have sb's ear

いよいよ着任です。

have the ear ofと聞くと、一瞬「あれっ？｝と思うかも知れませんが、
これはhave the American President's earと置き換えることができます。これは「〈人に〉聞いてもらえる、〈人を〉動かせる」というイディオムで、さらにくだいて言うと「オバマ大統領に非常に近い、親しい、ツーカーの仲」となります。（UG）

New U.S. Ambassador Kennedy arrives in Japan

Caroline Kennedy arrived in Japan on Friday to take up her position as U.S.
ambassador with one important strength: She has the ear of the American president.
Kennedy will be taken in a horse-drawn carriage to present her credentials to the emperor at the imperial palace next Tuesday.

Japan hopes the 55-year-old daughter of late President John F Kennedy will work closely with President Barack Obama to tackle some urgent U.S.-Japan matters, analysts said.

“What’s important here is her strong pipeline with Obama and an ability to be able to pick up the phone and speak with Obama directly in the middle of the night for consultation on urgent matters,” said Ryuichi Teshima, professor of diplomacy at Keio University in Tokyo.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/new-u-s-ambassador-kennedy-arrives-in-japan