Obama nominates Caroline Kennedy as US ambassador to Japan

President Obama on Wednesday nominated Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former president John F. Kennedy, as the next U.S. ambassador to Japan.

{mosads}Kennedy had long been rumored to be the likely replacement for John Roos, who had served in the post since 2009.

Kennedy was a major fundraiser for President Obama’s 2012 campaign and stumped for him on the campaign trail. The New York Democrat is the latest in a line of donors, fundraisers and former staffers to secure a plum ambassadorship in the Obama administration this year.

The president has rewarded at least 20 of his political allies with ambassador posts. 

Presidents from both parties have historically engaged in rewarding campaign boosters with positions of diplomatic prestige, but an analysis by The Hill earlier this year showed Obama is outpacing his predecessors.

–This report was updated at 7:33 p.m.