There have been academic experts on Japan, like the acclaimed scholar Edwin Reischauer. There have also been political heavyweights, such as Michael Mansfield, a long-time Democratic majority leader of the US Senate, former Vice President Walter Mondale, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Thomas Foley, and Senator Howard Baker, who also served as President Ronald Reagan’s chief of staff.
美国驻日本大使有三种类型。一种是日本学专家，如广受欢迎的赖肖尔（Edwin Reischauer）。一种是重磅政治人物，如长期担任美国参议院民主党多数领袖的曼斯菲尔德（Michael Mansfield）、前副总统蒙代尔（Walter Mondale）、前众议院发言人弗雷（Thomas Foley）和参议员、罗纳德·里根总统幕僚长贝克尔（Howard Baker）。