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  Kerry, John F.
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationDemocratic  
<-  2013-01-20  
 
NameJohn F. Kerry
AddressOne Bowdoin Square, Tenth Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
Emailinfo@kerry.senate.gov
Websitehttp://www.johnkerry.com
Born December 11, 1943 (80 years)
ContributorBarack O-blame-a
Last ModifedDavid
Dec 11, 2021 11:44pm
Tags Caucasian - English - Jewish - Divorced - Married - Navy - Special Forces - Catholic - Straight -
InfoJohn Forbes Kerry

John Kerry was born on December 11, 1943 at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Aurora, Colorado. His father, Richard, volunteered in the Army Air Corps and flew DC-3's and B-29's as a test pilot during World War II. His mother, Rosemary, was a lifelong community activist and devoted parent.

Not long after John Kerry was born, the family settled in Massachusetts. Growing up there, his parents taught him the values of service and responsibility and the blessings of his Catholic faith, lessons John Kerry carries with him to this day.

Because his father was a Foreign Service Officer in the Eisenhower administration, John Kerry traveled a lot when he was young. On these trips, he learned firsthand what makes America a leader in the world - our optimism and our democratic values. And he learned that nations across the world share many common goals and that the best way to achieve them is through building strong alliances side by side with America’s military might.

As he was graduating from Yale, John Kerry volunteered to serve in Vietnam, because, as he later said, "it was the right thing to do." He believed that “to whom much is given, much is required.” And he felt he had an obligation to give something back to his country. John Kerry served two tours of duty. On his second tour, he volunteered to serve on a Swift Boat in the river deltas, one of the most dangerous assignments of the war. For his leadership, courage, and sacrifice under fire, he was decorated with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V, and three Purple Hearts.
But John Kerry's wartime experience taught him a painful lesson that he could not forget, even after he returned home. In the midst of battle, he had seen the lives of his fellow soldiers, his friends, put at risk because some leaders in Washington were making bad decisions. He decided he had a responsibility to his friends still serving, the friends he had lost, and his country, to help restore responsible leadership in America. So when he came home to the United States, John Kerry spoke out against a policy he felt gave politicians political cover while soldiers bore the real burden. At 27 years old, John Kerry sounded a call to reason when he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and posed the powerful question, "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?" He also began a lifelong fight for his fellow veterans – joining with other vets to found the Vietnam Veterans of America to fight for veterans’ benefits, for extension of the G.I. Bill for Higher Education, and for treatment of PTSD.

Later, John Kerry accepted another tour of duty - to serve in America's communities. After graduating from Boston College Law School in 1976, John Kerry went to work as a top prosecutor in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He took on organized crime and put behind bars "one of the state's most notorious gangsters, the number two organized crime figure in New England." He fought for victims' rights and created programs for rape counseling.

John Kerry was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1982. In that office, he organized the nation's Governors to combat the acid rain that was polluting lakes, rivers, and the nation's water supply. Two years later, he was elected to the United States Senate and he has won reelection three-times since. He is now serving his fourth term, after winning again in 2002 by the largest margin in Massachusetts history.

John Kerry entered the Senate with a reputation as a man of conviction. He confirmed that reputation by taking bold decisions on important issues. He helped provide health insurance for millions of low-income children. He has fought to improve public education, protect our natural environment, and strengthen our economy. He has been praised as one of the leading environmentalists in the Senate, who stopped President Bush’s plan to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

John Kerry has never forgotten the lessons he learned as a young man – lessons that have been strengthened in his 19 years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has learned that America needs the strongest military on the face of the earth – and that America should lead other countries to achieve our goals and the world's common goals. From his ground-breaking work on the Iran-Contra scandal to his leadership on global AIDS, John Kerry has distinguished himself as one of our nation's most respected voices on national security and international affairs.

As chairman of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, he worked closely with John McCain to learn the truth about American soldiers missing in Vietnam and to normalize relations with that country. As the ranking Democrat on the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, he is a leading expert on that region, including North Korea.

Years before September 11th, John Kerry wrote The New War, an in-depth study of America's national security in the 21st Century. He worked on a bipartisan basis to craft the American response to September 11th and has been a leading voice on American policy in Iraq and Afghanistan, the war on terrorism, the Middle East peace process and Israel's security.

In 2003, John Kerry announced that he would be a candidate for president of the United States -- and he went on to mount a come from behind campaign that won the Democratic nomination. The American people reminded him once again that people are the same wherever you go, and he continues in the United States Senate fighting for what motivated him to enter public life in the first place: love of country and the call of duty.

In his life of public service, John Kerry is sustained by his loving family. He is married to Teresa Heinz Kerry, and they have a blended family that includes two daughters, three sons, one grandchild, and a German Shepherd.

