Content deleted Content added
No edit summary |
GreenC bot (talk | contribs) Reformat 14 archive links. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:USURPURL and JUDI batch #27ae |
||
Line 1:
{{short description|American politician and diplomat (born 1943)}}
{{For|the sixteenth-century English politician|John Kerry (MP)}}
{{distinguish|John Terry|Joe Keery}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = John Kerry portrait of Climate Envoy (cropped).jpg
| caption = Kerry in 2021
| office = 68th [[United States Secretary of State]]
| president = [[Barack Obama]]
| deputy = [[William J. Burns (diplomat)|William J. Burns]]<br />[[Wendy Sherman]] (acting)<br />[[Antony Blinken]]
| term_start = February 1, 2013
| term_end = January 20, 2017
| predecessor = [[Hillary Clinton]]
| successor = [[Rex Tillerson]]
| office1 = [[U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate|United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate]]
| status1 =
| deputy1 =
| term_start1 = January 20, 2021
| term_end1 = March 6, 2024
| predecessor1 = ''Office established''
| successor1 = [[John Podesta]] (Senior Advisor)
| president1 = [[Joe Biden]]
| jr/sr2 = United States Senator
| state2 = [[Massachusetts]]
| term_start2 = January 2, 1985
| term_end2 = February 1, 2013
| predecessor2 = [[Paul Tsongas]]
| successor2 = [[Mo Cowan]]
{{collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Committee chairmanships
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office1 = Chair of the [[Senate Foreign Relations Committee]]
| term_start1 = January 6, 2009
| term_end1 = February 1, 2013
| predecessor1 = Joe Biden
| successor1 = [[Bob Menendez]]
| office2 = Chair of the [[Senate Small Business Committee]]
| term_start2 = January 3, 2007
| term_end2 = January 3, 2009
| predecessor2 = [[Olympia Snowe]]
| successor2 = [[Mary Landrieu]]
| term_start3 = June 6, 2001
| term_end3 = January 3, 2003
| predecessor3 = [[Kit Bond]]
| successor3 = [[Olympia Snowe]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Party positions
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}
{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office1 = [[Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]]
| term_start1 = 1987
| term_end1 = 1991
| predecessor1 = [[George J. Mitchell]]
| successor1 = [[John Breaux]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
| office3 = 66th [[Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts]]
| governor3 = [[Michael Dukakis]]
| term_start3 = January 6, 1983
| term_end3 = January 2, 1985
| predecessor3 = [[Thomas P. O'Neill III]]
| successor3 = [[Evelyn Murphy]]
| birth_name = John Forbes Kerry
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|12|11}}
| birth_place = [[Aurora, Colorado]], U.S.
| awards = [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] (2024)
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|[[Julia Thorne]]|1970|1988|reason=div}}|{{marriage|[[Teresa Heinz]]|1995}}}}
| children = {{Hlist|[[Alexandra Kerry|Alexandra]]|[[Vanessa Kerry|Vanessa]]}}
| parents = [[Richard Kerry]]<br />[[Rosemary Forbes Kerry|Rosemary Forbes]]
| relatives = [[Forbes family]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|diplomat|businessman|activist}}
| signature = John Kerry Signature2.svg
| allegiance = United States
| branch = [[United States Navy]]
| serviceyears = 1966–1978
| rank = [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]]
| unit = {{ubl|{{USS|Gridley|DLG-21}}|Coastal Squadron 1}}
| commands = {{ubl|PCF-44|PCF-94}}
| battles = {{tree list}}
* [[Vietnam War]]{{WIA}}
** [[Operation Sealords]]
{{tree list/end}}
| alma_mater = {{ubl|[[Yale University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])|[[Boston College]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])}}
| mawards = {{ubl|[[Silver Star]]|[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] (with [["V" Device|valor]])|[[Purple Heart]] (3)|[[Combat Action Ribbon]]}}
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=John Kerry voice.ogg|title=John Kerry's voice|type=speech|description=John Kerry speaks on the [[Ghouta chemical attack]]<br />Recorded August 26, 2013}}
}}
'''John Forbes Kerry''' (born December 11, 1943) is an American attorney, politician, and diplomat who served as the 68th [[United States secretary of state]] from 2013 to 2017 in the [[Presidency of Barack Obama#Administration|administration]] of [[Barack Obama]]. A member of the [[Forbes family]] and of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he previously represented [[Massachusetts]] in the [[United States Senate]] from 1985 to 2013 and later served as the first [[U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate|U.S. special presidential envoy for climate]] from 2021 to 2024. Kerry was the Democratic nominee for [[president of the United States]] in the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 election]], losing to then-incumbent president [[George W. Bush]].
Kerry grew up in [[Massachusetts]] and [[Washington, D.C.]] In 1966, after graduating from [[Yale University]], he enlisted in the [[United States Naval Reserve]], ultimately attaining the rank of [[lieutenant (navy)|lieutenant]]. During the [[Vietnam War]], Kerry served a brief tour in [[South Vietnam]]. While commanding a [[Patrol Craft Fast|Swift boat]], he sustained three wounds in combat with the [[Viet Cong]], for which he earned three [[Purple Heart]] medals. Kerry was also awarded the [[Silver Star Medal]] and the [[Bronze Star Medal]] for conduct in separate military engagements. After completing his active military service, Kerry returned to the United States and became an outspoken [[opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War|opponent of the Vietnam War]]. He gained national recognition as an anti-war activist, serving as a spokesperson for the [[Vietnam Veterans Against the War]] organization. Kerry testified in the [[Fulbright Hearings]] before the [[Senate Committee on Foreign Relations]], where he described the United States government's policy in Vietnam as the cause of [[war crimes]].
In 1972, Kerry entered electoral politics as a Democratic candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives]] in [[Massachusetts' 5th congressional district|Massachusetts's 5th congressional district]], losing to Republican [[Paul W. Cronin]] in the general election. He subsequently worked as a [[radio talk show]] host and as the executive director of an advocacy organization while attending law school. After a period in private legal practice, he was [[1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|elected]] the 66th [[lieutenant governor of Massachusetts]] in 1982. In [[1984 United States Senate election in Massachusetts|1984, Kerry was elected]] to the United States Senate. In [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]], Kerry won the Democratic presidential nomination alongside Senator [[John Edwards]]. He lost the [[United States Electoral College|Electoral College]] and the popular vote by slim margins, winning 251 electors to Bush's 286 and 48.3% of the popular vote to Bush's 50.7%.
In January 2013, Kerry was nominated by President Obama to succeed Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]], and was subsequently confirmed by his Senate colleagues.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gordon |first=Michael R. |date=January 29, 2013 |title=Kerry Sails Through the Senate as Secretary of State |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/30/us/politics/senate-panel-approves-kerry-for-secretary-of-state.html |access-date=August 27, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He was U.S. secretary of state throughout the second term of the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]] from 2013 to 2017. During his tenure, he initiated the [[2013–2014 Israeli–Palestinian peace talks]] and negotiated agreements restricting the [[nuclear program of Iran]], including the 2013 [[Joint Plan of Action]] and the 2015 [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]]. In 2015, Kerry signed the [[Paris Agreement]] on [[climate change]] on behalf of the United States.
In January 2021, Kerry returned to government, becoming the first person to hold the position of U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, under President [[Joe Biden]]. On March 6, Kerry left this position to work on [[Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign|Biden's 2024 presidential campaign]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boyle |first1=Louise |title=John Kerry exits as special climate envoy – but he isn't done with politics quite yet |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/john-kerry-biden-election-2024-climate-b2507568.html |website=The Independent |language=en |date=7 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ari |last2=Troop |first2=William |last3=McNamee |first3=Kai |title=U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry is giving up the job title — but not the fight |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/03/07/1236316313/climate-envoy-john-kerry-joe-biden |website=NPR|date=March 7, 2024 }}</ref> Kerry was awarded the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] by Biden in May 2024.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/03/politics/biden-medal-of-freedom/index.html |title=Biden presents Medal of Freedom to key political allies, civil rights leaders, celebrities and politicians |first=Michael |last=Williams |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=May 3, 2024 |access-date=May 3, 2024}}</ref>
==Early life and education (1943–1966)==
John Forbes Kerry was born on December 11, 1943, at [[Fitzsimons Army Medical Center]] in [[Aurora, Colorado]].<ref name=bioguide>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=K000148|title=KERRY, John Forbes, (1943–)|work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-date=March 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331002204/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=k000148|url-status=live}}</ref> He is the second of four children born to [[Richard Kerry|Richard John Kerry]], a U.S. diplomat and lawyer, and [[Rosemary Forbes Kerry|Rosemary Forbes]], a nurse and social activist. His father was raised [[Catholic]] (John's paternal grandparents were [[Austro-Hungarian]] [[Jews|Jewish]] immigrants who converted to Catholicism) and his mother was [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]. He was raised with an elder sister Margaret, a younger sister Diana, and a younger brother [[Cameron Kerry|Cameron]]. The children were raised in their father's Catholic faith, and John served as an [[altar server|altar boy]].<ref name=ReligionBackground>{{cite web|last=Caldwell|first=Deborah|title=Not a Prodigal Son|url=http://www.beliefnet.com/News/Politics/2004/08/Not-A-Prodigal-Son.aspx|publisher=beliefnet.com|access-date=December 23, 2012|archive-date=June 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617193055/http://www.beliefnet.com/news/politics/2004/08/not-a-prodigal-son.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
Kerry was originally considered a [[military brat]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Army Brats Soar |url=http://www.ausa.org/publications/armymagazine/archive/2014/Documents/11November14/SteeleBrats_November2014.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402124238/http://www.ausa.org/publications/armymagazine/archive/2014/Documents/11November14/SteeleBrats_November2014.pdf |magazine=Army Magazine |date=November 11, 2014 |access-date=July 2, 2016 |archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref> until his father was discharged from the [[United States Army Air Corps|Army Air Corps]] in 1944.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brinkley |first=Douglas |title=Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War |date=September 21, 2004 |publisher=William Morrow |isbn=9780060565299 |___location=New York, NY |publication-date=September 21, 2004 |pages=18–39 |language=English}}</ref> Kerry lived in [[Groton, Massachusetts]] his first year and [[Millis, Massachusetts]] afterwards before moving to the [[Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)|Georgetown]] neighborhood of [[Washington, D.C.]] at age seven, when his father took a position in the [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]]'s Office of General Counsel and soon became a [[diplomat]] in the [[State Department]]'s Bureau of [[United Nations]] Affairs.<ref name="father knows">{{cite magazine|last=Foer|first=Franklin|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kerrys-world-father-knows-best/|title=Kerry's World: Father Knows Best|date=March 2, 2004|magazine=The New Republic|publisher=CBSNews.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040305034328/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/02/opinion/main603542.shtml|archive-date=March 5, 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{sfn|Kerry|2018|pp=11-12}}<ref name="citm-pt1"/>
As members of the [[Forbes family|Forbes]] and Dudley–Winthrop families, his maternal extended family enjoyed great wealth.<ref name="news.google.com">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KrRAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5080,615343|title='Outsider' label follows Kerry in Massachusetts despite years in office|newspaper=News-Sentinel|date=July 6, 2004|access-date=September 23, 2018|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124213631/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KrRAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5080%2C615343|url-status=live}}</ref> Kerry's parents themselves were considered [[upper-middle class]]. They turned to his wealthy great-aunt, [[Clara Winthrop]], who paid for his attendance at elite [[boarding school]]s, such as [[Institut Montana Zugerberg]], in [[Zug, Switzerland]].<ref name="ReligionBackground"/>{{sfn|Kerry|2018|p=18}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-04-07 |title=John Kerry: A 'cheap' aristocrat |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4685276 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> Through his maternal ancestry, Kerry also descends from Rev. James McGregor who was among the first 500 [[Scotch-Irish Americans|Scots-Irish]] immigrants to [[Boston Harbor]] in the 18th century.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Dave|title=300 Years of Scots-Irish Immigration to U.S.|year=2018|work=[[Irish America (magazine)|Irish America]]|url=https://irishamerica.com/2018/01/300-years-of-scots-irish-immigration-to-u-s/|access-date=June 28, 2020|archive-date=June 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629034132/https://irishamerica.com/2018/01/300-years-of-scots-irish-immigration-to-u-s/|url-status=live}}</ref>
At the age of ten, Kerry's father took a position as the U.S. Attorney for Berlin. When Kerry was twelve, he crossed into the [[Soviet occupation zone of Germany|Soviet Occupation Zone]] to visit [[Führerbunker|Hitler's bunker]] and ride through the [[Brandenburg Gate]].
