President Biden is considering naming two Kennedys to represent him abroad: Caroline Kennedy is in line to be U.S. ambassador to Australia, and Vicki Kennedy is on his radar for Western Europe, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.
Why it matters: With JFK’s daughter and the widow of Sen. Ted Kennedy, Biden would be reaching outside of his pool of core campaign donors. He’d also be putting a spotlight back on America’s most famous political dynasty — and honoring a late friend and mentor.
- He has described Kennedy as a “big brother,” and felt a debt of gratitude for Kennedy’s defense of his honor amid the plagiarism controversy in Biden’s 1988 presidential bid.
Details: Vicki, an attorney at Greenberg Traurig and a gun control advocate, got to know Biden through her husband.
- Caroline served as President Obama’s second ambassador to Japan and is well versed in the issues in the Asia-Pacific region, where the AP first reported she could be heading.
- The White House declined to comment. People close to the process stressed that nothing is final until the White House sends a formal announcement.
Driving the news: Biden was scheduled to make several formal offers to candidates over the holiday weekend, ahead of announcing his first slate of ambassadors as soon as this week.
