President Obama has formally announced his nomination of Democratic Senator John Kerry to replace Hillary Clinton as Obama’s second-term secretary of state. Obama appeared with Kerry at the White House on Friday.

President Obama: “I think it’s fair to say that few individuals know as many presidents and prime ministers or grasp our foreign policies as firmly as John Kerry. And this makes him a perfect choice to guide American diplomacy in the years ahead. As we turn the page on a decade of war, he understands that we’ve got to harness all elements of American power and ensure that they’re working together.”

Obama tapped Kerry after Republicans helped pressure U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice to drop out of contention for the post. If confirmed, Kerry’s appointment will free up his Massachusetts Senate seat for a special election early next year. Outgoing Republican Senator Scott Brown, who lost his re-election bid to Democrat Elizabeth Warren, is among those rumored to covet Kerry’s seat.