Alum named Norway ambassador

Sam Bloch Staff Writer

President Bush nominated Benson K. Whitney ’82, now of Minneapolis, to serve as the United States ambassador to Norway. Bush announced his nomination on Sept. 21.

Whitney declined an interview for this story, citing the Senate’s tendency to frown upon any media contact while a nomination is still pending.

President of the College Fran Fergusson was glad to hear of Whitney’s nomination.

“[Whitney] has always been very cordial and kind towards me and the College. I can remember a very pleasant dinner with him in Minneapolis a few years ago,” said Fergusson.

Unlike many Vassar graduates, Whitney is a staunch Republican. In addition to raising $200,000 for and leading current President Bush’s 2004 Minnesota reelection campaign, he attempted to draft then-St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman as a Republican gubernatorial candidate in 1998, campaigned for Bush in Wisconsin in 2000, and also managed Coleman’s Senate 2002 campaign.

According to the Minnesota Star-Tribune, the Whitney and Bush families have been close since Benson’s uncle Wheelock Whitney and former President George H.W. Bush attended prep school in Massachusetts together. Wheelock Whitney is himself a longtime prominent figure among Minnesota Republicans.

“Our politics are a bit different,” said Fergusson. “[But] he is also proud of Vassar, and I'm pleased that he has been appointed to this very attractive ambassadorship.”

According to the Star-Tribune, Whitney said that he and his family “are totally thrilled about going to Norway, a country that is so important to the United States and has such strong connections in Minnesota.” Whitney’s appointment was covered in several Norwegian newspapers as well.

Whitney would be part of a long line of Minnesotans to hold the position, the most recent being Sidney Rand in 1980 and 1981.

A Sept. 21 White House press release said that Whitney currently serves as President of Argus Management, LTD, and as Chief Executive Officer for Whitney Management Company.

Whitney previously served as Managing General Partner for Gideon Hixon Fund and as President of Minnesota Venture Capital Association. Before his successes in corporate management, Whitney attended law school at the University of Minnesota, and practiced law for five years, from 1986 to 1991.