doc_text: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today endorsed the nomination of Michigan Republican activist Peter F. Secchia as ambassador to Italy, but the panel's chairman said he feared Secchia might "embarrass the United States" because of his "penchant for making gross remarks."
  The committee's vote was 13-0 in favor of Secchia, a former Republican national committeeman for Michigan and lumber industry executive.
  The chairman, Sen. Claiborne Pell, D-R.I., and Sen. Alan Cranston, D-Calif., voted "present," meaning they took no position.
  Pell inserted into the hearing record newspaper accounts "containing the distasteful specifics of Mr. Secchia's remarks."
  At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Secchia pledged to be far more careful as a diplomat in his use of colorful language than he had been in his different role as a political organizer and enthusiast.
  But Pell said he was unpersuaded.
  "Tact and careful speech are hallmarks of successful diplomats," Pell said.
  "Mr. Secchia has demonstrated that he would bring opposite qualities to the position of ambassador to Italy."
  "Italian friends of mine telephoned me from Rome, aghast at the prospect of having Mr. Secchia represent the United States in their country," the chairman said.
  "I believe that this nomination is a mistake, and in all likelihood Mr. Secchia will be an embarrasment to the administration and the United States," Pell said.
  But he said that since Secchia is "the president's choice" he would not try to block the nomination or delay action on it.
summary_text: Today the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 13-0 to endorse the nomination of Michigan Republican activist Peter F. Secchia as ambassador to Italy.
  Chairman Claiborne Pell abstained, saying the nomination was a mistake.
  He feared Secchiai' penchant for making gross remarks might embarrass the US.
  Tact and careful speech were hallmarks of successful diplomats and Secchia's qualities were opposite those.
  But since Secchia was the president's choice, he wouldn't try to block or delay the nomination.
  Secchia pledged to be more careful in his use of colorful language as a diplomat.
  Secchia is a former Republican national committeeman and lumber industry executive.