"I'm a Liberal and proud of it."
-John F. Kerry (July 21, 1991)


JOB APPROVAL POLLS
DateFirmApproveDisapproveDon't Know
09/13/2012-09/16/2012 Public Policy Polling 52.00% ( 2.0) 35.00% ( 3.0) 14.00% ( 1.0)
08/16/2012-08/19/2012 Public Policy Polling 50.00% ( 0.0) 38.00% ( 0.0) 13.00% ( 1.0)
03/16/2012-03/18/2012 Public Policy Polling 50.00% ( 1.0) 38.00% ( 1.0) 12.00% ( 0.0)
09/16/2011-09/18/2011 Public Policy Polling 49.00% ( 6.0) 39.00% ( 3.0) 12.00% ( 3.0)
06/02/2011-06/05/2011 Public Policy Polling 55.00% ( 5.0) 36.00% ( 7.0) 9.00% ( 2.0)
03/06/2011-03/10/2011 Western New England University 57.00% ( 0.0) 34.00% ( 0.0) 9.00% ( 0.0)
11/29/2010-12/01/2010 Public Policy Polling 50.00% ( 0.0) 43.00% ( 0.0) 7.00% ( 0.0)
01/20/2009-02/21/2009 Survey USA 61.00% ( 12.0) 34.00% ( 10.0) 4.00% ( 3.0)
04/11/2008-04/13/2008 Survey USA 49.00% ( 2.0) 44.00% ( 1.0) 7.00% ( 1.0)
03/14/2008-03/16/2008 Survey USA 51.00% ( 4.0) 43.00% ( 2.0) 6.00% ( 2.0)
FAVORABILITY POLLS
DateFirmFavorableUnfavorableDon't Know
10/01/2008-10/15/2008 Rasmussen Reports 65.00% ( 0.0) 34.00% ( 0.0) 1.00% ( 0.0)

BOOKS
Title Purchase Contributor
Our Plan for America: Stronger at Home, Respected in the World  Purchase Biden '16 
John F. Kerry: The Complete Biography By The Boston Globe Reporters Who Know Him Best  Purchase Biden '16 
A Call to Service : My Vision for a Better America  Purchase Biden '16 

EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor
May 31, 2013 02:05pm News Kerry Defends US Drone Policy After Pakistan Hit  Article Scott³ 
Feb 06, 2013 04:00pm General John Kerry and Me  Article Penguin 
Jun 18, 2012 03:00pm News Obama picks John Kerry to play Romney in mock debate rehearsals  Article John 
Jul 22, 2011 01:00pm General Don't miss it: John Kerry backs gay marriage  Article COSDem 
Jul 27, 2010 05:00pm News Kerry pays $500k in yacht taxes  Article Scott³ 
Jul 23, 2010 09:00am News Mass. Sen. Kerry docks yacht in RI, saving $500K  Article The Sunset Provision 

DISCUSSION
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Previous Messages]
Importance? 9.85710 Average

FAMILY
Wife Julia Thorne May 23, 1970-Jul 25, 1988
Wife Teresa Heinz Kerry May 26, 1995-
Daughter Alexandra Kerry 1973-
Daughter Vanessa Kerry 1976-
Mother Rosemary Forbes Kerry 1913-2002
Grandfather James Grant Forbes 1879-1955
Aunt Fiona Forbes Lalonde 1924-2002
1st Cousin Brice Lalonde 1946-
Brother Cameron F. Kerry 1950-
Father In-Law Landon K. Thorne Jr. 1913-1980
Stepson H. John Heinz, IV 1966-
Stepson André Heinz 1969-
Stepson Christopher D. Heinz 1973-

