Caroline Kennedy may be next U.S. ambassador to Japan

@Kevin Not proud of JFK? Spent the duration of WW2 in the US Navy, awarded at least six medals. Most people just remember them as the greatest generation, and a little immoral heathenry just adds to their stature. Who are you going to put down next, Hemingway, Elvis, Reagan? I mean, come on.

I, for one American, would welcome her.

This isn't a hard diplomatic assignment; certainly better her than another monied donor. She has a rich background in other ways that will well serve both countries.

There has never been a woman ambassador here, so that's another excellent aspect of this possible appointment.

So all the power to you, Caroline! The Japanese loved your Dad and his ambassador, Edwin Reischauer, and they will love you as well.

@I think someone who at least has some inkling of what is going on over here would better serve both the US and Japan.

I agree with this, and it is sad that many of these ambassadors know no Japanese (language), nor much about Japan (Edwin O. Reischauer is the exception). Still give this woman a chance, she may surprise in a good way.

Kennedy and Ellen Alderman have written two books together on civil liberties:

In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights In Action (1991)[62] The Right to Privacy (1995)[62] On her own, she has edited these New York Times best-selling volumes:

The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (2001);[62] Profiles in Courage for Our Time (2002);[62] A Patriot’s Handbook (2003);[62] A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children (2005).[62] She is also the author of A Family Christmas, a collection of poems, prose, and personal notes from her family history (2007, ISBN 978-1-4013-2227-4). In April 2011, a new collection of poetry, She Walks In Beauty – A Woman's Journey Through Poems, edited and introduced by Caroline Kennedy, was published. She launched the book at the John F Kennedy Library & Museum at Columbia Point, South Boston.

Just coasting along? Really?

Saw the headline and knew there's be some pretty hard split opinions.

One thing she got going for her is the reception the Japanese people would give her. I bet she'd attract a crowd wherever she appears.

"At least Romney and Bush actually have made money. What has Caroline done?"

From Wikipedia:

Kennedy is an attorney, writer, and editor and serves on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations. From 2002 through 2004, she worked as director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships for the New York City Department of Education. The three-day-a-week job paid her a salary of $1 and had the goal of raising private money for the New York City public schools.[25] In that capacity, she helped raise more than $65 million for the city’s public schools.[4][26] She currently serves as one of two vice chairs of the board of directors of The Fund for Public Schools, a public-private partnership founded in 2002 to attract private funding for public schools in New York City.[27]

She is also president of the Kennedy Library Foundation[4] and an adviser to the Harvard Institute of Politics, a living memorial to her father. Kennedy is a member of the New York and Washington, D.C., bar associations. She is also a member of the boards of directors of the Commission on Presidential Debates and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and is an honorary chair of the American Ballet Theatre.[29

She wasn't good enought for UK so they send her here? Seems to me this role requires someone with way more experience and gravitas and not some cronyist appointment.

That's great. If there was a way to vote, I'd go for Carolina !

Cool! A Kennedy here in Japan!!

It's wonderful! I'm sure she is welcomed by the Japanese people.

The Japanese public will go gaga over her!

When current U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos was named to the post, I thought he would probably be a loser just because he was a big supporter of Obama. However, he turned out to be a very good ambassador ... and was always present with reasonable advise when needed. He earned my respect all the way ...

As for Caroline Kennedy, I think she would also make a good ambassador. Remember, she would be guided by veteran U.S. Embassy staff members and with such help she should be able to do the right things. As mentioned by other contributors above, the Japanese would love her.

Morever, I have worked for women bosses before ... some of them very tough ol' ladies ... and treasure every minute I was under their leadership. Caroline is no youngster, and does have quite a bit of experience leading people, so I believe she would be perfect for the ambassadorship. Hope Obama picks her for the Tokyo post ...

I'm sure it would be good for US-Japan relations, which is what counts. But I can't understand why she'd want the job. Usually it's something one does at the end of a political career -- Mike Mansfield for example.

Kevin@The name Schlossberg is a bit of a mouthful, don't you think?

@gokai "Then maybe you can sell more here. I wonder if she is interested in cars."

My guess is no, but her peer group of older Japanese women are not Danica Patrick gearheads either and will probably love all the poetry in her resume.

If you've read this site regularly, you would notice that car sales have fallen every year in Japan. My observed ratio of one American car per day on the streets of my adopted city is not going to increase unless Toyota, Daihatsu, and Nissan go under. Don't expect that in my lifetime.

