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The Senate on Tuesday confirmed four of PresidentJoe Biden’s nominations for U.S. ambassadorship.
Cindy McCain, widow of the lateSen. John McCain, has been approved to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture.
Victoria Reggie Kennedy — the widow ofSen. Ted Kennedy— wasalso confirmed Tuesdayto serve as the U.S. ambassador to Austria.
Also confirmed on Tuesday were Republican formerSen. Jeff Flakeof Arizona as the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, and former New Mexico Attorney GeneralTom Udall, who will be the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand.
In her new role, McCain — a key Republican ally for the Biden administration — will focus on addressing poverty, nutrition and development in rural communities.
McCain, who has a history with international aid groups, previously told PEOPLE she was “deeply grateful to be considered for anything,” though she noted “I did what I did for my president never expecting anything in return.”
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She was referring to her cross-the-aisle support for Biden in November’s presidential election whenshe endorsed himagainst PresidentDonald Trump, who had repeatedly disparaged her husband.
Joe Biden and Cindy McCain in 2018.Andreas Gebert/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Kennedy, also 67, is co-founder and president of the board of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate — a non-partisan non-profit that educates the public about the U.S. Senate — and is senior counsel at the international law firm Greenberg Traurig.
She is also a gun violence prevention advocate, having founded the group Common Sense About Kids and Guns and previously serving on the board of trustees of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Kennedy has knownPresident Bidenfor years. Her late husband Ted served in the Senate from 1962 until his death in 2009, working alongside Biden in the chamber. Ted was the younger brother of former PresidentJohn F. Kennedyand U.S. Attorney General and Sen.Robert F. Kennedy.
source: people.com
