Wednesday, May 27, 1998
What ever happened to Orson Swindle, the Republican who made two unsuccessful runs for Congress? Swindle is a federal
trade commissionerOn March 19, the Senate unanimously confirmed Orson Swindle, the former prisoner of war in Vietnam, to a seven-year term on the Federal Trade Commission.
Swindle had been in the $115,700-a-year job since December, working as a temporary appointee, but his seven-year appointment required Senate approval. As one of the five federal trade commissioners, Swindle has oversight on such issues as business mergers, credit discrimination, tobacco considerations and deceptive advertising.
Swindle, 61, ran for Congress from Hawaii's first district in 1994 and again in 1996, losing by 6,700 votes in his second try.
A Marine fighter pilot in the Vietnam War, Swindle spent more than six years in a prison camp after being shot down over North Vietnam. He later spent eight years in the Reagan administration, first as director of the Farmers Home Administration in his native Georgia, then as assistant Commerce secretary.
After settling in Hawaii, Swindle worked on Ross Perot's 1992 presidential campaign and was associate director of the conservative group Empower America.
At his confirmation hearing, Swindle was praised by both Sens. Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye.
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