 In September 1949, when Jefferson Caffery arrived in Cairo as the new U.S. ambassador and met Farouk for the first time, the king told Caffery (who came from Louisiana) that just as the South had its blacks good only for picking cotton, so too did Egypt have its "fellaheen" likewise only good for picking cotton.Karim Thabet of the "kitchen cabinet", a man whom Caffery called a "jackal", convinced Farouk that the best way of renewing his popularity was to marry again, saying the Egyptian people loved royal weddings and to marry a commoner again would show his populist side.Caffery reported that the king had listed his requirements for his new bride that she be of the "grande bourgeoise" class, be 16 years old, be an only child, and be of Egyptian descent only.