In 1957, his father was stationed at the U.S. Embassy in [[Oslo]], Norway, and Kerry was sent back to the United States to attend boarding school. He first attended the [[Fessenden School]] in [[Newton, Massachusetts]], and later [[St. Paul's School (New Hampshire)|St. Paul's School]] in [[Concord, New Hampshire]], where he learned skills in [[public speaking]] and began developing an interest in [[politics]].<ref name="ReligionBackground"/> Kerry founded the [[John Winant]] Society at St. Paul's to debate the issues of the day; the Society still exists there.<ref name="navydove">{{cite news|first=Samuel Z.|last=Goldhaber|title=John Kerry: A Navy Dove Runs for Congress|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=352185|date=February 18, 1970|access-date=May 8, 2006|archive-date=April 25, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060425112813/http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=352185|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="citm-pt1">{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Kranish|title=A privileged youth, a taste for risk|url=https://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061503.shtml|work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=June 15, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030801233903/http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061503.shtml|archive-date=August 1, 2003|access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref> In 1960, while at St. Paul's, he played bass in a minor rock band called The Electras with six of his classmates.<ref name="wapo-electras">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2004/02/02/john-kerrys-record-one-you-can-dance-to/8470965c-a3fb-42b9-b21d-4256df6debc0/|title=John Kerry's Record: One You Can Dance To|first=David|last=Segal|date=February 2, 2004|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 24, 2020|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124213702/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2004/02/02/john-kerrys-record-one-you-can-dance-to/8470965c-a3fb-42b9-b21d-4256df6debc0/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="mtv-electras">{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1485690/john-kerrys-rock-star-past-the-story-of-the-electras/|title=John Kerry's Rock-Star Past: The Story Of The Electras|first=Nadira A.|last=Hira|date=March 11, 2004|website=[[MTV]]|access-date=November 24, 2020|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112022647/http://www.mtv.com/news/1485690/john-kerrys-rock-star-past-the-story-of-the-electras/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="guardian-electras">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2017/jun/21/us-politicians-bands-rock-music|date=June 21, 2017|title=Rocking the vote: US politicians and their musical side projects|first=Jake|last=Nevins|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=November 24, 2020|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118023212/https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2017/jun/21/us-politicians-bands-rock-music|url-status=live}}</ref> The band had about five hundred copies of one album printed in 1961, which they sold some of at dances at the school; it was made available on streaming platforms many years later.<ref name="wapo-electras"/><ref name="guardian-electras" /><ref name="itunes-album">{{Cite web|title=John Kerry and the Electras|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/john-kerry-and-the-electras/98907985|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124213654/https://music.apple.com/us/album/john-kerry-and-the-electras/98907985|archive-date=November 24, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2020|website=music.apple.com|date=September 2, 2004}}</ref><ref name="spotify-album">{{Cite web|date=2004|title=John Kerry and The Electras|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0NSEMvYPtP9HpuRBuYqcY2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121130230/https://open.spotify.com/album/0NSEMvYPtP9HpuRBuYqcY2|archive-date=November 21, 2019|access-date=November 24, 2020|website=open.spotify.com}}</ref>
[[File:KN-C23433-JFK with wife Jackie and John Kerry among others.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|The young John Kerry (in white) aboard the yacht of President [[John F. Kennedy]], in August 1962]]
In 1962, Kerry attended [[Yale University]], majoring in [[political science]] and residing in [[Jonathan Edwards College]].{{sfn|Kranish|Mooney|Easton|2013|p=35}} By that year, his parents returned to Groton.<ref name="citm-pt4"/>{{sfn|Kerry|2018|p=28}} While at Yale, Kerry briefly dated [[Janet Auchincloss Rutherfurd|Janet Auchincloss]], the younger half-sister of [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] [[Jacqueline Kennedy]]. Through Auchincloss, Kerry was invited to a day of sailing with then-President [[John F. Kennedy]] and his family.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/04/americas_john_kerry0s_life/html/3.stm|title=Brush with greatness|work=BBC News|access-date=July 7, 2018|archive-date=July 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708004155/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/04/americas_john_kerry0s_life/html/3.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
Kerry played on the varsity [[Yale Bulldogs men's soccer]] team, earning his only letter in his senior year. He also played freshman and [[Junior varsity team|junior varsity]] [[Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey|hockey]] and, in his senior year, junior varsity [[Yale Bulldogs men's lacrosse|lacrosse]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=merron/kerry/040726|title=ESPN: Page 2 : Rink turns and big deals|date=July 26, 2004|work=ESPN|access-date=November 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040728030823/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=merron%2Fkerry%2F040726|archive-date=July 28, 2004|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, he was a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity and took flying lessons.{{sfn|Kranish|Mooney|Easton|2013|pp=37, 43}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2003/02/14/kerry-66-he-was-going-to-be-president/|title=Kerry '66: 'He was going to be president'|work=Yale Daily News|date=February 14, 2003|access-date=August 27, 2015|archive-date=January 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115232216/http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2003/02/14/kerry-66-he-was-going-to-be-president/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In his [[sophomore]] year, Kerry became the chairman of the Liberal Party of the [[Yale Political Union]], and a year later he served as president of the union. Amongst his influential teachers in this period was Professor [[H. Bradford Westerfield]], who was himself a former president of the Political Union.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/education/27westerfield.html Martin, Douglas. "H. Bradford Westerfield, 79, Influential Yale Professor"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417074624/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/education/27westerfield.html |date=April 17, 2009 }}. ''[[The New York Times]]''. January 27, 2008.</ref> His involvement with the Political Union gave him an opportunity to be involved with important issues of the day, such as the [[civil rights movement]] and the [[New Frontier]] program. He also became a [[List of Skull and Bones members|member]] of [[Skull and Bones|Skull and Bones Society]], and traveled to Switzerland<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/university-news/2007/01/22/at-50-aiesec-ponders-its-future|title=At 50, AIESEC ponders its future|publisher=Yale Daily News|date=January 22, 2007|access-date=March 12, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419033955/http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/university-news/2007/01/22/at-50-aiesec-ponders-its-future/|archive-date=April 19, 2010}}</ref> through [[AIESEC]] Yale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aiesec.org/AI|title=Welcome to AIESEC|work=AIESEC |publisher=Aiesec.org|access-date=March 12, 2010|archive-date=February 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221214644/http://www.aiesec.org/ai|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yale.edu/aiesec|title=AIESEC Yale|publisher=Yale.edu|access-date=April 22, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217121541/http://www.yale.edu/aiesec/|archive-date=February 17, 2013}}</ref>
Under the guidance of the speaking coach and history professor [[Rollin G. Osterweis]], Kerry won many debates against other college students from across the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://images.library.yale.edu/madid/oneItem.aspx?id=1780700&q=john%20kerry%20debate&q1=&q2=&qc1=&qc2=&qf1=&qf2=&qn=&qo=&qm=&qs=&sid=&qx=|title=Yale Debate Team, 1965–1966, Yale University Manuscripts & Archives Digital Images Database, Yale University|publisher=Images.library.yale.edu|date=June 18, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2013|archive-date=May 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515120446/http://images.library.yale.edu/madid/oneItem.aspx?id=1780700&q=john%20kerry%20debate&q1=&q2=&qc1=&qc2=&qf1=&qf2=&qn=&qo=&qm=&qs=&sid=&qx=|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 1965, as the Vietnam War escalated, he won the Ten Eyck prize as the best [[orator]] in the junior class for a speech that was critical of U.S. [[foreign policy]]. In the speech he said, "It is the spectre of Western [[imperialism]] that causes more fear among Africans and Asians than communism and thus, it is self-defeating."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2003/02/14/kerry-66-he-was-going-to-be-president|title=Kerry '66: 'He was going to be president'|access-date=December 22, 2012|last=Leibenluft|first=Jacob|date=February 14, 2003|publisher=Yale Daily News|archive-date=May 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515100620/http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2003/02/14/kerry-66-he-was-going-to-be-president/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Kerry graduated from Yale with a [[Bachelor of Arts degree|bachelor of arts degree]] in 1966. Overall, he had below-average [[Grading (education)|grades]], graduating with a cumulative average of 76 over his four years. His freshman-year average was a 71, but he improved to an 81 average for his senior year. He never received an "A" during his time at Yale; his highest grade was an 89.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kranish|first=Michael|date=June 7, 2005|title=Yale grades portray Kerry as a lackluster student|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2005/06/07/yale_grades_portray_kerry_as_a_lackluster_student/?page=full|newspaper=The Boston Globe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815185643/http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2005/06/07/yale_grades_portray_kerry_as_a_lackluster_student/?page=full|archive-date=August 15, 2012|url-status=live|access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref>
==Military service (1966–1970)==
{{Main|Military career of John Kerry}}
===Duty on USS ''Gridley''===
On February 18, 1966, Kerry enlisted in the Naval Reserve.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shultz (LCDR, USN)|first=R.J.|date=May 24, 1986|title=National Personnel Records Center|url=http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/Request_For_History_of_Service.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040723192004/http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/Request_For_History_of_Service.pdf|archive-date=July 23, 2004|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=johnkerry.com/}}</ref> He began his active duty military service on August 19, 1966. After completing 16 weeks of [[Officer Candidate School]] at the U.S. Naval Training Center in [[Newport, Rhode Island]], Kerry received his officer's commission on December 16, 1966. During the 2004 election, Kerry posted his military records at his website, and permitted reporters to inspect his medical records. In 2005, Kerry released his military and medical records to the representatives of three news organizations, but has not authorized full public access to those records.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Kranish |title=Kerry allows Navy release of military, medical records |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/06/07/kerry_allows_navy_release_of_military_medical_records/ |date=June 7, 2005 |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303184426/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/06/07/kerry_allows_navy_release_of_military_medical_records/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Josh |last=Gerstein |title=Kerry Grants Three Reporters Broad Access to Navy Records |url=http://www.nysun.com/article/15790 |date=June 21, 2005 |access-date=July 30, 2006 |archive-date=June 23, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050623022455/http://www.nysun.com/article/15790 |url-status=live }}</ref>
During his tour on the [[guided missile]] [[frigate]] {{USS|Gridley|DLG-21|6}}, Kerry requested duty in South Vietnam, listing as his first preference a position as the commander of a [[Fast Patrol Craft]] (PCF), also known as a "Swift boat".<ref name="rqstswiftboat">[http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jkerry/rqstswiftboat.pdf Official Record Copy of request for duty in Vietnam] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214100804/http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jkerry/rqstswiftboat.pdf |date=February 14, 2012 }}. Retrieved November 4, 2009.</ref> These {{convert|50|ft|m|adj=on}} boats have [[aluminum]] [[hull (watercraft)|hulls]] and have little or no armor, but are heavily armed and rely on speed. "I didn't really want to get involved in the war," Kerry said in a book of Vietnam reminiscences published in 1986. "When I signed up for the swift boats, they had very little to do with the war. They were engaged in coastal patrolling and that's what I thought I was going to be doing."<ref name="citm-pt2">{{cite news|first=Michael |last=Kranish |title=Heroism, and growing concern about war |url=https://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061603.shtml |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=June 16, 2003|access-date=July 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030801234002/http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061603.shtml|archive-date=August 1, 2003}}</ref> However, his second choice of billet was on a river patrol boat, or "[[Patrol boat, rigid|PBR]]", which at the time was serving a more dangerous duty on the rivers of Vietnam.<ref name="rqstswiftboat" />
===Military honors===
During the night of December 2 and early morning of December 3, 1968, Kerry was in charge of a small boat operating near a peninsula north of [[Cam Ranh Bay]] together with a Swift boat (PCF-60). According to Kerry and the two crewmen who accompanied him that night, Patrick Runyon and William Zaladonis, they surprised a group of Vietnamese men unloading [[sampan]]s at a river crossing, who began running and failed to obey an order to stop. As the men fled, Kerry and his crew opened fire on the sampans and destroyed them, then rapidly left. During this encounter, Kerry received a shrapnel wound in the left arm above the elbow. It was for this injury that Kerry received his first [[Purple Heart|Purple Heart Medal]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/04/17/kerry_purple/index.html |work=Salon |title=John Kerry's first Purple Heart |first=Douglas |last=Brinkley |access-date=January 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630112006/http://www.salon.com/2004/04/17/kerry_purple/ |archive-date=June 30, 2012}}</ref>
Kerry received his second Purple Heart for a wound received in action on the [[Bồ Đề River]] on February 20, 1969. The plan had been for the Swift boats to be accompanied by support helicopters. On the way up the Bo De, however, the helicopters were attacked. As the Swift boats reached the [[Cửa Lớn River]], Kerry's boat was hit by a [[RPG-2|B-40 rocket]] (rocket propelled grenade round), and a piece of [[Shrapnel (fragment)|shrapnel]] hit Kerry's left leg, wounding him. Thereafter, enemy fire ceased and his boat reached the [[Gulf of Thailand]] safely. Kerry continues to have shrapnel embedded in his left thigh because the doctors that first treated him decided to remove the damaged tissue and close the wound with [[surgical suture|sutures]] rather than make a wide opening to remove the shrapnel.<ref name="Rasmussen1">{{cite web|url=http://kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/Doyle.pdf|title=Primary Sources: John Kerry's Vietnam Medals|first=Eric|last=Rasmussen|year=2004|work=Truth and Unfit for Command A Review|publisher=kerryvietnam.org|access-date=September 5, 2013|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203060951/http://kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/Doyle.pdf|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Although wounded like several others earlier that day, Kerry did not lose any time off from duty.<ref name="Rasmussen2">{{cite web|url=http://kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/SeaLords324.pdf|title=Primary Sources: John Kerry's Vietnam Medals|first=Eric|last=Rasmussen|year=2004|work=Truth and Unfit for Command A Review|publisher=kerryvietnam.org|access-date=September 5, 2013|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000557/http://kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/SeaLords324.pdf|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="Rasmussen3">{{cite web|url=http://www.kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/SeaLords312-316.pdf|title=Part I: John Kerry in Vietnam|first=Eric|last=Rasmussen|year=2004|work=Truth and Unfit for Command A Review|publisher=kerryvietnam.org|access-date=September 5, 2013|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020420/http://www.kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/SeaLords312-316.pdf|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
====Silver Star====
Eight days later, on February 28, 1969, came the events for which Kerry was awarded his [[Silver Star Medal]]. On this occasion, Kerry was in tactical command of his Swift boat and two other Swift boats during a combat operation. Their mission on the Duong Keo River included bringing an underwater demolition team and dozens of South Vietnamese Marines to destroy enemy [[sampan]]s, structures and bunkers as described in the story ''The Death Of PCF 43''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mwweb.com/ndc/SwiftBoats/pcf43.htm |title=LTJG Peter N. Upton, ''The Death Of PCF 43'' |publisher=Mwweb.com |date=April 12, 1969 |access-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-date=January 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117093016/http://www.mwweb.com/ndc/SwiftBoats/pcf43.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Running into heavy small arms fire from the river banks, Kerry "directed the units to turn to the beach and charge the [[Viet Cong]] positions" and he "expertly directed" his boat's fire causing the enemy to flee while at the same time coordinating the insertion of the ninety South Vietnamese troops (according to the original medal citation signed by Admiral [[Elmo Zumwalt]]). Moving a short distance upstream, Kerry's boat was the target of a B-40 rocket round; Kerry charged the enemy positions and as his boat [[Heaving to|hove to]] and [[Beaching (nautical)|beached]], a Viet Cong ("VC") insurgent armed with a rocket launcher emerged from a [[spider hole]] and ran. While the boat's gunner opened fire, wounding the VC in the leg, and while the other boats approached and offered cover fire, Kerry jumped from the boat to pursue the VC insurgent, subsequently killing him and capturing his loaded rocket launcher.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jkerry/jksilverstar.pdf |title=Silver Star Medal – John F. Kerry |access-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-date=October 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001023757/http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jkerry/jksilverstar.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Rasmussen4>{{cite web|url=http://kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/SeaLords270.pdf|title=Primary Sources: John Kerry's Vietnam Medals|first=Eric|last=Rasmussen|year=2004|work=Truth and Unfit for Command A Review|publisher=kerryvietnam.org|access-date=September 5, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304152505/http://kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/SeaLords270.pdf|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name=Rasmussen5>{{cite web|url=http://kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/Silver_Star.pdf|title=Primary Sources: John Kerry's Vietnam Medals|first=Eric|last=Rasmussen|year=2004|work=Truth and Unfit for Command A Review|publisher=kerryvietnam.org|access-date=September 5, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304153351/http://kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/Silver_Star.pdf|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
Kerry's commanding officer, [[Lieutenant Commander]] George Elliott, stated to [[Douglas Brinkley]] in 2003 that he did not know whether to court-martial Kerry for beaching the boat without orders or give him a medal for saving the crew. Elliott recommended Kerry for the Silver Star, and Zumwalt flew into An Thoi to personally award medals to Kerry and the rest of the sailors involved in the mission. The Navy's account of Kerry's actions is presented in the original [[s:Silver Star Citation - John Kerry|medal citation]] signed by Zumwalt. The engagement was documented in an after-action report, a press release written on March 1, 1969, and a historical summary dated March 17, 1969.<ref name=Rasmussen6>{{cite web|url=http://kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/Monthly_Historical_Summary.pdf|title=Primary Sources: John Kerry's Vietnam Medals|first=Eric|last=Rasmussen|year=2004|work=Truth and Unfit for Command A Review|publisher=kerryvietnam.org|access-date=September 5, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304152152/http://kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/Monthly_Historical_Summary.pdf|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
====Bronze Star====
On March 13, 1969, on the Bái Háp River, Kerry was in charge of one of five Swift boats that were returning to their base after performing an [[Operation Sealords]] mission to transport South Vietnamese troops from the garrison at [[Cái Nước]] and [[MIKE Force]] advisors for a raid on a Vietcong camp located on the Rach Dong Cung canal. Earlier in the day, Kerry received a slight shrapnel wound in the buttocks from blowing up a rice bunker. Debarking some but not all of the passengers at a small village, the boats approached a fishing [[weir]]; one group of boats went around to the left of the weir, hugging the shore, and a group with Kerry's PCF-94 boat went around to the right, along the shoreline. A mine was detonated directly beneath the lead boat, PCF-3, as it crossed the weir to the left, lifting PCF-3 "about 2–3 ft out of water".<ref name=Rasmussen7>{{cite web|url=http://kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/SeaLords358.pdf|title=Primary Sources: John Kerry's Vietnam Medals|first=Eric|last=Rasmussen|year=2004|work=Truth and Unfit for Command A Review|publisher=kerryvietnam.org|access-date=September 5, 2013|archive-date=December 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206150647/http://kerryvietnam.org/PDFs/SeaLords358.pdf|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
[[James Rassmann]], a [[United States Army Special Forces|Green Beret]] advisor who was aboard Kerry's PCF-94, was knocked overboard when, according to witnesses and the documentation of the event, a mine or rocket exploded close to the boat. According to the documentation for the event, Kerry's arm was injured when he was thrown against a bulkhead during the explosion. PCF 94 returned to the scene and Kerry rescued Rassmann who was receiving sniper fire from the water. Kerry received the [[Bronze Star Medal]] with [[Combat "V"]] for "heroic achievement", for his actions during this incident; he also received his third Purple Heart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jkerry/jkbronzestar.pdf |title=Bronze Star Medal – John F. Kerry |access-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-date=October 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001023800/http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jkerry/jkbronzestar.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Return from Vietnam===