INFORMATION LINKS
AFL-CIO for Kerry  Discuss
Conservatives for Kerry  Discuss
Environmentalists for Kerry  Discuss
Firefighters for Kerry  Discuss
Greens for Kerry  Discuss
Human Rights Campaign Federation for John Kerry  Discuss
Independents for Kerry  Discuss
John F. Kerry Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech 2004  Discuss
John Kerry for President  Discuss
Keeping America's Promise  Discuss
Kerry Pioneers  Discuss
Moms for Kerry  Discuss
Nurses for Kerry  Discuss
Republicans for Kerry  Discuss
Southerners for Kerry  Discuss
Texans for Kerry  Discuss
RACES
  01/29/2013 US Secretary of State Won 96.91% (+93.81%)
  11/06/2012 Foreign Relations Chairperson Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  01/03/2011 Foreign Relations Chairperson Won 55.00% (+10.00%)
  01/03/2009 Foreign Relations Chairperson Won 57.89% (+15.79%)
  11/04/2008 MA US Senate Won 65.86% (+34.93%)
  09/16/2008 MA US Senate - D Primary Won 68.85% (+37.81%)
  12/13/2004 US President Lost 46.65% (-6.51%)
  11/02/2004 Guam US President Lost 35.13% (-28.95%)
  11/02/2004 US President - Popular Vote Lost 48.27% (-2.46%)
  09/26/2004 NY US President - IDP Convention Lost 4.00% (-91.40%)
  07/29/2004 US President - D Convention Won 99.14% (+98.28%)
  06/09/2004 US President - D Primaries Won 60.98% (+41.56%)
  06/08/2004 US President - R Primaries Lost 0.04% (-98.02%)
  05/25/2004 ID US President - D Primary Won 82.33% (+74.45%)
  05/11/2004 US President - LBT Primaries Lost 0.24% (-52.06%)
  03/02/2004 MN US President - IP Caucus Lost 18.28% (-22.82%)
  01/27/2004 NH US Vice President - D Primary Lost 7.92% (-30.83%)
  01/27/2004 NH US Vice President - R Primary Lost 1.45% (-40.17%)
  11/05/2002 MA US Senate Won 80.03% (+61.60%)
  09/17/2002 MA US Senate - D Primary Won 99.36% (+98.72%)
  08/17/2000 US Vice President - D Convention Lost 0.00% (-100.00%)
  11/05/1996 MA US Senate Won 52.21% (+7.49%)
  09/17/1996 MA US Senate - D Primary Won 98.62% (+97.24%)
  11/06/1990 MA US Senate Won 57.06% (+14.20%)
  11/06/1984 MA US Senate Won 55.05% (+10.12%)
  09/18/1984 MA US Senate - D Primary Won 40.83% (+3.11%)
  11/02/1982 MA Lt. Governor Won 61.92% (+23.84%)
  09/14/1982 MA Lt. Governor - D Primary Won 29.00% (+3.52%)
  11/07/1972 MA District 5 Lost 44.72% (-8.73%)
  09/19/1972 MA District 5 - D Primary Won 27.56% (+6.81%)
SPECULATIVE, DID NOT RUN
  03/10/2021 EPA Administrator Lost 0.00% (-66.00%)
  02/25/2021 US Secretary of Energy Lost 0.00% (-64.65%)
  01/26/2021 US Secretary of State Lost 0.00% (-78.00%)
  01/22/2021 US Secretary of Defense Lost 0.00% (-97.89%)
  08/11/2020 US President - D Primaries Lost 0.00% (-51.46%)
  02/01/2017 US Secretary of State Lost 0.00% (-56.57%)
  02/26/2013 US Secretary of Defense Lost 0.00% (-58.59%)
  09/15/1970 MA District 3 - D Primary Lost 0.00% (-46.01%)
ENDORSEMENTS
NY District 17 - D Primary - Jun 23, 2020 D Evelyn Farkas
MA US President - D Primary - Mar 03, 2020 D Joe Biden
US President - D Primaries - Aug 11, 2020 D Joe Biden
US President - Popular Vote - Nov 08, 2016 D Hillary Clinton
MA US Senate - Special D Primary - Apr 30, 2013 D Edward J. Markey
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Aug 05, 2010 D Elena Kagan
PA US Senate - D Primary - May 18, 2010 D Arlen Specter
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Aug 06, 2009 I Sonia Sotomayor
US Attorney General - Feb 02, 2009 D Eric Holder
Question 1 - Massachusetts State Income Tax Repeal Initiative - Nov 04, 2008 NO No
TX US Senate - D Primary - Mar 04, 2008 D Rick Noriega
MA US President - D Primary - Feb 05, 2008 D Barack Obama
US President - D Primaries - Jun 03, 2008 D Barack Obama
CT US Senate - Nov 07, 2006 D Ned Lamont
MN District 6 - DFL Primary - Sep 12, 2006 DFL Elwyn "El" Tinklenberg
CO District 07 - D Primary - Aug 08, 2006 D Ed Perlmutter
VA US Senate - D Primary - Jun 13, 2006 D Jim Webb
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Jan 31, 2006 NPA Reject
Manchester, NH Mayor - Nov 08, 2005 D Robert Baines
Supreme Court - Chief Justice - Sep 29, 2005 NPA Reject
St. Paul Mayor - Primary - Sep 13, 2005 DFL Chris Coleman
Los Angeles Mayor - May 17, 2005 D Antonio Villaraigosa
CA Governor Recall - Question 1 - Oct 07, 2003 NO No
MA US President - D Primary - Mar 07, 2000 D Al Gore
US President - D Primaries - Jul 01, 2000 D Al Gore
Methuen Mayor - Nov 02, 1999 D Sharon M. Pollard
Second Circuit Court Judge - Oct 02, 1998 I Sonia Sotomayor
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Jul 29, 1994 D Stephen G. Breyer
U.S. Surgeon General - Sep 07, 1993 D M. Joycelyn Elders
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Aug 03, 1993 D Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Oct 15, 1991 NPA Reject
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Oct 02, 1990 NPA Reject
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Feb 03, 1988 R Anthony M. Kennedy
US President - D Primaries - Jul 01, 1988 D Michael S. Dukakis
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Oct 23, 1987 NPA Reject
Supreme Court - Chief Justice - Sep 17, 1986 NPA Reject
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Sep 17, 1986 R Antonin Scalia
MA District 4 - D Primary - Sep 16, 1980 D Barney Frank