As a childhood star, Shirley Temple was the perfect antidote to the Depression. Her bouncy curls and ready smile made people forget, if only for a minute, their desperate situations of the 1930s. SINCE the beginning, presidents have awarded ambassadorships to friends and contributors. Yet it’s only been in recent history their numbers have grown significantly. During the last three administrations these political appointments have increased from 25 percent to 37 percent of the approximate 180 embassies around the world.
Even so, Miss Temple grew up to be a serious-minded Mrs. Black, who ran for political office and eventually became ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. Yes, they were likely perks of being a personal friend and campaign contributor to then president Richard Nixon, but Black earned the respect of those countries and was well-regarded for her statesmanship.
Today, President Barack Obama is under attack for recent ambassadorial appointments. Though prodigious at raising funds for the president, some of the candidates fall short in their qualifications to represent the United States abroad.
In recent Senate confirmation hearings, several candidates had not an inkling of the politics of their prospective countries, according to a report by the Newshour’s Gwen Ifill.
Though viewed as a plum job, being an ambassador can be very demanding. An in-depth knowledge of a country’s history is a must, as well its language, culture, economics and politics.
Employees of the Foreign Service who have dedicated their lives to serve the U.S. government around the world fill most posts. Some take “hardship” posts to countries experiencing civil war or those with which we have been at war, such as Ukraine, Libya, Iraq or Afghanistan.
Political appointees generally are given “safe” countries, places you’d like to be a tourist, where the demands are not great.
But exceptions exist.
The U.S. ambassador to China, for example, is former governor to Washington, Gary Locke, whose grandfather immigrated to the United States from China in the 1890s. Locke, 64, did not learn to speak English until he entered first grade. Locke also served as secretary of Commerce under Obama before he accepted the post to China, at which he has excelled.
Same goes for Charles Rivkin, U.S. ambassador to Paris. Yes, it’s a posh post, but not without its challenges, especially concerning immigration. Rivkin’s resume goes far beyond his media mogul status. At Yale, he studied international relations; at Harvard, business, and he is fluent in French. All three attributes make him a good fit.
And Caroline Kennedy’s appointment to Japan has been much heralded as a win/win. The Japanese feel honored to have such a well-known and connected person as their ambassador. As for her qualifications, Kennedy is a scholar with a sharp legal mind who grew up with a world view.
Perhaps it’s time to review the trend of treating an ambassadorship as a perk, and give the post the respect it deserves by appointing those who have earned their stripes.
— Susan Lynn
Awarding ambassadorships as perks demeans the post