After Kerry's third qualifying wound, he was entitled per Navy regulations to reassignment away from combat duties. Kerry's preferred choice for reassignment was as a military aide in Boston, [[New York City]] or [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>[http://files.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jkerry/thricewnd.pdf "Thrice wounded"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313014954/http://files.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jkerry/thricewnd.pdf |date=March 13, 2012 }}, Official Record Copy via ''findlaw.com'', March 2, 1969.</ref> On April 11, 1969, he reported to the [[Brooklyn, New York|Brooklyn]]-based Atlantic [[Military Sea Transportation Service]], where he would remain on active duty for the following year as a personal aide to an officer, Rear Admiral Walter Schlech. On January 1, 1970, Kerry was temporarily promoted to full [[lieutenant]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnkerry.com/about/Temporary_Orders_and_Ranks.pdf |title=Temporary Orders and Ranks (Internet Archive mirror) |access-date=September 8, 2006 |author=United States Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040426002850/http://www.johnkerry.com/about/Temporary_Orders_and_Ranks.pdf |archive-date=April 26, 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kerry had agreed to an extension of his active duty obligation from December 1969 to August 1970 in order to perform Swift Boat duty.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kerry|first=John F.|date=February 10, 1968|title=Request for Vietnam Duty|url=http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jkerry/rqstswiftboat.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214100804/http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jkerry/rqstswiftboat.pdf|archive-date=February 14, 2012|access-date=August 4, 2007|website=fl1.findlaw.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kerry|first=John F.|date=November 21, 1969|title=Request for early release from Active Duty|url=http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jkerry/releaseactduty.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214100627/http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jkerry/releaseactduty.pdf|archive-date=February 14, 2012|access-date=August 4, 2007|website=fl1.findlaw.com}}</ref> John Kerry was on active duty in the United States Navy from August 1966 until January 1970. He continued to serve in the Naval Reserve until February 1978.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/09/10/critics_countered_on_kerry_record_of_inactive_service/|title=Critics countered on Kerry record of inactive service|work=The Boston Globe|date=September 10, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040912022753/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/09/10/critics_countered_on_kerry_record_of_inactive_service/|archive-date=September 12, 2004|access-date=July 7, 2018|last=Kranish|first=Michael|url-status=live}}</ref>
==="Swiftboating" controversy===
{{Main|John Kerry military service controversy}}
With the continuing [[George W. Bush military service controversy|controversy]] that had surrounded the military service of [[George W. Bush]] since the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 presidential election]] (when he was accused of having used his father's political influence to gain entrance to the [[Texas Air National Guard]], thereby protecting himself from conscription into the [[United States Army]], and possible service in the [[Vietnam War]]), John Kerry's contrasting status as a decorated Vietnam War veteran posed a problem for Bush's re-election campaign, which Republicans sought to counter by calling Kerry's war record into question. As the presidential campaign of 2004 developed, approximately 250 members of a group called [[Swift Boat Veterans for Truth]] (SBVT, later renamed Swift Vets and POWs for Truth) opposed Kerry's campaign. The group held press conferences, ran ads and endorsed a book questioning Kerry's service record and his military awards. The group included several members of Kerry's unit, such as Larry Thurlow, who commanded a swift boat alongside of Kerry's,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5765243 |title='Hardball with Chris Matthews' for August 19 |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=August 19, 2004 |access-date=April 22, 2013 |archive-date=March 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304184306/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5765243 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Stephen Gardner, who served on Kerry's boat.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,599034,00.html | magazine=Time | first=Douglas | last=Brinkley | title=The Tenth Brother | date=March 9, 2004 | access-date=February 8, 2011 | archive-date=August 17, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817045815/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,599034,00.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> The campaign inspired the widely used political pejorative '"[[swiftboating]]," to describe an unfair or untrue political attack.<ref name="Casey">{{cite journal |url=http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/dissent/v056/56.2.casey.html |title=No redemption song: The Case of Bill Ayers |last=Casey |first=Leo |date=Spring 2009 |journal=Dissent |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |volume=56 |number=2 |pages=107–111 |issn=0012-3846 |doi=10.1353/dss.0.0041 |s2cid=143605641 |quote=In recent elections, the patriotism and good names of Democratic war hero candidates, from John Kerry to Max Cleland, had been impugned so successfully that a neologism for such smears—to 'swift boat'—was coined out of the assault on Kerry. |access-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121603/http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=%2Fjournals%2Fdissent%2Fv056%2F56.2.casey.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Most of Kerry's former crewmates have stated that SBVT's allegations are false.<ref>* {{cite news |first=Zachary |last=Coile |title=Vets group attacks Kerry; McCain defends Democrat |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/08/06/MNGUT83SS41.DTL |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=August 6, 2004 |archive-date=March 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328140333/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F08%2F06%2FMNGUT83SS41.DTL |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |first=Kate |last=Zernke |title=Kerry Pressing Swift Boat Case Long After Loss |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/washington/28kerry.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 28, 2006 |access-date=May 4, 2014 |archive-date=May 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522072117/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/washington/28kerry.html |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |first=Mary Ann |last=Akers |title=John Kerry's Vietnam Crew Mates Still Fighting Swift Boating |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/06/john_kerrys_vietnam_crew_mates.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 20, 2008 |archive-date=February 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223120550/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/06/john_kerrys_vietnam_crew_mates.html |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite news |first=Scot |last=Lehigh |title=Kerry comrades have credibility on their side |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2004/08/20/kerry_comrades_have_credibility_on_their_side/ |work=The Boston Globe |date=August 20, 2004 |access-date=May 4, 2014 |archive-date=April 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405140803/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2004/08/20/kerry_comrades_have_credibility_on_their_side/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Anti-war activism (1970–1971)==
{{Main|Vietnam Veterans Against the War}}
After returning to the United States, Kerry moved to [[Waltham, Massachusetts]] and joined the [[Vietnam Veterans Against the War]] (VVAW).{{sfn|Kerry|2018|pp=124, 133}}<ref name=Fire>{{cite book | last1=O'Donnell |first1=Lawrence |date=2017 |title=Playing with Fire – The 1968 Elections and the Transformation of American Politics |edition=1st |publisher=[[Penguin Press]] |page=6 |isbn=9780399563140}}</ref> Then numbering about 20,000,<ref>{{cite news |first=Jerry |last=Lembcke |title=Still a Force for Peace |url=http://www.vvaw.org/veteran/article/?id=378 |date=Fall 2003 |access-date=August 24, 2004 |archive-date=October 20, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041020052416/http://www.vvaw.org/veteran/article/?id=378 |url-status=live }}</ref> VVAW was considered by some (including the administration of President [[Richard Nixon]]) to be an effective, if controversial, component of the antiwar movement.<ref>{{cite news |first=Brian |last=Williams |author-link=Brian Williams |title=Nixon targeted Kerry for anti-war views |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4534274 |access-date=November 10, 2019 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806134857/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4534274 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kerry participated in the "[[Winter Soldier Investigation]]" conducted by VVAW of U.S. atrocities in Vietnam, and he appears in a film by that name that documents the investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hornaday |first=Ann |date=December 9, 2005 |title='Winter Soldier': Cold Days in Hell |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |language=en-US |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/08/AR2005120801996.html |access-date=August 8, 2023 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> According to Nixon Secretary of Defense [[Melvin Laird]], "I didn't approve of what he did, but I understood the protesters quite well", and he declined two requests from the Navy to court martial Reserve Lieutenant Kerry over his antiwar activity.<ref>{{cite news |title=Roots of John Kerry's secretary of state ambition lie in wake of 2004 defeat |first1=Tracy |last1=Jan |first2=Bryan |last2=Bender |url=https://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/12/21/roots-john-kerry-secretary-state-ambition-lie-wake-defeat/qE3obS65phxPdk6qlOdjGP/story.html |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=December 21, 2012 |access-date=January 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230190821/http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/12/21/roots-john-kerry-secretary-state-ambition-lie-wake-defeat/qE3obS65phxPdk6qlOdjGP/story.html |archive-date=December 30, 2012 |quote=Just three months after losing his campaign to be president |url-status=live}}</ref>
On April 22, 1971, Kerry appeared before a U.S. Senate committee hearing on proposals relating to ending the war. The day after this testimony, Kerry participated in a demonstration with thousands of other veterans in which he and other Vietnam War veterans threw their medals and service ribbons over a fence erected at the front steps of the [[United States Capitol]] building to dramatize their opposition to the war. Jack Smith, a [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]], read a statement explaining why the veterans were returning their military awards to the government. For more than two hours, almost 1,000 angry veterans tossed their medals, ribbons, hats, jackets, and military papers over the fence. Each veteran gave his or her name, hometown, branch of service and a statement. Kerry threw some of his own decorations and awards as well as some given to him by other veterans to throw. As Kerry threw his decorations over the fence, his statement was: "I'm not doing this for any violent reasons, but for peace and justice, and to try and make this country wake up once and for all."<ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Oliphant |author-link=Thomas Oliphant (journalist) |title=I watched Kerry throw his war decorations |url=https://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/04/27/i_watched_kerry_throw_his_war_decorations/ |work=The Boston Globe |date=April 27, 2004 |access-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124213703/http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/04/27/i_watched_kerry_throw_his_war_decorations/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Kerry was arrested on May 30, 1971, during a VVAW march to honor American [[prisoner of war|POWs]] held captive by [[North Vietnam]]. The march was planned as a multi-day event from [[Concord, Massachusetts|Concord]] to Boston, and while in [[Lexington, Massachusetts|Lexington]], participants tried to camp on the village green. At 2:30{{spaces}}a.m., local and state police arrested 441 demonstrators, including Kerry, for trespassing. All were given the [[Miranda Warning]] and were hauled away on school buses to spend the night at the Lexington Public Works Garage. Kerry and the other protesters later paid a $5 fine, and were released. The mass arrests caused a community backlash and ended up giving positive coverage to the VVAW.<ref>Elise Lemire, Battle Green Vietnam: The 1971 March on Concord, Lexington, and Boston (Penn Press, 2021).</ref><ref>Against the Vietnam War: Writings by Activists, Mary Susannah Robbins, pp. 78–90.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kranish |first=Michael |date=June 17, 2003 |title=John Kerry: A Candidate in the Making |url=http://archive.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061703.shtml |access-date=April 11, 2021 |newspaper=The Boston Globe}}</ref>
==Early political career (1972–1985)==
===1972 congressional election===
In 1970, Kerry had considered running for Congress in the Democratic primary against hawkish Democrat [[Philip J. Philbin]] of [[Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district]], but deferred in favor of [[Robert Drinan]], a Jesuit priest and anti-war activist, who went on to defeat Philbin.<ref name="citm-pt4">{{cite news |first=Brian C.|last=Mooney |title=First campaign ends in defeat |url=https://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061803.shtml |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=June 18, 2003 |access-date=April 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002060303/http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061803.shtml|archive-date=October 2, 2003}}</ref> In February 1972, Kerry's wife bought a house in [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]], with Kerry intending to run against the [[Massachusetts's 4th congressional district|4th district's]] aging thirteen-term incumbent Democrat, [[Harold Donohue]].<ref name="citm-pt4"/> The couple never moved in. After Republican Congressman [[F. Bradford Morse]] of the neighboring [[Massachusetts's 5th congressional district|5th district]] announced his retirement and then resignation to become [[Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations|Under-Secretary-General for Political and General Assembly Affairs]] at the [[United Nations]], the couple instead rented an apartment in [[Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell]], so that Kerry could run to succeed him.<ref name="citm-pt4"/>
Including Kerry, the Democratic primary race had 10 candidates, including attorney [[Paul J. Sheehy]], State Representative Anthony R. DiFruscia, John J. Desmond and [[Robert B. Kennedy]]. Kerry ran a "very expensive, sophisticated campaign", financed by out-of-state backers and supported by many young volunteers.<ref name="citm-pt4"/> DiFruscia's campaign headquarters shared the same building as Kerry's. On the eve of the September 19 primary, police found Kerry's younger brother [[Cameron Kerry|Cameron]] and campaign field director Thomas J. Vallely, breaking into where the building's telephone lines were located. They were arrested and charged with "[[burglary|breaking and entering]] with the intent to commit [[grand larceny]]", but the charges were dropped a year later. DiFruscia alleged that the two were trying to disrupt his get-out-the vote efforts. Vallely and Cameron Kerry maintained that they were only checking their own telephone lines because they had received an anonymous call warning that the Kerry lines would be cut.<ref name="citm-pt4"/>
Despite the arrests, Kerry won the primary with 20,771 votes (27.56%). Sheehy came second with 15,641 votes (20.75%), followed by DiFruscia with 12,222 votes (16.22%), Desmond with 10,213 votes (13.55%) and Kennedy with 5,632 votes (7.47%). The remaining 10,891 votes were split amongst the other five candidates, with 1970 nominee Richard Williams coming last with just 1,706 votes (2.26%).<ref name="citm-pt4"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=1972 U.S. House Democratic Primary: 5th Congressional District |url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/116721/ |access-date=June 2, 2022 |website=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts}}</ref>
In the general election, Kerry was initially favored to defeat the Republican candidate, former State Representative [[Paul W. Cronin]], and conservative Democrat Roger P. Durkin, who ran as an Independent. A week after the primary, one poll put Kerry 26-points ahead of Cronin.<ref name="citm-pt4"/> His campaign called for a national health insurance system, discounted prescription drugs for the unemployed, a jobs program to clean up the [[Merrimack River]] and rent controls in Lowell and [[Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence]]. A major obstacle, however, was the district's leading newspaper, the [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] ''[[The Sun (Lowell)|The Sun]]''. The paper editorialized against him. It also ran critical news stories about his out-of-state contributions and his "[[carpetbagger|carpetbagging]]", because he had only moved into the district in April. Subsequently, released "Watergate" Oval Office tape recordings of the Nixon White House showed that defeating Kerry's candidacy had attracted the personal attention of President Nixon.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/24/politics/campaign/echoes-of-a-1972-loss-haunt-a-2004-campaign.html|title=Echoes of a 1972 Loss Haunt a 2004 Campaign|first=Todd|last=Purdum|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 24, 2004|access-date=April 9, 2016|archive-date=July 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717162650/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/24/politics/campaign/echoes-of-a-1972-loss-haunt-a-2004-campaign.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Kerry himself asserts that Nixon sent operatives to Lowell to help derail his campaign.<ref name="citm-pt4"/>
The race was the most expensive for Congress in the country that year<ref name="citm-pt4"/> and four days before the general election, Durkin withdrew and endorsed Cronin, hoping to see Kerry defeated.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=November 6, 1972 |title=Durkin Pulls Out of Race in Effort to Defeat Kerry |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19721106&id=TZwrAAAAIBAJ&pg=5949,837728 |newspaper=Nashua Telegraph |___location=Nashua, NH |page=8 |access-date=September 23, 2018 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124213644/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19721106&id=TZwrAAAAIBAJ&pg=5949%2C837728 |url-status=live }}</ref> The week before, a poll had put Kerry 10 points ahead of Cronin, with Durkin at 13%.<ref name="citm-pt4"/> In the final days of the campaign, Kerry sensed that it was "slipping away" and Cronin emerged victorious by 110,970 votes (53.45%) to Kerry's 92,847 (44.72%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=1972 U.S. House General Election: 5th Congressional District |url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/117000/ |access-date=June 2, 2022 |website=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts}}</ref> After his defeat, Kerry lamented in a letter to supporters that "for two solid weeks, [''The Sun''] called me un-American, New Left antiwar agitator, unpatriotic, and labeled me every other 'un-' and 'anti-' that they could find. It's hard to believe that one newspaper could be so powerful, but they were."<ref name="citm-pt4"/> He later felt that his failure to respond directly to ''The Sun''{{'}}s attacks cost him the race.<ref name="citm-pt4"/>
===Law career===
After Kerry's 1972 defeat, he and his wife bought a house in the [[Belvidere Hill Historic District|Belvidere]] section of [[Lowell, Massachusetts]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Tierney|place=Lowell, Massachusetts|work=The Sun|url=https://www.lowellsun.com/2014/06/28/remember-when-john-kerry/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728182945/http://www.lowellsun.com/lifestyles/ci_26053096/remember-when|archive-date=July 28, 2014|url-status=live|title=Remember When?|date=June 28, 2014|access-date=November 29, 2019}}</ref><ref name="citm-pt4"/> entering a decade which his brother Cameron later called "the years in exile".<ref name="citm-pt4"/> He spent some time working as a fundraiser for the [[Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere]] (CARE), an international humanitarian organization.<ref>ProCon.org, [http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.source.php?sourceID=009841 Alternative Energy Pros and Cons: Biography, John Kerry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112051234/http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.source.php?sourceID=009841 |date=November 12, 2012 }}, retrieved July 28, 2014.</ref> In September 1973, he entered [[Boston College Law School]].<ref name="citm-pt4" /> While studying, Kerry worked as a talk radio host on [[WBZ (AM)|WBZ]] and, in July 1974, was named executive director of Mass Action, a Massachusetts advocacy association.<ref name="citm-pt4"/><ref>John J. Mullins, Associated Press, Lowell Sun, [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/48135750/ For John Kerry It's Law – For Now] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115232215/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/48135750/ |date=January 15, 2016 }}, October 26, 1975.</ref>
Kerry received his [[Juris Doctor|juris doctor]] ([[Juris Doctor|J.D.]]) from Boston College in 1976.<ref>Boston College Office of news and Public Affairs, [http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/offices/pubaf/news/2014-may-jun/secretary-of-state-kerry-addresses-boston-college-class-of-2014.html Secretary of State John Kerry to Boston College Class of 2014: 'Pass On Your Light to Others'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728191756/http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/offices/pubaf/news/2014-may-jun/secretary-of-state-kerry-addresses-boston-college-class-of-2014.html |date=July 28, 2014 }}, May 19, 2014.</ref> While in law school he had been a student prosecutor in the office of the [[District Attorney]] of [[Middlesex County, Massachusetts|Middlesex County]], [[John J. Droney]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Meghan E.|last=Irons|work=The Boston Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/01/31/john-kerry-farewell-tour-visits-where-middlesex-office/053Lm9AJ7P8kZhZukjl2BI/story.html|title=John Kerry Visits Mass. for Farewell Tour|date=January 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064026/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/01/31/john-kerry-farewell-tour-visits-where-middlesex-office/053Lm9AJ7P8kZhZukjl2BI/story.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=November 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> After passing the bar exam and being admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1976, he went to work in that office as a full-time prosecutor and moved to [[Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts]].<ref name="crime fighting">{{cite web|first=James|last=Rainey|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-prosecutor18jul18-story.html|title=Kerry's Crime-Fighting Early Days|date=July 18, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813164702/http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-prosecutor18jul18-story.html|archive-date=August 13, 2014|access-date=November 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Kerry|2018|p=139}}
