Axios
Biden is dampening expectations for high dollar donors hoping for diplomatic posts for plums
President Biden is tempering his donors’ ambassadorial expectations with a big dollar, indicating that he will not be handing out plum items in the coming months and hinting that he will nominate fewer than his predecessors. The big picture: The president embraced the Democratic Party’s commitment to diversity when choosing his cabinet. Now lawmakers are pressuring him to extend it to the choices of his ambassadors, meaning white male donors – the core of his fundraising base – will seriously compete for fewer places. Get smarter, get faster with the news that CEOs, entrepreneurs and top politicians read. Sign up for Axios newsletters here. What We Hear: Biden will most likely reward loyal politicians and former aides, talking about former senators like Claire McCaskill heading for a gold-plated post in Europe. * In terms of policymakers, Julianne Smith, a former Biden assistant, could be nominated as an ambassador to NATO. * In the donor class, Denise Bauer, Obama’s ambassador to Belgium, was a top fundraiser. She could return to Europe, possibly Paris, one of the most coveted positions. * Doug Hickey, another major donor to Biden, is also interested in a foreign broadcast. * James Costos, a former HBO manager who served as Obama’s ambassador to Spain, has expressed interest in the UK, but many others are interested, including David Cohen, a Comcast manager. * Louis Frillman, a real estate investor, and Nathalie Rayes, president of the Latino Victory Project, have told employees they are interested in Madrid or another European post. The big question: the ambassadorship in China has recently gone to former politicians. Beijing the prestige of a big brand name and the White House the consolation that its envoy will have a political antenna to detect potential problems. * If Biden mentions Disney executive chairman Robert Iger, who has told Biden officials he is interested, that would break that mold Biden is scheduled to visit the State Department Monday, weather permitting, a symbolic display as he tries to revive diplomacy. and underscore America’s commitment to allies and partners. He is also expected to comment on his foreign policy initiatives. * While the president will certainly name some backers for top positions, others are getting nervous that they will be passed over and feverishly squeezing their cause. * While more than 800 individuals and couples raised more than $ 100,000 for Biden’s presidential bid, the more elite group of “bundlers” raised well above that amount and also gave the maximum of $ 620,000 to the Biden Victory Fund. In the numbers: Biden will likely create non-career opportunities for about 30% of the roughly 190 total ambassadors, leaving 70% for the foreign service, according to people familiar with the matter. * That 70:30 ratio would be consistent with the traditional breakdown, according to the American Foreign Service Association. President Trump deviated by nominating political ambassadors for about 44% of his appointments. * Trump’s nominees were also very non-diverse, with more than 90% of his openings to those who are white, Foreign Policy reported in 2018. Going deeper: The political category is always broadly divided into three categories: policy experts, politicians and donors. * Biden is expected to draw more from the first two categories, leaving fewer positions for donors looking to end a successful business career with a foreign mail. * Biden has an extensive network of Beltway friends and allies, but has never been more successful – or dependent – on the money and celebrity classes in New York and California. Support safe, smart and healthy journalism. Sign up for Axios newsletters here.