Caroline Kennedy sworn in as ambassador to Japan

Former first daughter Caroline Kennedy was sworn in Tuesday afternoon as U.S. ambassador to Japan, offering the most famous living member of a prominent American family a new role of service to country.

During her Senate confirmation hearing in September, she noted the significance of her nomination on the 50th anniversary of her father's presidency, focusing on his tenure rather than on John F. Kennedy's assassination on Nov. 22, 1963.

"I am conscious of my responsibility to uphold the ideals he represented - a deep commitment to public service, a more just America and a more peaceful world," Kennedy said. "As a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific, he had hoped to be the first sitting president to make a state visit to Japan. If confirmed as ambassador, I would be humbled to carry forward his legacy in a small way and represent the powerful bonds that unite our two democratic societies."

She was confirmed unanimously by the Senate last month.

Kennedy, an attorney and bestselling book editor, is being rewarded for helping put Mr. Obama in the White House where her father served until his assassination. She is the first woman in a post where many other prominent Americans have served to strengthen a vital Asian tie.

Kennedy helped propel Mr. Obama to the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination in a celebrated endorsement over Hillary Rodham Clinton - the only time she's endorsed a presidential candidate other than her uncle Ted Kennedy in 1980. She played a prominent role, particularly in courting female voters by headlining events in toss up states for Mr. Obama in both his presidential campaigns.

She was a co-chair of Mr. Obama's vice presidential search committee and in the 2012 race served as one of 35 national co-chairs of his re-election campaign. She called Mr. Obama "the kind of leader my father wrote about in 'Profiles in Courage'" during a prime-time speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.