Fact box: Charles 'Butch' Swindells

How he got the job

Offered the job in a personal call from President George W. Bush. "It's an honour to be asked to serve - it doesn't get any better."

Why?

Payback for a major fundraiser for the Bush 2000 presidential election campaign. "The President has a tremendous grasp of issues - the important issues."

Previous career

Bypassed his family's legal tradition to set up what he bills as the US' first trust company in his home state Oregon. "We hit the wave of a whole new industry."

High spot

Prime Minister Helen Clark's visit to Washington in 2002. "A home run. She deserved, and felt she received, absolute red carpet treatment."

Low spot

Coping with fallout from Clark's Al Gore gaffe last year. "You've got to look at the big picture and don't get bogged down by small things."

Fun spot

First bungy jump, a tandem parachute jump with wife Caroline and rapelling down to glowworm caves. "Never done that before. Dark. I guess I had more time to think."

Protest factor

Victoria University students stopped him delivering a speech on the nuclear issue. "I knew it was time to really lay it out ... in the best interests of both countries."

His goal

The ideal would be for New Zealand and the US to again be allies. "I believe in setting high goals and possibly even in getting it done."