Bush sends us 'secret' uni mate

By Phillip Hudson, Canberra
The Age
Mar. 12, 2006

GEORGE BUSH has nominated a university friend, Robert Davis McCallum jnr, to fill the job of American ambassador after leaving the job vacant for 13 months.

The US President and Mr McCallum both attended Yale and in 1968 were chosen as members of its elite and secret Skull and Bones society. The 170-year-old group boasts presidents, judges, diplomats and business chiefs among its ranks. It is believed exactly 15 university juniors are recruited each year by being "tapped" on the shoulder by seniors.

The appointment must be confirmed by the US Senate, meaning it could still be a few months before Mr McCallum arrives in Canberra.

Prime Minister John Howard welcomed the decision, saying Mr McCallum was well qualified.

He is currently associate attorney-general at the Department of Justice and before that was assistant attorney-general for the civil division.

He was a partner at Atlanta law firm Alston & Bird where he represented big tobacco companies. He is a Rhodes Scholar, has a master's degree from Oxford University and a bachelor's degree from Yale.

Despite the close relationship between Mr Bush and Mr Howard, Australia has been uncomfortable about the job being vacant since the departure in February last year of Tom Schieffer, another mate of Mr Bush who was a co-owner in the Texas Rangers baseball team.

Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer said the delay was "unforgivable" and the announcement was "long overdue and forced through by the proximity of (US Secretary of State) Condoleezza Rice's visit" to Australia this week.