@Alphaape "career diplomats that actually do the grunt work at the Embassy"

It sounds like they are humping in supplies to a desert outpost. Do they need a convoy to venture out to the combini? Maybe Caroline will crack the whip and make them move their desks to see how much dust stirs up.

I imagine it's the entry level staff processing everyone's paperwork who are the real Embassy grunts.

@gokai "Then maybe you can sell more here. I wonder if she is interested in cars."

My guess is no, but her peer group of older Japanese women are not Danica Patrick gearheads either and will probably love all the poetry in her resume.

If you've read this site regularly, you would notice that car sales have fallen every year in Japan. My observed ratio of one American car per day on the streets of my adopted city is not going to increase unless Toyota, Daihatsu, and Nissan go under. Don't expect that in my lifetime.

@Alphaape "career diplomats that actually do the grunt work at the Embassy"

It sounds like they are humping in supplies to a desert outpost. Do they need a convoy to venture out to the combini? Maybe Caroline will crack the whip and make them move their desks to see how much dust stirs up.

I imagine it's the entry level staff processing everyone's paperwork who are the real Embassy grunts.

I am suprised she would want to get involved after what they did to the rest of her family.

Welcome to the country of the rising sun. She will have an easy assignment and may get a few j-awards during her tenure as an ambassador.

The woman has lot of qualities. Whatever you say, she has survived the Kennedy family, and that's a tough thing. But she has none of the qualificafions for this job. It's her present for supporting Obama's campaigns.

and does have quite a bit of experience leading people,

Diplomacy has no relation with writing poetry, managing a business or a charity, no relation with being a civil right lawyer in the US. OK, she won't be the first Ambassador to be a total noob in the field of international relations. She'll be one more, and she will be asked to stick to reading memos written from Washington and to sign the documents written by her assistants. If we consider the job of Ambassador is about PR, fashion and cocktail parties (I'd agree about European capitals but not Tokyo), her mother would have done great, but Caroline obviously hates dressing up and being at formal parties, so hosting many gathering, particularly in stuck-up Tokyo... Add to that she has not the least relation with Japanese culture, doesn't speak the language or anything, doesn't know more about Korea, China, etc. And she was talking a lot against the South American TPP, so she will be ask to shut it up on that matter. Well, good luck to Embassy staff as they will do 100% of the job, plus do the tourist guide for Mrs Kennedy.

She does know she has to live in Japan/Tokyo, right?

She is expected to be seen here at least one week per 3 months. Hey, that's not so bad. She can go to Nagano in Shinkansen to ride her horses, and there is not a marina, and a quick flight to Kansai Airport, there is a marina nearby for the boats of the riches.

A Kennedy here in Japan!!

You sum it up perfectly. They are sending the name.

@Cos, so if she rides horses or sailboats in Japan, that makes her a lousy ambassador? Actually, horses and boats are two of the biggest leisure businesses here. Everyone from fishermen to keiba gamblers would lap it right up.

In 2013, I don't think people expect her to sit in Tokyo for the next four years waiting for the weekly delivery of Bob Hope videoreels like some kind of Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers.

In 2013, I don't think people expect her

No, in general nobody expects anything from a foreign Ambassador in Japan, and particularly an American one, since there are so many other representatives anyway. The post could be vacant 10 yrs, that wouldn't matter, very few Japanese people would notice, but that's just not good manners to let the seat empty.

@Cos, so if she rides horses or sailboats in Japan, that makes her a lousy ambassador?

That was the positive point. I tried hard to find one. At least, she can enjoy her stay here. Her lifestyle and hobbies seem really healthy for a Kennedy.

Actually, horses and boats are two of the biggest leisure businesses here.

In her country they say the 1%, in Japan that would be the 0.01%. That's enough for her to have enough company.

fishermen to keiba gamblers

And why not pachinko ? I don't think it's her style.

She has not had a real job,.... Just coasting along on the name and family contacts.

That's not the criteria. Pamela Churchill Harriman had never worked, she was a professional "socialite*. But she was great as an Ambassador in Paris. The difference is she could speak perfect French, had lived decades in France, had known all the politicians in charge for years, and she knew a lot about diplomacy.

amazing

Caroline is going to have to improve on the awful media performances of a few years ago or there may not even be the votes for confirmation. Either that or the Japanese government will turn her down.

While I admire Ms. Kennedy I think the timing is wrong-Japan needs someone with political savvy and Not a newcomer to the world scene & diplomacy-Kim Jong Un might just snap alltogether!

