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Bolton appointment disappoints Voinovich

WASHINGTON — Sen. George Voinovich greeted the news of John Bolton's recess appointment by urging the Bush administration not to send Bolton to upcoming European Union meetings on Iran's reported nuclear proliferation.

"I'd be real careful about who they send to represent us in terms of that issue," he said.

Voinovich, who at times has been the lone Republican voice opposing Bolton's nomination, instead urged the Bush administration to consider sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the meetings this month. The EU3 — the foreign ministers of Britain, Germany and France — will give proposals to Iran on its nuclear activities at that meeting.

In an interview with reporters Monday, Voinovich said he was disappointed that Bush appointed Bolton during the Senate's August recess, but said he'll nonetheless support the new ambassador. He said he will send him a copy of a book on management, The Heart and Soul of Effective Management, by James F. Hind, in hopes that Bolton will take some of the book's advice to heart. Voinovich has used his copy since he was mayor of Cleveland.

"I'm disappointed that he got the appointment but the president made his decision and as a good soldier, I'm going to do what I can to be supportive of John," he said.

Voinovich opposed Bolton because of reports that he bullied subordinates. He said the long battle to confirm Bolton was positive because "though there are a lot of sad people at the State Department they can at least feel it wasn't a layup shot for him to get the job."

Voinovich, R-Ohio, lobbied against Bolton until the bitter end — on July 20, he wrote to President Bush urging him to make acting Permanent U.S. Representative to the U.N. Anne Patterson the ambassador. That never happened.

Under law, a president can make an appointment during a congressional recess without the Senate's approval.

Bolton's nomination stalled in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in April when Voinovich, in a move surprising to fellow committee members, blocked an initial vote on Bolton. Later, he allowed Bolton's name to be sent to the full Senate for an up-or-down vote, while urging his colleagues to reject the confirmation.

Voinovich later voted against ending debate on Bolton's nomination, which would have allowed a vote to confirm him. Bolton's nomination fell short of the 60 votes necessary to end debate.

Voinovich said he opposed Bolton because he believed Bolton would be considered an "ideologue" without the credibility to bring about effective reform at the United Nations.

As a recess appointment, Bolton's appointment would last until the next session of Congress convenes in January 2007.

Voinovich said he hoped the attention paid to Bolton's treatment of subordinates during the confirmation process would make him work harder to behave.

"Maybe John Bolton will grow in this job," he said.

Jessica Wehrman writes for Cox News Service. E-mail: jwehrman@coxnews.com