Michael Wood, the former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, speaks at a SACU Luncheon

Posted by Susanna at 10:31 AM, Dec 3, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Events

Mrs. Ingrid Beach; the former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, Mr. Michael Wood; Mrs. Judy Wood; the chairman of SACU (Swedish American Cultural Union), Mr. David Paul; and Mrs. Gunilla Stone, chairwoman of SWEA (Swedish Women's Educational Association)

THE FORMER U.S. ambassador to Sweden, Mr. Michael Wood was the speaker - characterized by humor and self-deprecation - at a SACU luncheon on Wednesday, November 18, at The Pier Seven Restaurant in Washington, D.C.

IN HIS REMARKS that were characterized by humor and self-deprecation, he told the gathering, "I was not a career diplomat, but a businessman, and one of the founders of Hanley Wood Publishers. When I was 14 years old, I met George W. Bush in Andover (both the President and Mr. Wood attended Phillips Academy), and we became friends, and it is a friendship that has continued over the years. Later on, as President, he asked me if I wanted to become ambassador," says Mr. Wood, who talks with warmth about the beautiful view of the Baltic Sea and Skansen from the American residence in Stockholm.

WITH A GREAT sense of humor and in an easy manner, he talked about the difference between being an ambassador, with a staff, that planned his schedule, a driver, two body-guards, and the life like an ordinary citizen.

"WHAT does an ambassador do? Mr. Wood said he was thinking.

HE GOT good advice from among others the former Swedish ambassador in Washington and former Swedish secretary of State, Jan Eliasson; Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt; Swedish secretary of state Carl Bildt; Jacob and Peter Wallenberg of the Swedish investment bank Investor; former U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice - and, of course, President George W. Bush.

"THE RESPONSE was to focus on one strategic topic, which could be measured. Of three proposals - Swedish membership of NATO, to promote the democratization process in Russia, or to market alternative energy technology, the choice was the last one - a very critical topic right now. The Reinfeldt administration has been very supportive, and the cooperation in this area between our two countries and industries has been further strengthened," Mr. Wood pointed out.

AND IT WAS as a part of this work that Mr. Wood got the opportunity to visit Sweden's all 21 "län" (provinces), with Värmland as the last one.

"PRESIDENT OBAMA has further increased the financial support for alternative energy sources, and I think that there will be a climate change bill in congress."

MR. WOOD pointed out that in France, for example, 80 percent of the energy is nuclear energy, but that that is a controversial energy source in the U.S. and Sweden.

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