In January 1977, Droney promoted him to First Assistant District Attorney, essentially making Kerry his campaign and media surrogate because Droney was afflicted with [[amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]] (ALS, or [[Lou Gehrig]]'s Disease). As First Assistant, Kerry tried cases, which included winning convictions in a high-profile rape case and a murder. He also played a role in administering the office, including initiating the creation of special white-collar and organized crime units, creating programs to address the problems of rape and other crime victims and witnesses, and managing trial calendars to reflect case priorities.<ref name=ktrials>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/05/10/kerrys-trials|title=Kerry's Trials: What the Candidate Learned as a Lawyer|magazine=The New Yorker|first=Jeffrey|last=Toobin|date=May 10, 2004|access-date=April 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603040618/http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040510fa_fact1|archive-date=June 3, 2004|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1978, Kerry launched a criminal investigation against Senator [[Edward Brooke]], regarding "misstatements" in his first divorce trial.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/images/day5/01.htm |title=/ Photo gallery |publisher=Boston.com |date=June 16, 1978 |access-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-date=April 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418091326/http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/images/day5/01.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The inquiry ended with no charges being brought after investigators and prosecutors determined that Brooke's misstatements were pertinent to the case, but were not material enough to have affected the outcome.<ref>United Press International, Galveston Daily News, [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16988434/ Sen. Brooke Not To Face Prosecution For Perjury] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017165809/http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16988434/ |date=October 17, 2015 }}, August 2, 1978.</ref>
Droney's health was poor and Kerry had decided to run for his position in the 1978 election should Droney drop out. However, Droney was re-elected and his health improved; he went on to re-assume many of the duties that he had delegated to Kerry.<ref name="citm-pt4"/> Kerry thus decided to leave, departing in 1979 with assistant DA Roanne Sragow to set up their own law firm.<ref name="citm-pt4"/><ref name=ktrials/> Kerry also worked as a commentator for [[WCVB-TV]] and co-founded a bakery, Kilvert & Forbes Ltd., with businessman and former [[Kennedy family|Kennedy]] aide K. Dun Gifford.<ref name="citm-pt4"/>
===Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts===
In the [[1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election]], [[Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Thomas P. O'Neill III]] declined to seek a third term, instead deciding to run for [[governor of Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pbn.com/stories/Thomas-P-ONeill-III,2751|title=Thomas P. O'Neill, III|publisher=Providence Business News|first=Michael|last=Pare|date=December 6, 1999|access-date=April 9, 2016|archive-date=May 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509022719/http://pbn.com/stories/Thomas-P-ONeill-III,2751|url-status=live}}</ref> Kerry declared his candidacy, entering the primary election alongside Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs [[Evelyn Murphy]], State Senator [[Samuel Rotondi]], State Representative [[Lou Nickinello]], and [[Lois Pines]].<ref>Stuart E. Weisberg, [https://archive.org/details/barneyfrankstory00weis/page/170 Barney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman], 2009, p. 170.</ref>
Kerry won the nomination with 325,890 votes (29%) to Murphy's 286,378 (25.48%), Rotondi's 228,086 (20.29%), Nickinello's 150,829 (13.42%) and Pines' 132,734 (11.81%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=1982 Lieutenant Governor Democratic Primary |url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/91823/ |access-date=June 2, 2022 |website=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts}}</ref> In the concurrent gubernatorial primary, former Governor [[Michael Dukakis]] defeated O'Neill and incumbent Governor [[Edward J. King]].<ref>Katie Zezima, ''The New York Times'', [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/obituaries/19king.html Ex-Gov. Edward J. King, 81, Who Defeated Dukakis, Dies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103073845/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/obituaries/19king.html?ref=michaelsdukakis |date=November 3, 2012 }}, September 19, 2006.</ref> The Dukakis and Kerry ticket defeated the Republican ticket of [[John W. Sears]] and [[Leon Lombardi]] in the [[1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|general election]] by 1,219,109 votes (61.92%) to 749,679 (38.08%).<ref>Marie Marmo Mullaney, [https://archive.org/details/biographicaldire0000mull/page/177 Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1988-1994], 1994, pp. 177-178.</ref><ref>Stan Grossfeld, ''The Boston Globe'', [https://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/images/day5/02.htm Photo caption: "Governor-elect Michael Dukakis and Lieutenant Governor-elect John Kerry celebrate their 1982 election victory."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304220458/http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/images/day5/02.htm |date=March 4, 2016 }}, 1982.</ref>
As Lieutenant Governor, Kerry led meetings of the [[Massachusetts Governor's Council]].<ref>Bruce L. Brager, [https://books.google.com/books?id=vRXWAjKKyycC&q=%22executive+council%22 John Kerry: Senator from Massachusetts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804015726/https://books.google.com/books?id=vRXWAjKKyycC&q=%22executive+council%22 |date=August 4, 2020 }}, 2005, p. 78.</ref> Dukakis also delegated other tasks to Kerry, including serving as the state's liaison to the Federal government of the United States.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5650128 '82 Victory Was Key to Kerry's Career] NBC News. Associated Press. [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5650128], August 9, 2004.</ref> He was also active on environmental issues, including combating [[acid rain]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a970/esq0604-june-kerry/|title=The Misunderestimation of John Kerry|magazine=Esquire|first=Charles P.|last=Pierce|date=January 29, 2007|access-date=April 9, 2016|archive-date=April 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401154518/http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a970/esq0604-june-kerry/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===1984 U.S. Senate election===
{{Main|1984 United States Senate election in Massachusetts}}
[[File:John Kerry 1984.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9|Kerry during his 1984 campaign]]
The junior U.S. senator from Massachusetts, [[Paul Tsongas]], announced in 1984 that he would be stepping down for health reasons.<ref>Paul Duke Jr., Harvard Crimson, [http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1984/2/14/richardson-to-run-for-tsongas-seat/ Richardson to Run for Tsongas' Seat; Candidacy Fires Republican Hopes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730004551/http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1984/2/14/richardson-to-run-for-tsongas-seat/ |date=July 30, 2014 }}, February 14, 1984.</ref> Kerry ran, and as in his 1982 race for Lieutenant Governor, he did not receive the endorsement of the party regulars at the state Democratic convention.<ref>George B. Merry, Christian Science Monitor, [http://www.csmonitor.com/1984/0611/061134.html Shannon Senate Bid Gets Key Endorsement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730005743/http://www.csmonitor.com/1984/0611/061134.html |date=July 30, 2014 }}, June 11, 1984.</ref> Congressman [[James Shannon (Massachusetts politician)|James Shannon]], a favorite of [[United States House of Representatives|House]] [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker]] [[Tip O'Neill]], was the early favorite to win the nomination, and he "won broad establishment support and led in early polling".<ref>Paul Duke Jr., Harvard Crimson, [http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1984/2/7/shannon-bid-for-senate-seat-threatens/ Shannon Bid for Senate Seat Threatens Favorites: Congressman Joins Tough Race Against Markey, Kerry and Bartley] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730014941/http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1984/2/7/shannon-bid-for-senate-seat-threatens/ |date=July 30, 2014 }}, February 7, 1984.</ref><ref name=Kornacki>Kornacki, Steve (February 7, 2011) [http://www.salon.com/news/politics/hillary_rodham_clinton/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/02/07/john_kerry_secretary_state Will things finally, really work out for John Kerry?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010150159/https://www.salon.com/news/politics/hillary_rodham_clinton/index.html?story=%2Fpolitics%2Fwar_room%2F2011%2F02%2F07%2Fjohn_kerry_secretary_state |date=October 10, 2017 }}, ''[[Salon.com]]''.</ref> Again as in 1982, however, Kerry prevailed in a close primary.<ref>Martin F. Nolan, San Francisco Chronicle, [http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Can-t-kiss-off-Kerry-He-s-a-hardscrabble-2397571.php#page-2 Can't Kiss Off Kerry / He's a Hardscrabble Campaigner Who Woos Blue-Collar Voters and Fights for Life when Behind] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730005501/http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Can-t-kiss-off-Kerry-He-s-a-hardscrabble-2397571.php#page-2 |date=July 30, 2014 }}, April 4, 2004.</ref>
In his general election campaign, Kerry promised to mix liberalism with tight budget controls. He defeated Republican [[Ray Shamie]] despite a nationwide landslide for the re-election of Republican President [[Ronald Reagan]], for whom Massachusetts voted by a narrow margin.<ref>Paul Duke Jr., Harvard Crimson, [http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1984/10/2/republican-stars-shine-on-ray-shamie/ Republican Stars Shine on Ray Shamie: Heckler, Fahrenkopf Plug Senate Candidate in Boston] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730013330/http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1984/10/2/republican-stars-shine-on-ray-shamie/ |date=July 30, 2014 }}, October 2, 1984.</ref><ref>Dan Payne, Salon.com, [http://www.salon.com/2004/04/13/kerry_27/ How Kerry Wins] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810060613/http://www.salon.com/2004/04/13/kerry_27/ |date=August 10, 2014 }}, April 13, 2004.</ref> In his victory speech, Kerry asserted that his win meant that the people of Massachusetts "emphatically reject the politics of selfishness and the notion that women must be treated as second-class citizens".<ref>Fox Butterfield, ''The New York Times'', [https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/07/us/1984-election-each-state-has-its-own-battles-democrat-victor-massachusetts.html The 1984 Election: Each State Has its own battles; Democrat Victor in Massachusetts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820004804/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/07/us/1984-election-each-state-has-its-own-battles-democrat-victor-massachusetts.html |date=August 20, 2016 }}, November 7, 1984.</ref>
Tsongas resigned on January 2, 1985, one day before the end of his term. Dukakis appointed Kerry to fill the vacancy, giving him [[Seniority in the United States Senate|seniority]] over other new senators who were sworn in on January 3, the scheduled start of their new terms.<ref>Associated Press, Bangor Daily News, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19850102&id=9hE9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=fS4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3705,343878 Kerry to be Sworn in to Senate One Day Early to Gain Seniority] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906003253/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19850102&id=9hE9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=fS4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3705,343878 |date=September 6, 2015 }}, January 2, 1985.</ref>
==U.S. Senate (1985–2013)==
{{See also|Sponsorship of legislation by John Kerry}}
===Iran–Contra hearings===
{{Main|Kerry Committee report}}
On April 18, 1985, a few months after taking his Senate seat, Kerry and Senator [[Tom Harkin]] of [[Iowa]] traveled to [[Nicaragua]] and met the country's president, [[Daniel Ortega]]. Although Ortega had won internationally certified elections, the trip was criticized because Ortega and his [[leftist]] [[Sandinista]] government had strong ties to [[Cuba]] and the [[USSR]] and were accused of human rights abuses. The Sandinista government was opposed by the [[right-wing]] [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]-backed rebels known as the [[Contra (guerrillas)|Contras]]. While in Nicaragua, Kerry and Harkin talked to people on both sides of the conflict. Through the senators, Ortega offered a cease-fire agreement in exchange for the U.S. dropping support of the Contras. The offer was denounced by the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] administration as a "[[propaganda]] initiative" designed to influence a House vote on a $14{{spaces}}million Contra [[foreign aid|aid package]], but Kerry said "I am willing{{spaces}}... to take the risk in the effort to put to test the good faith of the Sandinistas." The House voted down the Contra aid, but Ortega flew to Moscow to accept a $200{{spaces}}million loan the next day, which in part prompted the House to pass a larger $27{{spaces}}million aid package six weeks later.<ref name="citm-pt6">{{cite news |first=John Aloysius |last=Farrell |title=With probes, making his mark |url=https://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/062003.shtml |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=June 20, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030621071459/http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/062003.shtml|archive-date=June 21, 2003 |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref>
[[File:JohnKerry.jpg|thumb|A Senate portrait of Kerry]]
Meanwhile, Kerry's staff began their own investigations and, on October 14, issued a report that exposed illegal activities on the part of [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Oliver North]], who had set up a private network involving the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] and the CIA to deliver military equipment to right-wing Nicaraguan rebels (Contras). In effect, North and certain members of the President's administration were accused by Kerry's report of illegally funding and supplying armed militants without the authorization of Congress. Kerry's staff investigation, based on a year-long inquiry and interviews with fifty unnamed sources, is said to raise "serious questions about whether the United States has abided by the law in its handling of the contras over the past three years".<ref>{{cite news |date=October 15, 1986 |title=White House Official Linked To Arms Deliveries to Contras |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |page=6 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE3D71339F936A25753C1A960948260 |access-date=February 9, 2017 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124213634/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/15/world/white-house-official-linked-to-arms-deliveries-to-contras.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
The [[Kerry Committee report]] found that "the Contra drug links included{{spaces}}... payments to drug traffickers by the U.S. State Department of funds authorized by the Congress for humanitarian assistance to the Contras, in some cases after the traffickers had been indicted by federal law enforcement agencies on drug charges, in others while traffickers were under active investigation by these same agencies."<ref name="report">{{cite web |url=http://www.pinknoiz.com/covert/contracoke.html |title=Selections from the Senate Committee Report on Drugs, Law Enforcement and Foreign Policy chaired by Senator John F. Kerry |access-date=April 21, 2006 |archive-date=February 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203075627/http://www.pinknoiz.com/covert/contracoke.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The U.S. State Department paid over $806,000 to known drug traffickers to carry humanitarian assistance to the Contras.<ref name="white">{{cite book |last=Cockburn |first=Alexander |author2=Jeffrey St Clair |date=October 1, 1999 |title=Whiteout: The CIA, Drugs and the Press |url=https://archive.org/details/whiteoutciadrugs00cock |url-access=registration |publisher=Verso |isbn=1-85984-258-5}}</ref> Kerry's findings provoked little reaction in the media and official Washington.<ref name="react">{{cite magazine |first=David |last=Corn |author-link=David Corn |date=July 16, 2001 |title=Defining John Kerry |magazine=The Nation |url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20010716/dcorn/2 |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 22, 2006 |archive-date=October 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016212145/http://www.thenation.com/doc/20010716/dcorn/2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The Kerry report was a precursor to the [[Iran–Contra affair]]. On May 4, 1989, North was convicted of charges relating to the Iran/Contra controversy, including three felonies. On September 16, 1991, however, North's convictions were overturned on appeal.<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Johnston |date=December 24, 1992 |title=Bush Pardons 6 In Iran Affair, Aborting A Weinberger Trial; Prosecutor Assails 'Cover-Up' Bush Diary at Issue 6-Year Inquiry Into Deal of Arms for Hostages All but Swept Away |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/991224onthisday_big.html |access-date=February 9, 2017 |archive-date=July 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722020738/http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/991224onthisday_big.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
===George H. W. Bush administration===
On November 15, 1988, at a businessmen's breakfast in [[Lynn, Massachusetts|East Lynn]], Massachusetts, Kerry made a joke about then-[[President-elect of the United States|President-elect]] [[George H. W. Bush]] and his running mate, saying "if Bush is shot, the [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] has orders to shoot [[Dan Quayle]]." He apologized the following day.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/11/16/Kerry-kids-about-shooting-Quayle/9227595659600/ |title=Kerry kids about shooting Quayle |publisher=UPI |date=November 16, 1988 |access-date=September 29, 2023}}</ref>
During their investigation of General [[Manuel Noriega]], the ''de facto'' ruler of [[Panama]], Kerry's staff found reason to believe that the [[Pakistan]]-based [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International]] (BCCI) had facilitated Noriega's drug trafficking and [[money laundering]]. This led to a separate inquiry into BCCI, and as a result, banking regulators shut down BCCI in 1991. In December 1992, Kerry and Senator [[Hank Brown]], a Republican from Colorado, released ''The BCCI Affair'', a report on the BCCI scandal. The report showed that the bank was crooked and was working with [[terrorism|terrorists]], including [[Abu Nidal]]. It blasted the [[U.S. Department of Justice|Department of Justice]], the [[U.S. Department of the Treasury|Department of the Treasury]], the [[United States Customs Service|Customs Service]], the [[Federal Reserve System|Federal Reserve Bank]], as well as influential [[lobbying|lobbyists]] and the CIA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0409.sirota.html |title=Follow the Money |last=Sirota |first=David |author2=Baskin, Jonathan |date=September 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040911081424/http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0409.sirota.html |archive-date=September 11, 2004}}</ref>
Kerry was criticized by some Democrats for having pursued his own party members, including former [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[Clark Clifford]], although Republicans said he should have pressed against some Democrats even harder. The BCCI scandal was later turned over to the [[New York County District Attorney|Manhattan District Attorney]]'s office.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/irp/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/19rogers.htm |title=The BCCI Affair – 19 Ed Rogers and Kamal Adham |publisher=Fas.org |access-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-date=December 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224193511/http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/19rogers.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Precursors to presidential bid===
{{See also|1996 United States Senate election in Massachusetts|2000 United States presidential election}}
In 1996, Kerry faced a difficult re-election fight against Governor [[William Weld]], a popular Republican incumbent who had been re-elected in 1994 with 71% of the vote. The race was covered nationwide as one of the most closely watched Senate races that year. Kerry and Weld held several debates and negotiated a campaign spending cap of $6.9{{spaces}}million at Kerry's [[Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts|Beacon Hill]] townhouse. Both candidates spent more than the cap, with each camp accusing the other of being first to break the agreement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rimer |first=Sara |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E5D91130F936A15753C1A960958260 |title=Promises Yield to Old-Fashioned Politics |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 25, 1996 |access-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111131042/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/25/us/promises-yield-to-old-fashioned-politics.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During the campaign, Kerry spoke briefly at the [[1996 Democratic National Convention]]. Kerry won re-election with 52 percent to Weld's 45 percent.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-picks-john-kerry-to-play-romney-in-mock-debate-rehearsals/2012/06/18/gJQABEctlV_story.html|title=Obama picks John Kerry to play Romney in mock debate rehearsals|newspaper=The Washington Post|first1=Philip|last1=Rucker|first2=Dan|last2=Balz|date=June 18, 2012|access-date=September 1, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803055442/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-picks-john-kerry-to-play-romney-in-mock-debate-rehearsals/2012/06/18/gJQABEctlV_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the 2000 presidential election, Kerry found himself close to being chosen as the vice presidential running mate. <ref>{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Battenfeld |title=Kerry's stock rises in VP sweepstakes |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/LOCAL/northeast/07/14/boh.kerry.veep/index.html |date=July 14, 2000 |work=CNN |access-date=September 9, 2005 |archive-date=September 11, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050911144921/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/LOCAL/northeast/07/14/boh.kerry.veep/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
A release from the presidential campaign of presumptive Democratic nominee [[Al Gore]] listed Kerry on the short list to be selected as the vice-presidential nominee, along with North Carolina Senator [[John Edwards]], Indiana Senator [[Evan Bayh]], Missouri Congressman [[Richard Gephardt]], New Hampshire Governor [[Jeanne Shaheen]] and Connecticut Senator [[Joe Lieberman]].<ref>{{cite news | url =http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Gore-Trims-VP-List-To-Six-Senators-Have-Inside-2745572.php | title =Gore Trims VP List To Six – Senators Have Inside Track / Bradley could be 'wild card' pick | newspaper =[[San Francisco Chronicle]] | date =August 4, 2000 | access-date =January 9, 2013 | first =Ceci | last =Connolly | archive-date =May 16, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130516174921/http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Gore-Trims-VP-List-To-Six-Senators-Have-Inside-2745572.php | url-status =live }}</ref> Gore ultimately chose Lieberman.
