On Wednesday, President Obama nominated Caroline Kennedy to be U.S. ambassador to Japan. It turns out the Kennedy family has an important legacy in U.S.-Japan relations. Kennedy's father and uncle, John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, played important roles in transforming a troubled U.S.-Japan military alliance into the robust relationship the two countries enjoy today. In the 1950s, Americans were often contemptuous and distrustful toward Japan, which had very recently been a bitter enemy in World War II. The Japanese resented the post-war U.S. occupation, resented the loss of territory (such as Okinawa) to the United States, and feared that the Cold War hostilities between the United States and the Soviet Union would drag Japan into war.
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Jennifer Lind: Obama nominated Caroline Kennedy to be U.S.  ambassador to Japan
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She says efforts of JFK, RFK to fortify U.S.-Japan relations left lasting good impression in Japan
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Critiques of Kennedy as lacking experience should take this key legacy into account
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Lind: She has Obama's ear--and a legacy to uphold; Tokyo pleased with the pick
But @placeholder has that most precious policy-making asset of all: the president's ear.