Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, has recently been nominated by President Barack Obama to become the next U.S. ambassador to Japan, according to the New York Times.
In a meeting with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kennedy said that she was honored to be nominated.
“I would be humbled to carry forward his [John F. Kennedy’s] legacy in a small way, and represent the powerful bonds that unite our two democratic societies,” she said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
While Caroline Kennedy is not an accomplished lawyer and author, her nomination leaves one curious about why she was chosen to be nominated as U.S. ambassador to Japan.
Of all the Kennedys, she has been one of the most private in terms of public identity and has not actively pursued a political career.
In fact, the closest Caroline Kennedy ever came to having political authority was when she was rumored to be taking the seat of former Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY).
Caroline Kennedy has served on numerous interest groups such as the NAACP and New York City Fund for Public Schools. She has also contributed to many philanthropy groups.
She has no prior experience in any form of international relations.
Given her lack of experience, wouldn’t it make more sense to nominate a Japanese-American for the ambassador position?
It seems that Caroline Kennedy’s nomination has less to do with her résumé and more with the fact that her last name is Kennedy.
It could be likely that the Senate needed an ambassador and the Kennedys — being as well-connected as they are politically and economically — called some friends and asked for favors.
The recent Caroline Kennedy nomination is the opposite of what occurred for former Ambassador to Japan John Roos, who came from no real outstanding background.
Roos worked his way to the top and graduated from Stanford with honors.
He then went on to become CEO of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati law firm, one of the largest law firms in Silicon Valley that has represented clients like Google and Pixar.
After representing the U.S. and aiding Japan during some of its darkest moments — such as the tsunami, earthquake, and nuclear crisis of 2011 — Roos was presented with the Sue E. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service.
With such an act to follow, it is difficult to see how Caroline Kennedy could fill his shoes.
The nomination reflects an unjust practice of nominating friends that often occurs within our political system.
It seems like a practice where power and privilege are given based upon connection and money, instead of merit and skill.
We have heard many stories of interest groups, like big oil, unions and the NAACP, influencing and elbowing their way into legislation because they had the right connection.
Our country was founded in part to escape the aristocracy of Europe, and this is not something that we as a country based upon the ideals of equality and meritocracy should want to encourage in any form.
If Caroline Kennedy gets this position because of what her family represents, someone who is more deserving of such a position is being cheated out of a great opportunity.
Nick Chavez is a sophomore political science major and a contributing writer at the Daily 49er.
