John Kerry

American politician and attorney, this U.S. Senator formally declared his candidacy for President on September 2, 2003. As a Massachusetts Democrat, Kerry was elected to the Senate first in 1984 and again in three subsequent elections. His Senate record includes service on the Foreign Relations Committee, where he was an active investigator into the Iran-contra scandals of the mid 80s. He also served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics and International Operations. In 1991 he was appointed chairman of a Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, investigating the fate that befell American soldiers missing or held captive in Vietnam. He has successfully sponsored Senate bills providing environmental protection and incentives for women entrepreneurs, and his name is associated with several bills on child care, education and criminal prosecution. He first came to public attention as a veteran activist when he appeared before Congress on April 22, 1971, asking his now-famous questions, "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?" Kerry's testimony arose from first hand experience in combat and disillusionment with the war’s purpose. As a Lieutenant in the US Navy, he was wounded three times in Vietnam and is credited with saving at least one man's life. For his actions and "calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire," he was awarded three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star. Kerry is the oldest son, second of four children, whose father was an Air Force pilot turned diplomat. He attributes his drive to his parents who "set very high standards." Dinner time conversation revolved around political discussions and foreign policy. His dad, an avid sailor, taught him to navigate by blindfolding him in the fog and making him figure out how to get home. He learned well the importance of depending upon himself. At age 10, Kerry was sent to a Swiss boarding school where he was one of only three English-speaking boys. In 1957, when his father was appointed chief political officer at the US Embassy in Norway, Kerry was transferred to a private school in Massachusetts. The following year, he was enrolled in St. Paul's, another prestigious school, where he was one of the few students whose parents were Catholics and Democrats. He was a solid athlete and played bass in a band called the Electras, which released their only album in 1962. Interested in current events and public speaking, he founded the John Winant Society to debate major issues of the times, and he earned top prize for a speech made to the Concordian Literary Society. At Yale University, Kerry remained active in sports and retained his interest in politics and current events. In his senior year, he was inducted into the elite Skull and Bones Society. Delivering the class oration, he was critical of the war even while on his way to becoming a commissioned officer in Vietnam. He graduated in 1966 and enlisted in the military. After sustaining his third combat injury, he was sent home in April 1969. Wanting to run for Congress on an antiwar platform, he requested an early discharge on January 3, 1970. After three months of campaigning, he gave up his bid to represent the Massachusetts Third District when he realized that he couldn’t win. On May 22, 1970, he married Julia Thorne, and by 1971 he had become a leader in the organization Vietnam Veterans against the War. Because of his Congressional testimony, anti-war protests, and TV appearances on "60 Minutes" and other news shows, he had become a national figure. Hoping to fulfill his life dream to be in politics, he ran for the Massachusetts congress in 1972 but lost. Cast adrift, he worked as a fundraiser for CARE, the international aid organization, co-founded a cookie company, and entered Boston College Law School. During that time, he and his wife became parents to two daughters, Alexandra in 1973 and Vanessa in 1976. Upon graduation in 1976, Kerry launched his law career, first as a public prosecutor and then in private practice. Six years later he again ran for political office, this time successfully, and he became Lt. Governor under Michael Dukakis in 1982. Two years later he was elected to the Senate. The political life took its toll on his marriage, and he and Julia divorced in 1988 after 18 years of marriage. Although he met Teresa Heinz in 1990, they did not begin dating until 1993. Their relationship developed gradually, and they married on May 26, 1995 in Nantucket, MA. She has three sons from her first marriage to Senator John Heinz III who died in a plane crash in 1991. With her multi-million dollar inheritance from her first husband and the Heinz food companies, she heads a network of philanthropic organizations. On December 1, 2002, the Senator took the first steps toward entering the presidential race of 2004. A few months later, on February 12, 2003 he underwent surgery for prostate cancer, joking that he was about to have his "aloof" gland removed. Not long after, he returned to the campaign trail, and on September 2, 2003, in Charleston, SC at about 10 AM, the Massachusetts Senator officially declared his candidacy. Although he was considered the Democratic Party’s anointed candidate, he placed poorly in voter polls, and his campaign initially floundered. Making changes in his campaign staff, strategy, and speaking style, Kerry picked up momentum in time to win the majority of the first sets of primaries and caucuses in 2004 and earned the label "Comeback Kerry." His athletic activities confirm that he is a risk-taker: he is an ardent windsurfer, kite-boarder, motorcyclist, skier, airplane pilot, hockey player, power-boater and sailor. Kerry has authored three books: "The New Soldier" in 1971, "The New War: The Web of Crime That Threatens America's Security" in 1997 and "A Call to Service: My Vision for a Better America" in 2003. Of his come-from-behind success, he asserts, "I’m a good closer." A former political opponent said of him, "He has a great survival instinct. He will change his style if he has to." On March 31, 2004, John Kerry underwent surgery in Boston, MA to repair a torn tendon in his right shoulder. He was back on the campaign trail a few days later. According to a Reuters report in Financial Times, Kerry was "formally nominated shortly before midnight [on July 28, 2004] when the state of Ohio, a key battleground in the November election, cast its votes to put him over the 2,162 delegates needed to lead the party against Republicans." His acceptance speech began the next night at about 10:10 PM, roughly four minutes after his entrance to the Democratic Convention hall, and he formally accepted the nomination at approximately 10:22 PM (times given are from observation except as otherwise noted). Shortly after 11 AM on November 3, 2004, Kerry at his Boston, MA home called President Bush in Crawford, TX to concede the 2004 Presidential election. Kerry gave a gracious and emotional public concession speech beginning at about 2 PM in Boston, MA on that same day. He underwent replacement surgery on his right hip in August 2009 because of pain and lack of flexibility in the joint. A few months later, on January 4, 2010, he underwent replacement surgery for his left hip. On 1 February 2013, he was appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama to succeed Hilary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State. Link to Wikipedia biography Link to Astrodienst discussion forum