Ambassador
Tom Foley was elected to represent the State of Washington’s Fifth
Congressional District 15 times, and served his constituents for 30 years.
He served as the 49th speaker of the House of Representatives, majority
leader and majority whip. He is a former chairman of both the House Democratic
Caucus and the Democratic Study Group. Following his political career,
Ambassador Foley became a partner in the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss,
Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. In 1997, he was appointed the 25th U.S. Ambassador
to Japan by President Clinton. In 1996, the Government of Japan conferred
upon him the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, Paulownia Flowers,
in recognition of his service to the U.S. House of Representatives, the
important impact he had in facilitating harmonious U.S.-Japan relations
and promoting understanding of Japan in the U.S.