By Daniela Deane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 1, 2005; 3:09 PMPresident Bush sidestepped the U.S. Senate on Monday and installed controversial nominee John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations, saying the post was "too important to leave vacant any longer."Speaking at the White House, Bush said he was sending Bolton, a 56-year-old lawyer, to the United Nations with his "complete confidence."
Bush Appoints Bolton
President Bush, center, stands with John Bolton, left and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as he announces Bolton's installation as United States ambassador to the United Nations in Washington. (J. Scott Applewhite -- AP)
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Bush Appoints Bolton as U.N. Ambassador
President Bush appoints John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Monday at the White House.
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/politics Bolton Nomination as Ambassador to the U.N.
President Bush tapped John Bolton for nomination to the influential post of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Monday, August 1, at 1 p.m. ET
Bush Appoints Bolton to U.N.
Brookings Institution scholar Sarah Binder discusses Bush's appointment of John Bolton as ambassador to the U.N.
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M&M ChocolateThe appointment constituted what is known as a recess appointment. It ended a five-month impasse with Senate Democrats who had accused the conservative Bolton of twisting intelligence to suit a hawkish ideology and of abusing subordinates.Bush has the power to fill vacancies without Senate approval while Congress is in recess. Under the Constitution, the recess appointment will last until after the Senate adjourns in the fall of next year.Speaking at a White House Roosevelt Room ceremony flanked by the mustachioed Bolton and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Bush said that "a majority of U.S. senators agree that he is the right man for the job. Yet, because of partisan delaying tactics by a handful of senators, John was unfairly denied the up or down vote that he deserves."In a brief acceptance speech, Bolton, who has a long history of criticizing the United Nations, said he was "profoundly honored, indeed humbled by the confidence" the president had shown in him.Bush had refused to give up on Bolton even though the Senate had twice voted to sustain a filibuster against him.Senate Democrats quickly criticized the president's move.Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), called it a "devious maneuver" that only "further darkens the cloud over Mr. Bolton's credibility.""The abuse of power and the cloak of secrecy from the White House continues," Kennedy said. "It's bad enough that the administration stonewalled the Senate by refusing to disclose documents highly relevant to the Bolton nomination. It's even worse for the administration to abuse the recess appointment power by making the appointment while Congress is in this five-week recess."Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, a senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: "The president has done a real disservice to our nation by appointing an individual who lacks the credibility to further U.S. interests at the United Nations. I will be monitoring his performance closely to ensure that he does not abuse his authority as he has in the past."In New York, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said he looked forward to working with Bolton as he does with the 190 other ambassadors at the United Nations. About the recess appointment, Annan said: "I think it is the president's prerogative, and the president has decided to appoint him through this process."

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