NATION

John E. Swearingen, who presided over the restructuring of near-bankrupt Continental Illinois Corp., is retiring as chairman and chief executive, the Chicago-based company announced Thursday.

Swearingen, 68, said when he joined the banking company in August, 1984, that he planned to remain on the job only for about three years. He had retired in 1983 after 23 years as chief executive of Standard Oil Co. (Indiana), now Amoco Corp.