==="You get stuck in Iraq" controversy===
On October 30, 2006, Kerry was a headline speaker at a campaign rally being held for Democratic [[2006 California gubernatorial election|California gubernatorial candidate]] [[Phil Angelides]] at [[Pasadena City College]] in [[Pasadena, California]]. Speaking to an audience composed mainly of college students, Kerry said, "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."<ref name=botched>{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=Andrew |title=Kerry says he "botched joke" and lashes out at GOP |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=October 31, 2006 |url=https://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2006/10/kerry_says_he_b.html |access-date=January 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119132504/http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2006/10/kerry_says_he_b.html |archive-date=November 19, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref>
The day after he made the remark, leaders from both sides of the political spectrum criticized Kerry's remarks, which he said were a botched joke. Republicans including President George W. Bush, Senator [[John McCain]] and then-Speaker of the House [[Dennis Hastert]], said that Kerry's comments were insulting to American military forces fighting in Iraq. Democratic Representative [[Harold Ford Jr.]] called on Kerry to apologize.<ref>{{cite news |last=Runningen|first=Roger| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSkiYG2_QwvM | title =Kerry Events Cut as Democrats Criticize Iraq Remark | publisher =Bloomberg News| date =November 1, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402194319/https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSkiYG2_QwvM|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
Kerry initially stated: "I apologize to no one for my criticism of the president and of his broken policy".<ref name=botched /> Kerry also responded to criticism from George W. Bush and [[Dick Cheney]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement of John Kerry Responding to Republican Distortions, Pathetic Tony Snow Diversions and Distractions |publisher=Friends of John Kerry |date=October 31, 2006 |url=http://www.johnkerry.com/news/releases/release.html?id=33 |access-date=January 11, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061229143547/http://www.johnkerry.com/news/releases/release.html?id=33 |archive-date=December 29, 2006}}</ref>
[[File:Senator John Kerry receives SSRC banner at southern Sudan referendum event.jpg|thumb|Kerry actively supported an [[2011 South Sudanese independence referendum|independence referendum]] in [[South Sudan]], January 2011.]]
Kerry said that he had intended the remark as a jab at President Bush, and described the remarks as a "botched joke",<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandalow |first=Marc |title='Botched joke' feeds a frenzy among Dems, GOP and media |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=November 2, 2006 |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/NEWS-ANALYSIS-Kerry-s-gibe-GOP-reaction-stir-2484750.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112054601/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2006%2F11%2F02%2FKERRY.TMP |archive-date=January 12, 2008 |access-date=July 7, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> having inadvertently left out the key word "us" (which would have been, "If you don't, you get ''us'' stuck in Iraq"), as well as leaving the phrase "just ask President Bush" off of the end of the sentence. In Kerry's prepared remarks, which he released during the ensuing media frenzy, the corresponding line was "...{{spaces}}you end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush". He also said that from the context of the speech which, prior to the "stuck in Iraq" line, made several specific references to Bush and elements of his biography, that Kerry was referring to President Bush and not American troops in general.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zernike |first=Kate |title=Flubbed Joke Makes Kerry a Political Punching Bag, Again |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 1, 2006 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/02/us/politics/02kerry.html |access-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108014741/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/02/us/politics/02kerry.html |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
After two days of media coverage, citing a desire not to be a diversion, Kerry apologized to those who took offense at what he called the misinterpretation of his comment.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stout |first=David |title=Kerry Apologizes for Iraq Remark |work=[[The New York Times]] |date =November 1, 2006 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/washington/01cnd-kerry.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307112639/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/washington/01cnd-kerry.html|archive-date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref>
===
[[File:Joe Biden, John Kerry, and Chuck Hagel in Kunar Province.jpg|thumb|Then-Senators [[Joe Biden]], John Kerry, and [[Chuck Hagel]] in Kunar Province in Afghanistan, February 20, 2008]]
A ''Washington Post'' report in May 2011 stated that Kerry "has emerged in the past few years as an important envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan during times of crisis", as he undertook another trip to the two countries. The killing of [[Osama bin Laden]] "has generated perhaps the most important crossroads yet", the report continued, as the senator spoke at a press conference and prepared to fly from [[Kabul]] to Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news|last=Partlow|first=Joshua|title=Kerry: U.S. relationship with Pakistan at 'critical moment'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/kerry-us-relationship-with-pakistan-at-critical-moment/2011/05/15/AFnx4D4G_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 15, 2011|date=May 15, 2011|archive-date=November 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112103748/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/kerry-us-relationship-with-pakistan-at-critical-moment/2011/05/15/AFnx4D4G_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Among matters discussed during the May visit to Pakistan, under the general rubric of "recalibrating" the bilateral relationship, Kerry sought and retrieved from the Pakistanis the tail-section of the [[Death of Osama bin Laden#"Stealth helicopter" revealed, retrieved|U.S. helicopter]] which had had to be abandoned at [[Abbottabad]] during the bin Laden strike.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brulliard|first=Karin|title=Pakistan to return U.S. helicopter tail, Kerry says|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/sen-john-kerry-arrives-in-pakistan-for-meetings-that-could-sway-future-us-aid-prospects/2011/05/16/AFJJIZ4G_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 17, 2011|date=May 17, 2011|archive-date=November 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102063349/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/sen-john-kerry-arrives-in-pakistan-for-meetings-that-could-sway-future-us-aid-prospects/2011/05/16/AFJJIZ4G_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, Kerry met with Pakistan's army chief [[Ashfaq Parvez Kayani|Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani]] to discuss the peace process with the [[Taliban]] in Afghanistan.<ref name="Kumar Sen">{{cite news|last=Kumar Sen|first=Ashish|title=Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Pakistani army chief to discuss Taliban|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/mar/25/secretary-state-john-kerry-meets-pakistani-army-ch/|newspaper=[[The Washington Times]]|access-date=March 26, 2013|archive-date=March 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326025022/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/mar/25/secretary-state-john-kerry-meets-pakistani-army-ch/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Voting record===
====Overall====
Most analyses place Kerry's voting record on the left within the Senate Democratic caucus.<ref>[http://www.factcheck.org/how_liberal_is_john_kerry.html How Liberal is John Kerry?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021071039/http://www.factcheck.org/how_liberal_is_john_kerry.html |date=October 21, 2012 }} FactCheck.org. Retrieved January 28, 2013.</ref> During the 2004 presidential election he was portrayed as a staunch [[Liberalism in the United States|liberal]] by conservative groups and the Bush campaign, who often noted that in 2003 Kerry was rated the top Senate liberal by ''[[National Journal]]''. However, that rating was based only upon voting on legislation within that past year. In fact, in terms of career voting records, the ''National Journal'' found that Kerry is the 11th most liberal member of the Senate. Most analyses find that Kerry is at least slightly more liberal than the typical Democratic Senator. Kerry has stated that he opposes privatizing [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], supports [[abortion]] rights for adult women and minors, supports [[same-sex marriage]], opposes [[capital punishment]] except for [[terrorists]], supports most [[Gun politics in the United States#Gun control laws|gun control laws]], and is generally a supporter of trade agreements. In some of these, as in the case of abortion, Kerry distinguishes his personal views as in line with his Catholic faith, but believes that separation of church and state demands that he not legislate his religious beliefs upon those who do not share those beliefs.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Olsen|first=Compiled by Ted|title=Why Kerry Is Sincere When He Says He Believes Life Begins at Conception|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/julyweb-only/7-5-31.0.html|access-date=June 23, 2020|website=ChristianityToday.com|date=July 2004 |language=en|archive-date=June 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624160947/https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/julyweb-only/7-5-31.0.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Kerry supported the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] and [[Most Favored Nation]] status for China, but opposed the [[Central American Free Trade Agreement]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Joel |date=2004-09-29 |title=Kerry's Top Ten Flip-Flops - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kerrys-top-ten-flip-flops/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerry Statement on CAFTA |url=https://www.iatp.org/news/kerry-statement-on-cafta |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.iatp.org |language=en}}</ref>
In July 1997, Kerry joined his Senate colleagues in voting against ratification of the [[Kyoto Treaty]] on [[global warming]] without greenhouse gas emissions limits on nations deemed developing, including India and China.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=105&session=1&vote=00205 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-date=February 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202105434/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=105&session=1&vote=00205 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since then, Kerry has attacked President Bush, charging him with opposition to international efforts to combat global warming.<ref name="pariah">{{cite news |title=Kerry says U.S. 'a sort of international pariah' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-01-27-kerry-us-policy_x.htm |newspaper=[[USA TODAY]] |date=January 27, 2007 |access-date=September 1, 2017 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124213653/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-01-27-kerry-us-policy_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
On October 1, 2008, Kerry voted for [[Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008]], also known as the [[Troubled Asset Relief Program|TARP]] bailout.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00212 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-date=March 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309170437/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00212 |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Iraq====
[[File:US Navy 050901-M-1327J-002 U.S. Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts, Ted Stevens of Alaska, and John Warner of Virginia, walk with U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Stephen Johnson and Brig. Gen. John E. Wissler to the Marine Armor I.jpg|thumb|Senator Kerry in Iraq, September 2005]]
In the lead up to the [[Iraq War]], Kerry said on October 9, 2002; "I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." Bush relied on that resolution in ordering the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. Kerry also gave a January 23, 2003, speech to [[Georgetown University]] saying "Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator; leading an oppressive regime he presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation. So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real." Kerry did, however, warn that the administration should exhaust its diplomatic avenues before launching war: "Mr. President, do not rush to war, take the time to build the coalition, because it's not winning the war that's hard, it's winning the peace that's hard."<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerry Makes It Official |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kerry-makes-it-official/ |publisher=[[CBS]] |date=September 2, 2003 |access-date=October 21, 2005 |archive-date=February 9, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209024140/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/02/politics/main571162.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
After the invasion of Iraq, when no [[weapons of mass destruction]] were found, Kerry strongly criticized Bush, contending that he had misled the country: "When the President of the United States looks at you and tells you something, there should be some trust."<ref>{{cite news |title=Bush defends Iraq war in face of WMD findings |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/01/27/sprj.nirq.bush/ |work=CNN|date=January 28, 2004 |access-date=October 26, 2004 |archive-date=October 11, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041011123224/http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/01/27/sprj.nirq.bush/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Libya====
In 2011, Kerry supported [[2011 military intervention in Libya|American military action in Libya]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-usa-kerry/kerry-warns-u-s-against-failing-to-act-on-libya-idUSTRE72F98D20110316 |title=Kerry warns U.S. Against failing to act on Libya |newspaper=Reuters |date=March 16, 2011 |access-date=July 5, 2018 |archive-date=July 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705121356/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-usa-kerry/kerry-warns-u-s-against-failing-to-act-on-libya-idUSTRE72F98D20110316 |url-status=live |last1=Alexander |first1=David }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-usa-senate-idUSTRE75R42E20110628|title=Senate panel approves Libya mission|date=June 28, 2011|work=Reuters|access-date=November 2, 2019|language=en|archive-date=November 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102174641/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-usa-senate-idUSTRE75R42E20110628|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Leadership===
Kerry chaired the [[Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs]] from 1991 to 1993. The committee's report, which Kerry endorsed, stated there was "no compelling evidence that proves that any American remains alive in captivity in Southeast Asia".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/irp/congress/1993_rpt/pow-exec.html |title=Report of the Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs |publisher=[[U.S. Senate]] |date=January 13, 1993 |access-date=January 3, 2008 |archive-date=October 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010150311/https://fas.org/irp/congress/1993_rpt/pow-exec.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1994 the Senate passed a resolution, sponsored by Kerry and fellow Vietnam veteran [[John McCain]], that called for an end to the existing trade embargo against Vietnam; it was intended to pave the way for normalization.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A02E3DC1639F93BA15752C0A962958260 |title=Senate Urges End to U.S. Embargo Against Vietnam |author=Greenhouse, Steven |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 28, 1994 |access-date=January 6, 2008 |archive-date=March 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325201708/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A02E3DC1639F93BA15752C0A962958260 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1995, President [[Bill Clinton]] normalized diplomatic relations with the country of Vietnam.<ref name="time072495">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,983202,00.html |title=Good Morning, Vietnam |author=Walsh, James |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=July 24, 1995 |access-date=January 5, 2008 |archive-date=August 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812014021/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,983202,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Kerry was the chairman of the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]] from 1987 to 1989. He was reelected to the Senate in [[1990 United States Senate election|1990]], [[1996 United States Senate election|1996]] (after winning re-election against the then-[[List of Governors of Massachusetts|Governor of Massachusetts]] Republican [[William Weld]]), [[2002 United States Senate election|2002]], and [[2008 United States Senate election|2008]]. In January 2009, Kerry replaced [[Joe Biden]] as the chairman of the [[Senate Foreign Relations Committee]].<ref name="boston.com">{{cite news| url = http://archive.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/11/20/kerry_poised_to_cap_long_journey/?page=full| title = Kerry poised to cap long journey| first = Bryan| last = Bender| date = November 20, 2008| newspaper = [[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=July 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110205728/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/11/20/kerry_poised_to_cap_long_journey/?page=full|archive-date=November 10, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
As a role model for campus leaders across the nation and strong advocate for global development, Kerry was honored by the Millennium Campus Network (MCN) as a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO33By_msYw Global Generation Award winner] in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/lifestyle/blogs/thenextgreatgeneration/2011/09/global_generation_awards_honor.html |title=Global Generation Awards Honor Gen Y's Humanitarian Heroes – The Next Great Generation |publisher=Boston.com |date=September 19, 2011 |access-date=April 22, 2013 |first=Alex |last=Pearlman |archive-date=April 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405140150/http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/blogs/thenextgreatgeneration/2011/09/global_generation_awards_honor.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2011/09/20/dushku_honored_at_global_generation_awards/ |title=Dushku honored at Global Generation Awards |publisher=Boston.com |date=September 20, 2011 |access-date=April 22, 2013 |first1=Mark |last1=Shanahan |first2=Meredith |last2=Goldstein |archive-date=April 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405140938/http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2011/09/20/dushku_honored_at_global_generation_awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Committee assignments===
During his tenure, Kerry served on four Senate committees and nine subcommittees:
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation|Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation]]'''
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet|Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet]] (chairman)
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion|Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard|Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science and Space|Subcommittee on Science and Space]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Finance|Committee on Finance]]'''
** [[United States Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care|Subcommittee on Health Care]]
** [[United States Senate Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure|Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure]]
** [[United States Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness|Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Committee on Foreign Relations]]''' (Chairman 2009–2013)
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship]]'''
* '''Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe'''
* '''[[United States Congress Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction|Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction]]'''
===Caucus memberships===
* Congressional Bicameral High-Speed and Intercity Rail Caucus
* Congressional Internet Caucus
* Congressional Vietnam-Era Veterans Caucus (Co-chair)
* [[United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus|International Conservation Caucus]]
* Senate Prosecutors Caucus (Co-chair)
* [[Senate Oceans Caucus]]
===Seniority===
{{Main|Seniority in the United States Senate}}
From the beginning of the [[113th United States Congress]] until his resignation, Kerry ranked as the 7th most senior U.S. Senator. Due to the [[longevity]] of Ted Kennedy's service, Kerry was the most senior ''junior Senator'' in the [[List of United States Senators in the 111th Congress by seniority|111th United States Congress]]. On Tuesday, August 25, 2009, Kerry became the senior senator from Massachusetts following Ted Kennedy's death.