What a disappointment to hear that President Obama will select Ms. Caroline Kennedy as next U.S. Ambassador to Japan. This is not the best way to demonstrate to USF-Japan, Japanese Government, or the Asia-Pacific region that America highly values the strategic alliances in APAC.

Instead of lowering the bar to meet her capabilities…isn’t the Mission of the U.S. Ambassador to Japan all about appointing the best people to protect America’s civil and military interests with professional expertise? Why is it that these crucial Ambassadorial appointments do not take into consideration any: Credentials, Local Expertise, cross-border business or personal connections, understanding of military activities, or even a concerted desire for a posting?

Let’s review the (weak) credentials Ms. Kennedy needed to get this Ambassadorial consideration: in a Time Magazine interview on 13May2002, she stated that she saw her future as a Writer; then changing that, she attempted to use her Kennedy name and daddy’s money to step into the Senate-seat vacated by Ms. Hillary Clinton, but failed miserably in that effort (mostly because she is secretive about important issues, and did not want to tell about her $100-million dollars). Then she ‘expressed a passing interest’ in being U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Ireland, the Vatican (refused to have her), UK, etc., but did not get those either. She reminds me of Katy Perry song about changing minds like changing clothes. She worked part-time (3-days a week) for the NY Department of Education as a fund-raiser for school systems (that isn’t helpful in Japan) at salary of $1 (I guess it was lucky she had those $100-million in savings); and worked for the Metropolitan Museum of Art (not helpful unless Japan becomes a big Arts donor); she represented her family at a couple funerals and park-dedications; she donated $2300 to Ms. Clinton’s Campaign Fund…oh, yes…she stumped for President Obama and wrote a nice article in the press praising him. She also wrote a nice piece about her field-trip visiting Graceland in Rolling Stone, so I guess that shows she can write. She gathered some campaign donations as well. She certainly is a noteworthy orator (vitally important for an Ambassador)…having said ‘You Know’ 168-times during a 30-minute interview with NY1. Perhaps the Japanese Government will be impressed with that capability; it will certainly make all the official USA/Japan meeting transcripts much longer.

However, America should be asking if these credentials are sufficient to champion our interests and protect our citizens in Japan? Doesn’t Japan deserve better than someone rejected by so many others; why scrape the bottom of the barrel?

I'd say paulinusa is about right. It is the name and the attention it would get. We feel like we are being treated special because the US sends a Kennedy to Japan as ambassador. She does know she has to live in Japan/Tokyo, right?

Heh, remember, the head of "Vogue" magazine wanted that job. guess she doesn't have as much money as a Kennedy.

ah another marker called in , shame this, when Japan needs a really experienced diplomat they get a figurine for the mantelpiece

sorry she grew under the guidance of her uncle ted - one of the most crooked politicians the country ever saw

Very good news for Japan. Most unqualified ambassador to date. Japan should have no problems using this politicial appointment to their advantage.

Learn Japanese first

From Wikipedia: Kennedy is an attorney......

Kinda says it all. She has not had a real job, where she has had to produce. Just coasting along on the name and family contacts. Japan deserves better.

Spent the duration of WW2 in the US Navy,

Yes JFK did a great job in the USN in WW2, but he didn't spend the ehtire war in harms way. Once he was rescued, daddy got him back to the States to start building him up. At least he has had some public service time that actually put him in harms way.

For a time in late 2008 and early 2009, she toyed with the idea of running for the New York Democratic Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton when she became Obama’s first term secretary of state.

I don't agree with this appointment if it happens. I remember an interview done with Caroline Kennedy during the lead up to the election for Hillary's vacated seat. She has no speaking ability, and didn't really sound "smart" at all. I know that there will be career diplomats that actually do the grunt work at the Embassy, but I think someone who at least has some inkling of what is going on over here would better serve both the US and Japan.

But the wealthy Kennedy pulled out of the running after a rough political ride amid claims she was being foisted upon the New York electorate with nothing but her family name as a qualification.

Not hating because she was born wealthy, more power to her. What I don't get though, why is it ok for her to be rich from family wealth, but Romney and Bush are blasted by the very same press on their inherited wealth. At least Romney and Bush actually have made money. What has Caroline done?

I would be sorry to see that. I don't really have much respect for a woman who marries and doesn't take her mans name. Can't stand up without daddy's name. JFK was one of the most arrogant immoral heathens to occupy the white house. One president I'm not particularly proud of. Cronyism is all she offers. At least Hillary earned what she got.