Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, born on November 27, 1957, is an American author, attorney, and diplomat, known as the last surviving child of President John F. Kennedy.
Recently, she publicly criticized her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a letter urging U.S. senators to reject his nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services, labeling him a “predator” and unfit for the role due to his controversial views on vaccinations.
Caroline served as the U.S. ambassador to Australia from 2022 to 2024 and previously held the same position in Japan.
Parents
Caroline is the only surviving child of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. She was born on November 27, 1957, in New York City.
Caroline’s parents faced personal tragedies, including Jacqueline’s miscarriages and the premature death of her brother Patrick shortly after birth.
Caroline’s early life was marked by the family’s prominence, living in the White House during JFK’s presidency until his assassination in 1963.
Career
Caroline graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Asian Studies and later earned her Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School.
After law school, she worked as an attorney at the New York law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, where she focused on corporate law.
Beyond her legal work, Caroline has been actively involved in various philanthropic efforts, particularly in education and civil rights.
She served on the board of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and has participated in numerous educational initiatives aimed at improving public access and quality.
Caroline’s political involvement began to take shape when she was appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017.
Nominated by President Barack Obama, she became the first woman to hold this position.
During her tenure, she played a crucial role in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, focusing on disaster recovery efforts following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, promoting cultural exchanges, and enhancing economic ties between the two nations.
In 2022, Caroline was appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to Australia by President Joe Biden.
In this current role, she is responsible for fostering diplomatic relations and addressing shared challenges such as climate change and regional security.
In addition to her diplomatic roles, Caroline is also an accomplished author. She has written several books that reflect her interests in American values and civil liberties.
Notable works include A Patriot’s Handbook: Songs, Poems, Stories, and Speeches Celebrating the Land We Love, The Right to Privacy, co-authored with Ellen Alderman and In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action.