===Sponsorship of legislation===
{{update|section|date=January 2023}}
Areas of concern in the bills Kerry introduced into the Senate included [[small business]] concerns, [[education]], [[terrorism]], [[veteran]]s' and [[Vietnam War POW/MIA issue|POW/MIA issues]], and marine resource protection. A full list of Kerry's sponsored legislation was available on his [https://web.archive.org/web/20040823231631/http://kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/issues/legislation.html Senate web site].
During his Senate career, Kerry was primary sponsor of the following bills (excluding resolutions and amendments sponsored). This table does not count bills which Kerry co-sponsored.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! Session
! Years
! Bills Sponsored
! Signed into law
|-
| 99th
| 1985–86
| 15
| 0
|-
| 100th
| 1987–88
| 21
| [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d100:22:./temp/~bdAOxC::/bss/d100query.html 1]{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
|-
| 101st
| 1989–90
| 44
| 0
|-
| 102nd
| 1991–92
| 28
| [[wikisource:US 102nd Senate 1563|1]]
|-
| 103rd
| 1993–94
| 27
| [[wikisource:US Public Law 103-234|1]], [[wikisource:US Public Law 103-238|2]]
|-
| 104th
| 1995–96
| 32
| 0
|-
| 105th
| 1997–98
| 19
| 0
|-
| 106th
| 1999–00
| 33
| [[wikisource:US Public Law 106-165|1]]
|-
| 107th
| 2001–02
| 81
| [[wikisource:US Public Law 107-50|1]], [[wikisource:US Public Law 107-229|2]], [[wikisource:US Public Law 107-338|3]]
|-
| 108th
| 2003–04
| 30
| [[wikisource:US Public Law 108-101|1]]
|}
A chronological list of various bills and resolutions sponsored by Kerry follows.
* A concurrent resolution condemning [[North Korea]]'s support for terrorist activities. Measure passed Senate, amended. [[100th United States Congress|100th Congress]].
* A resolution relating to declassification of Documents, Files, and other materials pertaining to [[POW]]s and [[Missing in action|MIAs]]. Agreed to without amendment. 100th Congress.
* A bill to authorize appropriations to carry out the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes. Signed by President.
* A bill to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit certain transactions with respect to managed accounts. Referred to committee. [[102nd United States Congress|102nd Congress]].
* A bill to authorize appropriations for the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and to improve the program to reduce the incidental taking of marine mammals during the course of commercial fishing operations, and for other purposes. Became public law #103-238. [[103rd United States Congress|103rd Congress]].
* A bill to amend the Small Business Act to enhance the business development opportunities of small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and for other purposes. Referred to committee. 103rd Congress.
* A bill to designate a portion of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Passed without objection. [[105th United States Congress|105th Congress]].
* A bill to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the women's business center program. Became Public Law #106-165. 106th Congress.
* A bill to authorize the Small Business Administration to provide financial and business development assistance to military reservists' small businesses, and for other purposes. Referred to committee. [[106th United States Congress|106th Congress]].
* A bill to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the microloan program, and for other purposes. Ordered to be Reported. [[107th United States Congress|107th Congress]].
* A bill to reauthorize the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, and for other purposes. Became Public Law #107-50. 107th Congress.
* A bill to provide assistance to small business concerns adversely impacted by the [[September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack|terrorist attacks]] against the United States on September 11, 2001, and for other purposes. Referred to committee. 107th Congress.
* A bill to provide emergency assistance to nonfarm-related small business concerns that have suffered substantial economic harm from drought. Referred to committee. [[108th United States Congress|108th Congress]].
*The ''Building and Upgrading Infrastructure for Long-Term Development'' (BUILD) Act, described by the [[National Taxpayers Union|National Taxpayers Union Foundation]] as its "most expensive bill of the Week" when it was introduced into the Senate in 2011.<ref>National Taxpayers Union Foundation, [https://www.ntu.org/foundation/detail/taxpayers-tab-issue-24-2-2 Taxpayer's Tab], published July 26, 2011, accessed January 22, 2023</ref>
==2004 presidential campaign==
{{Main|John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign}}
{{Further|2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2004 United States presidential election|2004 United States election voting controversies}}
[[File:Kerry-wind.jpg|left|thumb|Kerry and [[Teresa Heinz]] crossing [[Lake Michigan]] on the [[Lake Express]] during the 2004 campaign]]
In the 2004 Democratic [[United States presidential primary|presidential primaries]], John Kerry defeated several Democratic rivals, including Sen. [[John Edwards]] (D-North Carolina), former Vermont Governor [[Howard Dean]] and retired [[United States Army|Army]] General [[Wesley Clark]]. His victory in the Iowa caucuses is widely believed to be the tipping point where Kerry revived his sagging campaign in New Hampshire and the February 3, 2004, primary states like Arizona, South Carolina and New Mexico. Kerry then went on to win landslide victories in Nevada and Wisconsin. Kerry thus won the Democratic nomination to run for President of the United States against incumbent George W. Bush. On July 6, 2004, he announced his selection of [[John Edwards]] as his running mate. Democratic strategist [[Bob Shrum]], who was Kerry's 2004 campaign adviser, wrote an article in [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]] claiming that after the election, Kerry had said that he wished he had never picked Edwards, and that the two have since stopped speaking to each other.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Shrum |first=Robert |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1626498-2,00.html |title=Kerry's Regrets About John Edwards |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=May 30, 2007 |access-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-date=October 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011170220/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1626498-2,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a subsequent appearance on ABC's ''This Week'', Kerry refused to respond to Shrum's allegation, calling it a "ridiculous waste of time".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/13/kerry-disregards-bob-shru_n_81260.html |title=Kerry Disregards Bob Shrum Book: "Ridiculous Waste Of Time" |publisher=HuffPost |date=January 13, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2010 |first=Nico |last=Pitney |archive-date=April 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406220942/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/13/kerry-disregards-bob-shru_n_81260.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Kerry, baby, horizontal.jpg|thumb|Kerry on the campaign trail in [[Rochester, Minnesota]]]]
During his bid to be elected president in [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]], Kerry frequently criticized President [[George W. Bush]] for starting the [[Iraq War]].<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5552784 Text of Kerry's acceptance speech.], [[NBC News]], July 29, 2004. "Saying there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq doesn't make it so. Saying we can fight a war on the cheap doesn't make it so. And proclaiming mission accomplished certainly doesn't make it so."</ref> While Kerry had initially voted in support of authorizing President Bush to use force in dealing with [[Saddam Hussein]], he voted against an $87{{spaces}}billion supplemental appropriations bill to pay for the subsequent war. His statement on March 16, 2004, "I actually did vote for the $87{{spaces}}billion before I voted against it", helped the Bush campaign to paint him as a [[flip-flopper]] and has been cited as contributing to Kerry's defeat.<ref name="baroneandcohen">{{cite book|first1=Michael|last1=Barone|first2=Richard E.|last2=Cohen|title=The Almanac of American Politics 2010|___location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=National Journal Group|year=2009|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780892341207/page/731 731]|isbn=978-0-89234-120-7|author-link=Michael Barone (pundit)|quote=Bush's job approval hovered under 50%, and he trailed Kerry in polls for much of the seven-month campaign. Kerry performed well in debates, being judged the winner in snap polls in all three. Yet he lost. One reason may have been encapsulated by his March 16 defense of his 2003 vote against the supplemental appropriation for Iraq: 'I actually did vote for the $87{{spaces}}billion before I voted against it.' The Bush campaign painted Kerry as a flip-flopper.|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780892341207/page/731}}</ref>
On November 3, 2004, Kerry conceded the race. Kerry won 59.03 million votes, or 48.3 percent of the popular vote; Bush won 62.04 million votes, or 50.7 percent of the popular vote. Kerry carried states with a total of 252 [[United States Electoral College|electoral votes]]. One Kerry elector voted for Kerry's running mate, Edwards, so in the final tally Kerry had 251 electoral votes to Bush's 286.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2004/federalelections2004.pdf |title=Election and voting information |access-date=March 1, 2015 |archive-date=May 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506060546/http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2004/federalelections2004.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> He was the first Democrat since [[Michael Dukakis]] in [[1988 United States presidential election|1988]] to lose the popular vote in a presidential election, and until [[Kamala Harris]]'s loss in [[2024 United States presidential election|2024]], he was the most recent Democrat to do so.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trump set to be the first Republican candidate to win the popular vote in 20 years|url=https://www.axios.com/2024/11/06/trump-popular-vote-republican-candidates|website=Axios|date=November 6, 2024|accessdate=November 6, 2024|author=Rubin, April}}</ref>
==Subsequent presidential-election activities==
[[File:John Kerry DNC 2008.jpg|thumb|Kerry speaking during the third night of the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]]]]
Immediately after the 2004 election, some Democrats mentioned Kerry as a possible contender for the 2008 Democratic nomination. His brother had said such a campaign was "conceivable", and Kerry himself reportedly said at a farewell party for his 2004 campaign staff, "There's always another four years".<ref>{{cite news |first=Glen |last=Johnson |title=Kerry run in '08 called conceivable |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/11/09/kerry_run_in_08_called_conceivable/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=November 9, 2004 |access-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152325/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/11/09/kerry_run_in_08_called_conceivable/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Kerry established a separate [[political action committee]], Keeping America's Promise, which declared as its mandate "A Democratic Congress will restore accountability to Washington and help change a disastrous course in Iraq",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keepingamericaspromise.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116051342/http://www.keepingamericaspromise.com/ |archive-date=November 16, 2006 |title=Keeping America's Promise |publisher=Keepingamericaspromise.com |date=July 5, 2007 |access-date=March 12, 2010}}</ref> and raised money and channeled contributions to Democratic candidates in state and federal races.<ref>{{cite news |first=Glen |last=Johnson |title=Kerry creates PAC to back candidates |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/12/05/kerry_creates_pac_to_back_candidates/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=December 5, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050128194628/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/12/05/kerry_creates_pac_to_back_candidates/|archive-date=January 28, 2005|access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref> Through Keeping America's Promise in 2005, Kerry raised over $5.5{{spaces}}million for other Democrats up and down the ballot. Through his campaign account and his political action committee, the Kerry campaign operation generated more than $10{{spaces}}million for various party committees and 179 candidates for the U.S. House, Senate, state and local offices in 42 states focusing on the midterm elections during the 2006 election cycle.<ref>{{cite news |first=Brain C. |last=Mooney |title=Kerry's barnstorming sparks talk of a run |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/10/09/kerrys_barnstorming_sparks_talk_of_a_run/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=October 9, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724211845/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/10/09/kerrys_barnstorming_sparks_talk_of_a_run/|archive-date=July 24, 2008|access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref> "Cumulatively, John Kerry has done as much if not more than any other individual senator", Hassan Nemazee, the national finance chairman of the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee|DSCC]] said.<ref>{{cite news |first=Rick |last=Klein |author2=Kranish, Michael |title=Kerry is pressured to share campaign wealth |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/10/21/kerry_is_pressured_to_share_campaign_wealth/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=October 21, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207093333/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/10/21/kerry_is_pressured_to_share_campaign_wealth/?page=2 |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |access-date=July 7, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
On January 10, 2008, Kerry endorsed Illinois Senator [[Barack Obama]] for president.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/10/kerry.obama/index.html |title=Kerry endorses Obama over '04 running mate |publisher=CNN |date=January 10, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-date=April 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409001821/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/10/kerry.obama/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He was mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate for Senator Obama, although fellow Senator [[Joe Biden]] was eventually chosen. After Biden's acceptance of the vice presidential nomination, speculation arose that John Kerry would be a candidate for [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] in the Obama administration.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hosenball|first=Mark|title=A Bid for an Obama Cabinet|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/141512|work=Newsweek|date=June 23, 2008|access-date=November 9, 2008|archive-date=October 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026080646/http://www.newsweek.com/id/141512|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] was offered the position.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/11/hillary-clint-3.html |title=Hillary Clinton reportedly accepts Barack Obama's Cabinet offer |publisher=Latimesblogs |date=November 21, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-date=December 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205155449/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/11/hillary-clint-3.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
During the 2012 Obama reelection campaign, Kerry participated in one-on-one debate prep with the president, impersonating the Republican candidate [[Mitt Romney]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/npr/164617347/likely-suspects-guessing-obama-s-second-term-cabinet |title=Likely Suspects: Guessing Obama's Second-Term Cabinet |first=Padmananda |last=Rama |publisher=NPR via northcountrypublicradio.org |date=November 8, 2012 |access-date=November 9, 2012 |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111024245/http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/npr/164617347/likely-suspects-guessing-obama-s-second-term-cabinet |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Secretary of State (2013–2017)==
{{Main|Foreign policy of the Barack Obama administration}}
[[File:Supreme Court Justice Kagan Swears in Secretary Kerry (1).jpg|thumb|right|John Kerry was sworn in as Secretary of State by Justice [[Elena Kagan]] on February 1, 2013.]]
[[File:John Kerry official Secretary of State portrait.jpg|thumb|right|alt=John Kerry dressed in a black suit seen in his official secretary of state portrait in 2013|John Kerry's official portrait as [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]], 2013]]
===Nomination and confirmation===
On December 15, 2012, several news outlets reported that President [[Barack Obama]] would nominate Kerry to succeed [[Hillary Clinton]] as [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]],<ref name=ABC01>{{cite web |first=Jake |last=Tapper |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/12/john-kerry-to-be-nominated-to-be-secretary-of-state-sources-say/ |title=John Kerry to Be Nominated to Be Secretary of State, Sources Say |work=ABC News |date=December 15, 2012 |access-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216055321/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/12/john-kerry-to-be-nominated-to-be-secretary-of-state-sources-say/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="kerryhuff">{{cite news |url= https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/15/john-kerry-secretary-of-state_n_2306877.html |title= John Kerry To Get Secretary Of State Nomination, Reports ABC |work= Huffington Post |date= December 15, 2012 |access-date= December 15, 2012 |first= Paige |last= Lavender |archive-date= December 16, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121216072907/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/15/john-kerry-secretary-of-state_n_2306877.html |url-status= live }}</ref> after [[Susan Rice]], widely seen as Obama's preferred choice, withdrew her name from consideration citing a politicized confirmation process following criticism of her response to the [[2012 Benghazi attack]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://rockcenter.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/13/15888883-exclusive-susan-rice-drops-out-of-running-for-secretary-of-state-cites-very-politicized-confirmation-process |title= Susan Rice drops out of running for secretary of state, cites 'very politicized' confirmation process |publisher= NBC News |date= December 12, 2012 |access-date= December 16, 2012 |archive-date= January 26, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180126053320/http://rockcenter.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/13/15888883-exclusive-susan-rice-drops-out-of-running-for-secretary-of-state-cites-very-politicized-confirmation-process |url-status= live }}</ref> On December 21, Obama proposed the nomination,<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/22/us/politics/kerry-is-pick-for-secretary-of-state-official-says.html |title= Kerry Is Pick for Secretary of State, Official Says |newspaper= [[The New York Times]] |date= December 21, 2012 |access-date= December 21, 2012 |last= Landler |first= Mark |author-link= Mark Landler |archive-date= December 21, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121221170415/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/22/us/politics/kerry-is-pick-for-secretary-of-state-official-says.html |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/12/21/remarks-president-nomination-senator-john-kerry-secretary-state "Remarks by the President at Nomination of Senator John Kerry as Secretary of State"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210225713/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/12/21/remarks-president-nomination-senator-john-kerry-secretary-state |date=February 10, 2021 }}, ''The [[White House]]'', December 21, 2012.</ref> which received positive commentary. His confirmation hearing took place on January 24, 2013, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the same panel where he first testified in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2013/01/16/senator-john-kerry-confirmation-hearing-serve-secretary-state-scheduled-for-next-week/hgbzMfe7cvhff9qELYNMLJ/story.html|title=Senator John Kerry's confirmation hearing to serve as U.S. Secretary of State scheduled for next week|work=The Boston Globe|date=January 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118153314/http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2013/01/16/senator-john-kerry-confirmation-hearing-serve-secretary-state-scheduled-for-next-week/hgbzMfe7cvhff9qELYNMLJ/story.html|archive-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo46636 |title=Nomination of John F. Kerry to be Secretary of State: Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, January 24, 2013 |access-date=June 25, 2017 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124213655/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-113shrg86451/pdf/CHRG-113shrg86451.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The committee unanimously voted to approve him on January 29, 2013, and the same day the full Senate confirmed him on a vote of 94–3.<ref>{{cite news |last=Curry |first=Tom |title=Senate votes to confirm Kerry as secretary of state |url=http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/29/16758482-senate-votes-to-confirm-kerry-as-secretary-of-state |access-date=January 29, 2013 |newspaper=NBC News |date=January 29, 2013 |archive-date=May 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510143303/http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/29/16758482-senate-votes-to-confirm-kerry-as-secretary-of-state |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Senate Roll Call Vote |url= https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00005 |access-date= April 3, 2013 |date= January 29, 2013 |archive-date= March 3, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130303140609/http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00005 |url-status= live }}</ref> In a letter to Massachusetts Governor [[Deval Patrick]], Kerry announced his [[resignation from the United States Senate|resignation from the Senate]] effective February 1.<ref>{{cite news |last= Kerry |first= John |title= Letter to Deval Patrick |url= http://cache.boston.com/multimedia/2013/01/29kerry/resignation_letter.pdf |access-date= January 30, 2013 |newspaper= boston.com |date= January 29, 2013 |archive-date= October 2, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131002101244/http://cache.boston.com/multimedia/2013/01/29kerry/resignation_letter.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref>
===Tenure===
{{See also|List of international trips made by John Kerry as United States Secretary of State}}
Kerry was sworn in as Secretary of State on February 1, 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Klapper |first1=Bradley |last2=Lee |first2=Matthew |date=February 1, 2013 |title=Clinton out, Kerry in as secretary of state |agency=Associated Press |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-interview-clinton-raps-benghazi-critics |url-status=usurped |access-date=February 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204020316/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-interview-clinton-raps-benghazi-critics |archive-date=February 4, 2013}}</ref>
While serving as the Secretary of State, Kerry spoke in the French language on several occasions in his official capacity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYSYjLtDYLc|title=Secretary Kerry Comments on the Attack in Paris (French)|date=January 7, 2015 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-usa-kerry/kerry-delivers-a-love-letter-to-france-in-french-idUSBRE98701U20130908 Kerry delivers a love letter to France, in French] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023233621/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-usa-kerry/kerry-delivers-a-love-letter-to-france-in-french-idUSBRE98701U20130908 |date=October 23, 2021 }}, ''[[Reuters]]'', 2013.</ref>
After six months of rigorous diplomacy within the [[Middle East]], Kerry was able to have Israeli and [[State of Palestine|Palestinian]] negotiators agree to start the [[2013–2014 Israeli–Palestinian peace talks]]. Senior U.S. officials stated the two sides were able to meet on July 30, 2013, at the State Department without American [[mediation|mediators]] following a dinner the previous evening hosted by Kerry.<ref>{{cite news|title=Middle East Peace Talks To Resume|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/30/middle-east-peace-talks_n_3674741.html|access-date=July 30, 2013 | work=Huffington Post|date=July 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802142620/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/30/middle-east-peace-talks_n_3674741.html|archive-date=August 2, 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Secretary Kerry Views the Mrajeeb al-Fhood Camp for Syrian Refugees.jpg|thumb|Kerry views the Mrajeeb al-Fhood camp for [[Refugees of the Syrian Civil War|Syrian refugees]] in 2014. Syrian rebels [[Timber Sycamore|received support]] from the United States.]]
