From Altar to Washington

An altar boy to a soldier in the Vietnam War to a Lawyer, John Kerry has never shied away from challenges. Kerry who lost his bid for the White House to incumbent President George W. Bush in 2004 elections was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts for his service as a naval officer during the war.

With strong convictions leaning towards the left John Kerry had vehemently opposed George Bush’s handling of the Iraq war and subsequently advocated for the US military intervention in Libya in 2011.

 

Early life

Kerry was born on December 11, 1943 in Aurora, Colorado to diplomat Richard John Kerry and World War II nurse Rosemary Isabel Forbes.

The extended family enjoyed a great fortune, Kerry’s parents themselves were upper-middle class; a wealthy great aunt paid for Kerry to attend elite schools in Europe and New England. He also attended St. Paul’s as a teenager in Concord, New Hampshire. Kerry learned skills in public speaking and began developing an interest in politics.

 

Schooling

In 1962, Kerry entered Yale University, majoring in political science and residing in Jonathan Edwards College. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1966.

An athlete, he joined the soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and fencing teams; in addition, he took flying lessons.

Interestingly he is a member of an elite secret society at Yale University whose members also include Kerry’s former presidential opponent, George W. Bush.

 

Political career

Kerry entered into politics in 1972. In the general election, Kerry was initially favoured to defeat the Republican candidate, former state Representative Paul W. Cronin, and an independent, Roger P. Durkin; but faced a defeat.

After Kerry’s 1972 defeat he started working as a fundraiser for the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), an international humanitarian organization. In September 1973, he entered Boston College Law School.  In July 1974, while attending law school, Kerry was named executive director of Mass Action, a Massachusetts advocacy association.

After receiving his J D from Boston College Law School, Kerry worked as an Assistant District Attorney. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts under Michael Dukakis from 1983 to 1985. He won the Democratic primary in 1984 for the US Senate and was sworn in the following January.

In 2002, Kerry voted to authorize the President “to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein”, but warned that the administration should exhaust its diplomatic avenues before launching war.

 

Personal life

Kerry married Julia Stimson Thorne in 1970, and they have two daughters together. In 1988 Kerry and Julia divorced.

In 1995 Kerry married Mozambican-born businesswoman Teresa Heinz.