Secchia OKd as Envoy to Italy; Concern Voiced

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Michigan Republican activist Peter Secchia as ambassador to Italy despite concerns by some that his penchant for vulgar language might lead him into diplomatic hot water.

Secchia, dubbed by some Italian publications as “the ambassador of dirty words,” pledged during confirmation hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he would clean up his language while serving as a diplomat. Secchia had also angered Italian officials with jokes about the Italian navy, which were reprinted in Italy.

Concern Expressed

Chairman Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.) expressed concern that Secchia would be unable to control his off-color language, saying he feared the nominee would embarrass President Bush and the United States.

Pell abstained on the voice vote.

Secchia, a multimillionaire timber executive who served as a GOP national committeeman, is credited by Bush loyalists with engineering Bush’s victory in the 1988 Michigan party caucuses over the Rev. Pat Robertson.

Other envoys confirmed Wednesday included:

--Former Indiana Gov. Robert D. Orr as ambassador to Singapore.

--Morton Abramowitz of Washington, a career Foreign Service officer, as ambassador to Turkey.

--Edward N. Ney of New York as ambassador to Canada.