[[File:John Kerry Speaks With Hossein Fereydoun and Javad Zarif before Press conference in Vienna (19663913956) cropped.jpg|thumb|right|Kerry with [[Hossein Fereydoun]] and [[Mohammad Javad Zarif]] during the announcement of the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]], July 14, 2015]]
On September 27, 2013, he met with the [[Iran]]ian [[Foreign Affairs Minister of Iran|Foreign Minister]] [[Mohammad Javad Zarif]] during the [[P5+1]] and Iran summit, which eventually led to the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|JCPOA]] nuclear agreement. It was the highest-level direct contact between the United States and Iran in the last six years, and made him the first U.S. Secretary of State to have met with his Iranian counterpart since 1979 [[Iranian Revolution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/diplomats-hail-iranian-attitude-nuke-talks-220409043.html|title=Diplomats hail new Iranian attitude in nuke talks|date=September 27, 2013|work=Yahoo News|access-date=January 14, 2017|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202255/http://news.yahoo.com/diplomats-hail-iranian-attitude-nuke-talks-220409043.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/u-iran-voice-optimism-caution-rare-encounter-002840696.html|title=U.S., Iran voice optimism and caution after rare encounter|date=September 27, 2013|work=Yahoo News|access-date=January 14, 2017|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092416/http://news.yahoo.com/u-iran-voice-optimism-caution-rare-encounter-002840696.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/09/214827.htm|title=Remarks After the P-5+1 Ministerial on Iran|access-date=May 22, 2019|archive-date=February 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211182135/https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/09/214827.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Secretary Kerry Laughs as the Crowd Across the Street Yells "Viva Cuba" at End of Playing of Cuban National Anthem (20564842702).jpg|thumb|Kerry was the first U.S. secretary of state to visit [[Cuba]] since 1945.]]
[[File:Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama (2015-09-29) 05.jpg|thumb|John Kerry and [[Barack Obama]] meet with Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] to discuss Syria, September 29, 2015.]]
In the State Department, Kerry quickly earned a reputation "for being aloof, keeping to himself, and not bothering to read staff memos". Career State Department officials complained that power became too centralized under Kerry's leadership, which slowed department operations when Kerry was on frequent overseas trips. Others in State described Kerry as having "a kind of diplomatic attention deficit disorder" as he shifted from topic to topic instead of focusing on long-term strategy. When asked whether he was traveling too much, he responded, "Hell no. I'm not slowing down." Despite Kerry's early achievements, morale at State was lower than under Hillary Clinton, according to department employees.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rohde|first=David|date=November 20, 2013|title=How John Kerry Could End Up Outdoing Hillary Clinton|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/12/john-kerry-will-not-be-denied/354688/|newspaper=The Atlantic|access-date=March 8, 2017|archive-date=March 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302014151/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/12/john-kerry-will-not-be-denied/354688/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, after Kerry's first six months in the State Department, a Gallup poll found he had high approval ratings among Americans as Secretary of State.<ref>{{cite news|last=Arkin|first=James|date=September 16, 2013|title=Poll: John Kerry's approval tops President Obama's|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/john-kerry-approval-rating-poll-96842.html|newspaper=Politico|access-date=December 7, 2013|archive-date=December 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216213516/http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/john-kerry-approval-rating-poll-96842.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After a year, another poll showed Kerry's favorability continued to rise.<ref>{{cite news|last=Swift|first=Art|date=March 5, 2014|title=Secretary of State Kerry's Favorability Rising in the U.S.|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/167741/secretary-state-kerry-favorability-rising.aspx|access-date=February 25, 2015|archive-date=February 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225171822/http://www.gallup.com/poll/167741/secretary-state-kerry-favorability-rising.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Less than two years into Kerry's term, the Foreign Policy Magazine's 2014 Ivory Tower survey of international relations scholars asked, "Who was the most effective U.S. Secretary of State in the past 50 years?"; John Kerry and [[Lawrence Eagleburger]] tied for 11th place out of the 15 confirmed Secretaries of State in that period.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kamen|first=Al|date=February 5, 2015|title=Scholars votes put Kerry dead last in terms of effectiveness|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2015/02/05/scholars-rank-kerry-dead-last-in-terms-of-effectiveness/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=September 1, 2017|archive-date=September 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903230950/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2015/02/05/scholars-rank-kerry-dead-last-in-terms-of-effectiveness/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Maliniak|first=Daniel|date=February 5, 2015|title=The Best International Relations Schools in the World|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/02/03/top-twenty-five-schools-international-relations/|newspaper=Foreign Policy|access-date=March 8, 2017|archive-date=July 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729093926/http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/02/03/top-twenty-five-schools-international-relations/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2014, having met with Vatican Secretary of State [[Archbishop]] [[Pietro Parolin]], Kerry said: "We touched on just about every major issue that we are both working on, that are issues of concern to all of us. First of all, we talked at great length about Syria, and I was particularly appreciative for the Archbishop's raising this issue, and equally grateful for the Holy Father's comments{{snd}}the Pope's comments yesterday regarding his support for the Geneva{{spaces}}II process. We welcome that support. It is very important to have broad support, and I know that the Pope is particularly concerned about the massive numbers of displaced human beings and the violence that has taken over 130,000 lives."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.state.gov/md219654.htm|title=Remarks After Meeting With Secretary of State of the Holy See Pietro Parolin|work=state.gov|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203112534/http://m.state.gov/md219654.htm|archive-date=February 3, 2014}}</ref>
Kerry expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself during the [[2014 Israel–Gaza conflict]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/after-airstrikes-kill-dozens-in-gaza-kerry-backs-israels-right-to-defend-itself/ |title=After airstrikes kill dozens in Gaza, Kerry backs Israel's right to defend itself |date=July 20, 2014 |work=The Times of Israel |access-date=October 7, 2016 |archive-date=October 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010012615/http://www.timesofisrael.com/after-airstrikes-kill-dozens-in-gaza-kerry-backs-israels-right-to-defend-itself/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Kerry said the United States supported the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]] because [[Saudi Arabia]], an ally, was threatened "very directly" by the takeover of neighboring Yemen by the [[Houthis]], but noted that the United States would not reflexively support Saudi Arabia's proxy wars against Iran.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/14/world/middleeast/yemen-saudi-us.html |title=Quiet Support for Saudis Entangles U.S. in Yemen |work=The New York Times |date=March 13, 2016 |access-date=February 9, 2017 |archive-date=May 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510230515/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/14/world/middleeast/yemen-saudi-us.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On December 28, 2016, soon after [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334]] passed 14–0 with the U.S. abstaining, Kerry joined the rest of the [[United Nations Security Council|U.N. Security Council]] in strongly criticizing Israel's [[Israeli settlement|settlement policies]] in a speech.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Sanger | first1=David E. | title=Kerry Rebukes Israel, Calling Settlements a Threat to Peace | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/us/politics/john-kerry-israel-palestine-peace.html | date=December 28, 2016 | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=January 7, 2017 | archive-date=January 6, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106223154/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/us/politics/john-kerry-israel-palestine-peace.html | url-status=live }}</ref> His speech and criticisms met negative reactions from Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Israel-Palestinians: Netanyahu Condemns John Kerry Speech | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38455753 | date=December 29, 2016 | publisher=[[BBC]] | access-date=January 7, 2017 | archive-date=January 8, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108113750/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38455753 | url-status=live }}</ref> while UK Prime Minister [[Theresa May]] distanced the UK from Kerry's strongly worded speech in what appeared to be an attempt to build bridges with the incoming Trump administration.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Stewart | first1=Heather | title=Theresa May's Criticism of John Kerry Israel Speech Sparks Blunt US Reply | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/29/theresa-may-john-kerry-comments-israel-palestine-un-resolution | date=December 29, 2016 | newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | access-date=January 7, 2017 | archive-date=January 7, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107051656/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/29/theresa-may-john-kerry-comments-israel-palestine-un-resolution | url-status=live }}</ref> Kerry's speech received positive reactions from Arab nations, but some criticized his remarks as too little, too late from the outgoing administration.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Hubbard | first1=Ben | title=Praise for Kerry's Israel Speech in Arab World, but Shrugs, Too | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/29/world/middleeast/john-kerry-israel-speech-arabs.html | date=December 29, 2016 | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=January 7, 2017 | archive-date=January 3, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103093045/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/29/world/middleeast/john-kerry-israel-speech-arabs.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
===Syria===
Following the August 21, 2013, [[Ghouta chemical attack|chemical weapons attack on the Ghouta suburbs of Damascus]] attributed to Syrian government forces, Kerry became a leading advocate for the use of military force against the Syrian government for what he called "a despot's brutal and flagrant use of chemical weapons".<ref>{{cite news |date=August 30, 2013 |title=Kerry Becomes Chief Advocate for U.S. Attack |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/31/world/middleeast/john-kerry-syria.html |newspaper=The New York Times |first1=Peter |last1=Baker |first2=Michael R. |last2=Gordon |access-date=February 9, 2017 |archive-date=April 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409001833/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/31/world/middleeast/john-kerry-syria.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On September 9, in response to a reporter's question about whether Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]] could avert a military strike, Kerry said "He could turn over every single bit of his chemical weapons to the international community in the next week. Turn it over, all of it, without delay, and allow a full and total accounting for that. But he isn't about to do it, and it can't be done, obviously." This unscripted remark initiated a process that would lead to Syria agreeing to relinquish and destroy its chemical weapons arsenal, as Russia treated Kerry's statement as a serious proposal. Russian Foreign Minister [[Sergey Lavrov]] said Russia would work "immediately" to convince Syria relinquish and destroy its large chemical weapons arsenal.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 10, 2013 |title=Syria timeline: how Kerry's gaffe became a plan |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/syria-timeline-how-kerrys-gaffe-became-a-plan-20130910-2ti4z.html |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802183556/https://www.smh.com.au/world/syria-timeline-how-kerrys-gaffe-became-a-plan-20130910-2ti4z.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=September 9, 2013 |title=John Kerry's Gaffe Heard Round the World |url=http://www.thewire.com/politics/2013/09/gaffe-heard-round-world/69205/ |newspaper=The Wire |access-date=December 19, 2013 |archive-date=December 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219090402/http://www.thewire.com/politics/2013/09/gaffe-heard-round-world/69205/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=September 9, 2013 |title=Kerry's Syria 'gaffe' gains swift traction |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ias_Ba-6bNuttPmPTTgcVZp1BUhw?docId=CNG.57b1e73f97bfc9c11ac2f3f75999a7f9.4e1 |agency=AFP |access-date=November 11, 2016 |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303192936/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ias_Ba-6bNuttPmPTTgcVZp1BUhw?docId=CNG.57b1e73f97bfc9c11ac2f3f75999a7f9.4e1 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=September 9, 2013 |title=White House's Syria gaffe offers Obama a chance to climb back from war |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/09/white-house-syria-gaffe-obama-war |agency=The Guardian |access-date=December 14, 2016 |archive-date=February 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214202705/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/09/white-house-syria-gaffe-obama-war |url-status=live }}</ref> Syria quickly welcomed this proposal and on September 14, the UN formally accepted Syria's application to join the convention banning chemical weapons, and separately, the U.S. and Russia agreed on a plan to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons by the middle of 2014, leading Kerry to declare on July 20, 2014: "we struck a deal where we got 100 percent of the chemical weapons out".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.politifact.com/john-kerry-syria-archive/ |title=Archive of fact-check "Kerry: We got '100 percent' of chemical weapons out of Syria" | PolitiFact |access-date=April 7, 2017 |archive-date=September 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901233935/http://www.politifact.com/john-kerry-syria-archive/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On September 28, the UN Security Council passed a resolution ordering the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons and condemning the August 21 Ghouta attack.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 6, 2013 |title=Timeline of events leading up to Syria chemical disarmament |url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/131006/timeline-events-leading-syria-chemical-disarmament |agency=AFP |access-date=December 19, 2013 |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220010648/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/131006/timeline-events-leading-syria-chemical-disarmament |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Latin America===
[[File:Secretary Kerry Speaks With Venezuelan President Maduro (29663133670).jpg|thumb|Kerry speaks with Venezuelan President [[Nicolás Maduro]] in September 2016.]]
