Nomination of John J. Louis, Jr., To Be United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
March 27, 1981
The President today announced his intention to nominate John J. Louis, Jr., of Winnetka, Ill., as Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He would succeed Kingman Brewster, Jr., who has resigned.
Mr. Louis served in the U.S. Army Air Force (1943 - 45) as second lieutenant, aircraft pilot. From 1951 to 1958, he was account executive with the advertising firm of Needham, Louis, and Brorby, Inc., and from 1958 to 1961, he was director of international marketing of the S. C. Johnson and Son, Inc. He was chairman of KTAR Broadcasting Co. (radio and television) from 1961 to 1968. Since 1968 he has been chairman of Combined Communications Corp., a division of Gannett Co., Inc., of Rochester, N.Y.
In 1972 he was Personal Representative of the President, with the rank of Special Ambassador, to head the United States Delegation at the ceremonies commemorating the 12th anniversary of the independence of the Gabon Republic.
Mr. Louis was born June 10, 1925, in Evanston, Ill. He was graduated from Williams College (B.A., 1947) and Dartmouth College (M.B.A., 1949). He is married to the former Josephine Peters, and they have three children.
Appointment of Frank A. Ursomarso as Director of the White House Office of Communications
March 27, 1981
The President today announced the appointment of Frank A. Ursomarso to be Director of the White House Office of Communications.
Among its responsibilities, the Office of Communications is to coordinate the activities of public affairs officers of Government agencies or departments, provide research and information services to the President and White House staff, and to assist the television networks in their coverage of the President.
From 1973 to 1976, Mr. Ursomarso was an advance representative for President Nixon and President Ford. He was television production coordinator for the 1976 Presidential debates, and during the 1980 Presidential campaign, served Governor Reagan as television production coordinator and advanced coordinator for the Presidential debates.
Before assuming his present White House post, Mr. Ursomarso was in the automobile business in Wilmington, Del. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania Public Television Network and the Pennsylvania Securities Commission.
During his service in the U.S. Army as a military police officer, he was a member of the task force on domestic disturbances. He served 1 year in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Mr. Ursomarso was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on September 19, 1942. He received his B.A. in 1964 from Gettysburg College and his J.D. in 1967 from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Mr. Ursomarso is married to the former Catherine Sanders, and they have three children. The family resides in Unionville, Chester County, Pa.