A logistics whiz, the former Portland, Maine, Mayor is also a Democratic activist and donor. Last month, Clinton nominated him to be ambassador to Chile.

Two-thirds of Clinton's ambassadorial appointments are career foreign service officers the remainder are political appointees.

The practice of giving plum assignments to political donors is not new. Richard Nixon once pegged the price of an ambassadorship at 250,000 dollarsBut it does raise questions about whether people are buying their way into prestigious posts and whether they are qualified to represent the United States overseas.

"The idea of selling public service is fundamentally repugnant," said Charles Lliam Crotty of Daytona Beach, Florida, for Barbados. A top Democratic Party fund-raiser, he has contributed $ 120,000 dollars to the party or tocandidates, including $ 2,000 for Clinton, in the past five years.

Mari Carmen Aponte of Washington, for the Dominican Republic. A leading member of the Hispanic community, she has donated $ 21,400 dollars to the party or candidates, including $ 1,000 to Clinton, since 1993.

What do the latest political nominees bring to the job?

O' Leary, 51, has done legal work on environmental and trade issues, which could come in handy in Chile. He also has law experience in Venezuela and Bolivia and with the Inter-American Bar Association. He was on the Portland city council from 1975 to 1982, serving as mayor in 1980-81.

Schechter, 58, has a resume of civic activity that goes on for four pages, showing deep involvement in his community from fighting homelessness to promoting volunteerism and in national organizations. He has served as a presidentially appointed member of the United States holocaust museum council since 1994. He and his wife, Joyce, often host charity events and dinners something ambassadors mustdo all the time.

About 30 percent of the more than 160 ambassadorial posts filled by Clinton have gone to political appointees, about average over the last three decades. "It's sort of touching," Murphy added wryly, that ambassadorships are still worth real money."

O' Leary's nomination came after he donated $6,200 to democratic candidates, the party or Clinton since he took office in 1993 and helped raise much more. Arthur Schechter of Houston, Texas, for the Bahamas. A top fund-raiser, he has donated 235,000 dollars to democratic groups and candidates, including 1,000 dollars to Clinton, since 1993. His family, including his wife and two daughters, contributed 42,500 dollars during the same period.