-language paper in Tokyo, and The Washington Times, published in the nation’s capital, are saying that the job is his. Time magazine last week said he was going to be ambassador to Japan if he didn’t become ambassador to Great Britain.

The Washington Times said Thursday morning that unnamed sources confirmed Foley “has agreed to be ambassador to Japan.” It was a brief reference in a story that noted the Clinton administration has failed to fill key diplomatic posts in Asia.

A spokeswoman for Foley said Thursday that the ambassadorship rumor has been circulating for a while, but the job hasn’t been offered.

“He hasn’t been asked,” said Janet Gilpatrick, who manages Foley’s office in Eastern Washington.

The former Spokane congressman couldn’t be reached for further comment, but Gilpatrick noted that his standard policy is to refuse comment on offers that haven’t been made.

The former speaker has strong connections to Japan. He travels there regularly, attending conferences and lecturing at seminars.

Past rumors had Foley filling a number of key posts for President Clinton. In 1993, he was rumored to be the next ambassador to Great Britain. In 1994, he was rumored first to be at the top of the list to fill an opening on the U.S. Supreme Court, and later, secretary of state.

None of those panned out.

After he lost his 1994 re-election campaign, Foley was approached about becoming ambassador to China. He declined, however, because of concern over the effects of Beijing’s air pollution on his wife Heather’s asthma.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo