Susman

The Senate Foreign Relations committee today heard testimony from former Cardinals executive Louis Susman, who has been nominated by President Barack Obama as ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Susman, a St. Louis native, was August A. Busch Jr.’s personal lawyer when Anheuser-Busch owned the Cardinals. Susman was known for his frosty relationship with skipper Whitey Herzog and letting Hall of Fame hurler Bruce Sutter escape to the Atlanta Braves.

Susman later moved to Chicago, where he became an investment banker — and a major Democratic fundraiser and powerbroker.

Senators heaping praise on Susman at today’s hearing included Committee Chairman John Kerry, whose presidential campaign Susman also worked on.

Kerry said he was first introduced to Susman by another St. Louisan, the late Democratic Sen. Tom Eagleton, a lion in the Senate.

“I knew of Lou way back then, and in 2004 he signed on with my campaign very early and never looked back,” Kerry said.

Just like Gussie Busch, Susman was extremely close to Eagleton. Susman gave a eulogy at Eagleton’s 2007 funeral.

“Tom Eagleton would be very proud today of his friend,” Missouri U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill said at the confirmation hearing.

The committee will take an official vote on Susman’s nomination at a business meeting likely later this month. Meanwhile, here is a copy of Susman’s submitted testimony. You can also watch the entire hearing online.