Answer
Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island, became a U.S. territory in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. As a territory, Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens but cannot vote in presidential elections and have limited representation in the U.S. Congress. Leahy's appointment as governor of Puerto Rico places him in a significant leadership position within the U.S. government and highlights the importance of Puerto Rico as a U.S. territory.