In a speech before the [[Organization of American States]] in November 2013, Kerry remarked that the era of the [[Monroe Doctrine]] was over. He went on to explain, "The relationship that we seek and that we have worked hard to foster is not about a United States declaration about how and when it will intervene in the affairs of other American states. It's about all of our countries viewing one another as equals, sharing responsibilities, cooperating on security issues, and adhering not to doctrine, but to the decisions that we make as partners to advance the values and the interests that we share."<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Keith|title=Kerry Makes It Official: 'Era of Monroe Doctrine Is Over'|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/11/18/kerry-makes-it-official-era-of-monroe-doctrine-is-over/|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=November 18, 2013|access-date=August 4, 2017|archive-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709071816/https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/11/18/kerry-makes-it-official-era-of-monroe-doctrine-is-over/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Environmentalism===
In April 2016, he signed the [[Paris Agreement|Paris Climate Accords]] at the United Nations in New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/04/22/3771889/paris-agreement-signing/|title=Alongside 174 Nations And Holding His Granddaughter, John Kerry Signs Paris Climate Accord—ThinkProgress|last=ThinkProgress|website=[[ThinkProgress]]|date=April 22, 2016|access-date=April 25, 2016|archive-date=July 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720132703/http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/04/22/3771889/paris-agreement-signing/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On November 11, 2016, Kerry became the first Secretary of State and highest-ranking U.S. official to date to visit [[Antarctica]]. Kerry spent two days on the continent meeting with researchers and staying overnight at [[McMurdo Station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/john-kerry-lands-antarctica-highest-us-official-visit-43458138|title=John Kerry Lands in Antarctica, Highest US Official to Visit|date=November 11, 2016|work=ABC News|access-date=June 28, 2020|archive-date=November 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117165844/http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/john-kerry-lands-antarctica-highest-us-official-visit-43458138|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1994, Kerry led opposition to continued funding for the [[Integral Fast Reactor]], which resulted in the end of funding for the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesciencecouncil.com/pdfs/PlentifulEnergy.pdf|title=Plentiful Energy: The Story of the Integral Fast Reactor|author=Charles E. Till & Yoon Il Chang|date=2011|publisher=Self-published|access-date=January 13, 2017|archive-date=May 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509030835/http://www.thesciencecouncil.com/pdfs/PlentifulEnergy.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in light of increasing concerns regarding climate change, in 2017 Kerry reversed his position on nuclear power, saying "Given this challenge we face today, and given the progress of fourth generation nuclear: go for it. No other alternative, zero emissions."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2017/01/09/john-kerry-mit-climate-change|title=Speaking At MIT, Secretary Of State John Kerry Urges Action On Climate Change|first=Bruce|last=Gellerman|date=January 9, 2017|access-date=January 11, 2017|publisher=WBUR|archive-date=January 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110142357/http://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2017/01/09/john-kerry-mit-climate-change|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Global Connect initiative===
In September 2015, the U.S. Department of State unveiled a new initiative called "Global Connect" which sought to provide internet access to more than 1.5 billion people around the world within five years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/09/247374.htm|title=U.S. State Department Launches Global Connect Initiatives at UNGA|access-date=May 22, 2019|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802170049/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/09/247374.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, in partnership with [[Overseas Private Investment Corporation|OPIC]], Kerry announced an investment of $171{{spaces}}million to enable "a low-cost and rapidly scalable wireless broadband network in India". OPIC's financing is aimed at helping its Indian Partner, [[Tikona Digital Networks]], to provide Internet through wireless technology.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opic.gov/blog/opic-in-action/why-internet-access-is-key-to-development|title=Why internet access is key to development – OPIC : Overseas Private Investment Corporation|access-date=August 23, 2016|archive-date=August 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825185954/https://www.opic.gov/blog/opic-in-action/why-internet-access-is-key-to-development|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/04/255824.htm|title=Remarks at the Global Connect Initiative Event|access-date=May 22, 2019|archive-date=June 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612085526/https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/04/255824.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/catherine-a-novelli/the-new-road-to-developme_b_9691656.html|title=The New Road to Development: Paving the Way to Global Connectivity|author=Catherine A. Novelli|website=[[HuffPost]]|date=April 14, 2016|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010155727/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/catherine-a-novelli/the-new-road-to-developme_b_9691656.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Out of government (2017–2021)==
[[File:John F. Kerry und Aleksey Pushkov MSC 2018.jpg|thumb|Kerry and Russian Senator [[Aleksey Pushkov]] in Munich in 2018]]
Kerry retired from his diplomatic work following the end of the Obama administration on January 20, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/kerry-john-forbes |title=John Kerry CV |publisher=State Department website |access-date=January 28, 2017 |archive-date=April 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427081742/https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/kerry-john-forbes |url-status=live }}</ref> He did not attend [[First inauguration of Donald Trump|Donald Trump's inauguration]] on that day, and the following day took part in the [[2017 Women's March]] in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/john-kerry-shows-up-at-womens-march-withhis-dog/article/2612580 |title=John Kerry shows up at Women's March with his dog |work=[[Washington Examiner]] |date=January 21, 2017 |access-date=January 28, 2017 |archive-date=August 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820063106/http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/john-kerry-shows-up-at-womens-march-withhis-dog/article/2612580 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Kerry has taken a strong stand against Trump policies and joined in filing a [[brief (law)#United States|brief]] arguing against Trump's executive order [[Executive Order 13769|banning entry of persons from seven Muslim countries]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/kerry-albright-urge-court-uphold-block-trump-travel-111059791.html |title=Kerry, Albright urge court to uphold block on Trump travel ban |access-date=February 10, 2017 |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081434/https://www.yahoo.com/news/kerry-albright-urge-court-uphold-block-trump-travel-111059791.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2018, in a "Guardian Live" conversation with [[Andrew Rawnsley]], sponsored by ''[[The Guardian]]'' at London's [[Methodist Central Hall, Westminster|Central Hall]], Kerry discussed several issues which have developed further since his tenure as Secretary of State, including [[European migrant crisis|migration into Europe]] and climate change.<ref name="GuardianLiveKerry">{{cite web |url=https://membership.theguardian.com/event/john-kerry-a-life-in-politics-49277690900 |title=John Kerry: A life in politics |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=November 15, 2018 |work=[[The Guardian]] |___location=London |access-date= November 24, 2018 |archive-date= November 25, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181125073910/https://membership.theguardian.com/event/john-kerry-a-life-in-politics-49277690900 |url-status= live }}</ref>
On December 5, 2019, Kerry endorsed Joe Biden's bid for the Democratic nomination for president, saying "He'll be ready on day one to put back together the country and the world that Donald Trump has broken apart"<ref>{{cite news |last1=Behrmann |first1=Savannah |title=John Kerry endorsement: 'Joe (Biden) will defeat Donald Trump next November' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/12/05/john-kerry-endorses-joe-biden-president-2020/2625187001/ |work=USA Today |date=December 5, 2019 |access-date=January 9, 2020 |archive-date=December 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209131516/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/12/05/john-kerry-endorses-joe-biden-president-2020/2625187001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and asserting that "Joe will defeat Donald Trump next November. He's the candidate with the wisdom and standing to fix what Trump has broken, to restore our place in the world, and improve the lives of working people here at home."<ref>{{cite news |first1=Kate|last1=Sullivan|first2=Eric|last2=Bradner|title=John Kerry endorses Joe Biden for 2020 election |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/05/politics/john-kerry-endorses-joe-biden/index.html |work=CNN |date=December 6, 2019 |access-date=January 9, 2020 |archive-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224000943/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/05/politics/john-kerry-endorses-joe-biden/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Following retirement from government service, Kerry signed an agreement with Simon & Schuster for publishing his planned memoirs, dealing with his life and career in government.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/323171-kerry-signs-memoir-deal/ |title=Olivia Beavers, "Kerry signs memoir deal" The Hill, Sept. 3, 2017 |newspaper=The Hill |date=March 9, 2017 |access-date=September 2, 2018 |archive-date=September 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902151719/http://thehill.com/homenews/323171-kerry-signs-memoir-deal |url-status=live |last1=Beavers |first1=Olivia }}</ref> In September 2018, he published ''Every Day Is Extra''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/09/04/644402455/in-every-day-is-extra-john-kerry-focuses-on-his-time-in-the-political-arena |title=Scott Detrow, "In 'Every Day Is Extra,' John Kerry Focuses On His Time In The Political Arena" |newspaper=NPR |date=September 4, 2018 |access-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003215422/https://www.npr.org/2018/09/04/644402455/in-every-day-is-extra-john-kerry-focuses-on-his-time-in-the-political-arena |url-status=live |last1=Detrow |first1=Scott }}</ref>
=== Leaked audiotape ===
{{Main|Leaked Mohammad Javad Zarif audiotape}}
On April 25, 2021, ''[[The New York Times]]'' published content from a leaked audiotape of a three-hour taped conversation between economist [[Saeed Laylaz|Saeed Leylaz]] and Iranian foreign minister [[Mohammad Javad Zarif]]. The taped conversation was connected to an oral history project, known as "In the Islamic Republic the military field rules", which documents the work of Iran's current administration.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Fassihi|first=Farnaz|date=April 26, 2021|title=Iran's Foreign Minister, in Leaked Tape, Says Revolutionary Guards Set Policies|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/25/world/middleeast/iran-suleimani-zarif.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426171239/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/25/world/middleeast/iran-suleimani-zarif.html |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |url-access=limited|url-status=live|access-date=April 28, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=April 25, 2021|title=Iran foreign minister criticises power of Qassem Suleimani in leaked interview|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/25/iran-foreign-minister-criticises-power-of-qassem-suleimani-in-leaked-interview|access-date=April 28, 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> The tape was obtained by the London-based news channel [[Iran International]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=April 28, 2021|title=The John Kerry-Iran controversy, explained|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/04/27/john-kerry-iran-controversy-explained/|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>
In the tape, which the ''Times'' referred to as "extraordinary", Zarif reveals that then-Secretary of State Kerry told him that Israel attacked Iranian assets in Syria, "at least 200 times".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=GOP tears into Kerry amid Iran controversy|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/26/gop-kerry-iran-debacle-484749|access-date=April 28, 2021|website=POLITICO|date=April 26, 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1"/><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=John Kerry Denies He Shared Israeli Military Info with Iran After Leaked Audio: 'Never Happened'|url=https://people.com/politics/john-kerry-denies-he-shared-info-about-israeli-military-operations-with-iran/|access-date=April 28, 2021|website=People|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=John Kerry, the latest victim of Zarif's big mouth - Analysis|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/john-kerry-the-latest-victim-of-zarifs-big-mouth-analysis-666473|access-date=April 28, 2021|website=The Jerusalem Post |date=April 27, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> Although the tape has not been verified, the spokesman{{who|date=August 2022}} for the Iranian foreign ministry did not deny its validity.<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Mostafa|last1=Salem|first2=Ramin|last2=Mostaghim|title=In leaked tape, Iran's foreign minister criticizes Revolutionary Guards, Qasem Soleimani|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/26/middleeast/iran-zarif-revolutionary-guards-audio-leak-intl/index.html|access-date=April 28, 2021|website=CNN|date=April 26, 2021}}</ref>
Nineteen Republican senators signed a letter asking [[Joe Biden|President Biden]] to investigate Zarif's claim{{which|date=August 2022}}.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Ellie Bufkin |date=April 29, 2021|title=Republicans call for investigation into allegations against John Kerry|url=https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/republicans-call-for-investigation-into-allegations-against-john-kerry|access-date=April 30, 2021|website=WPDE}}</ref> On April 27, 2021, Republicans called on Kerry to resign from the Biden administration's National Security Council. In a tweet, Kerry denied Zarif's account, writing, "I can tell you that this story and these allegations are unequivocally false. This never happened — either when I was Secretary of State or since."<ref name=":0"/>
==Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (2021–2024)==
{{Main|U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate}}
[[File:U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Mr. John Kerry meeting the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on April 7, 2021.jpg|thumb|Kerry with Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] in April 2021]]
[[File:Ursula von der Leyen attends the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (23).jpg|thumb|Kerry with US President [[Joe Biden]] and Canadian Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] at [[2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference|COP26]] in Glasgow in November 2021]]
On November 23, 2020, President-elect [[Joe Biden]]'s transition team announced that Kerry would be taking a full-time position in the administration, serving as a special envoy for climate;<ref>{{Cite news|first1=Valerie|last1=Volcovici|first2=Timothy|last2=Gardner|date=November 24, 2020|title=Biden names Kerry as U.S. climate envoy, emphasizing diplomacy's role in the issue|language=en|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-biden-appointments-kerry-idUKKBN2832M5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218072204/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-biden-appointments-kerry-idUKKBN2832M5|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 18, 2020|access-date=November 25, 2020}}</ref> in this role he will be a principal on the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Crowley|first1=Michael|last2=Smialek|first2=Jeanna|date=November 23, 2020|title=Biden Will Nominate First Women to Lead Treasury and Intelligence, and First Latino to Run Homeland Security|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/23/us/politics/biden-nominees.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123170110/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/23/us/politics/biden-nominees.html |archive-date=November 23, 2020 |url-access=limited|url-status=live|access-date=November 25, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Kerry assumed office on January 20, 2021, following [[inauguration of Joe Biden|Biden's inauguration]].
=== Climate cooperation with China ===
{{Further|Climate change in China}}
[[File:John Kerry met with Xie Zhenhua in Beijing 2023 (1).jpg|thumb|upright|Kerry with [[Xie Zhenhua (politician)|Xie Zhenhua]] in Beijing in July 2023]]
In July 2023, John Kerry visited China for advance climate cooperation. The main achievement of the visit was some progress in the fields of: "[[methane]] reduction commitments; reducing [[Coal in China|China's reliance on coal]]; China's objections to trade restrictions on solar panel and battery components; and [[climate finance]]." This was obtained despite many currently existing obstacles to cooperation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blaine |first1=Tegan |last2=Freeman |first2=Carla |last3=Tugendhat |first3=Henry |title=What Does John Kerry's Visit Mean for U.S.-China Climate Cooperation? |url=https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/07/what-does-john-kerrys-visit-mean-us-china-climate-cooperation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720232934/https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/07/what-does-john-kerrys-visit-mean-us-china-climate-cooperation |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 20, 2023 |website=United States Institute of Peace |access-date=July 30, 2023}}</ref> The visit was made in the middle of the [[2023 Asia heat wave]] that set a new record of {{convert|52.2|°C}} in [[Sanbu Township, Xinjiang|Sanbu, Xinjiang]]<!---三堡, sources misspelled as Sanbao--->, China, which Kerry mentioned in particular.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kerry upholds U.S.-China 'stability' in symbolic Beijing visit|date=2023-07-18|work=CNBC|last=Cheng|first=Evelyn|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/18/john-kerry-upholds-us-china-stability-in-symbolic-beijing-visit.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718130432/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/18/john-kerry-upholds-us-china-stability-in-symbolic-beijing-visit.html|archivedate=2023-07-18|accessdate=2023-07-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=中美部分会议气氛紧张！美国特使克里：气候合作可能重新定义中美关系|date=2023-07-18|work=FX168财经报社|last=云涌|url=https://www.fx168news.com/article/255361|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718130655/https://www.fx168news.com/article/255361|archivedate=2023-07-18|accessdate=2023-07-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Graham-Harrison |first1=Emma |title=US climate envoy meets Chinese counterpart on hottest ever day in China |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/17/us-climate-envoy-kerry-meets-chinese-counterpart-amid-record-heat |access-date=August 4, 2023 |agency=The Guardian |date=July 17, 2023}}</ref>
=== Climate cooperation with India ===
{{Further|Climate change in India}}
At the end of July 2023, John Kerry visited India. Among others he declared, the US will be committed to the target of delivering 100 billion dollars for climate action to low income countries and no future US president can retreat from climate commitment. He criticized Donald Trump for leaving the [[Paris Agreement|Paris agreement]] before.<ref>{{cite news |last1=HAIDAR |first1=SUHASINI |title=No United States President can walk back on climate change commitments now: John Kerry |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/no-united-states-president-can-walk-back-climate-change-commitments-now-john-kerry/article67126578.ece |access-date=July 30, 2023 |agency=The Hindu |date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
=== Climate cooperation with countries in the Middle East ===
{{Further|Climate change in the Middle East and North Africa}}
In June 2023, Kerry made visits to [[Israel]], [[Jordan]], and the [[United Arab Emirates]]. In Israel, he emphasized the need for climate legislation to reach climate targets and reached an agreement about the renewal of "Memorandum of understanding between Israel and the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]]. Israel is one of the few developed countries which have still not approved a climate law and lags behind other OECD countries in climate action. Israeli environmental protection minister [[Idit Silman]] said that Israel intended to go to [[COP28]] "with an ambitious and applicable climate law and put the State of Israel on the same level as the developed countries of the OECD."<ref>{{cite news |last1=JAFFE-HOFFMAN |first1=MAAYAN |title=In Israel, Kerry says US to deepen climate collaboration with Jewish state |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-745036 |access-date=August 4, 2023 |agency=The Jerusalem Post |date=June 3, 2023}}</ref>
=== Departure ===
[[File:Alberto Fernández and John Kerry at the COP26.jpg|thumb|Kerry with Argentine president [[Alberto Fernández]] at [[COP26]] in Glasgow in 2021]]
On January 13, 2024, at least three sources close to Kerry revealed that he would step down as U.S. climate envoy by the upcoming spring.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/13/john-kerry-resigns-climate-change-envoy/|title=John Kerry to step down as top U.S. climate change negotiator|first1=Maxine|last1=Joselow|first2=Tyler|last2=Pager|newspaper=Washington Post|date=January 13, 2024|accessdate=January 13, 2024}}</ref> He told the ''[[Financial Times]]'' he planned to stay active in the climate finance space.<ref>{{Cite news |title=John Kerry to keep working on climate finance after White House exit |url=https://www.ft.com/content/28e8d071-578a-44be-8490-5ffa45daa347 |access-date=2024-03-04 |newspaper=Financial Times|date=March 4, 2024 |last1=Mooney |first1=Attracta }}</ref> He officially resigned from his position on March 6, 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Friedman |first=Lisa |date=2024-01-13 |title=John Kerry Bows Out as U.S. Climate Envoy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/13/climate/john-kerry-climate-envoy.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
==Personal and family life==
===Ancestry===
Kerry's paternal ancestors came from the Fränkel family, which owned a [[Zakłady Przemysłu Bawełnianego "Frotex"|textile factory]] in Neustadt, [[Upper Silesia]] (now [[Prudnik]], Poland), founded by [[Samuel Fränkel]]. The Fränkels originated from Hotzenplotz, Austria (now [[Osoblaha]], Czech Republic) and Zülz, Prussia (now [[Biała Prudnicka]], Poland).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewandowski |first=Michał |date=2004-03-19 |title=Johnie Kerry, jesteś nasz |trans-title=John Kerry, you are ours |url=https://nto.pl/johnie-kerry-jestes-nasz/ar/3996299 |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=nto.pl |language=pl}}</ref> Kerry's paternal great-grandmother, Mathilda Fränkel, was born in Oberglogau (now [[Głogówek]], near Prudnik) and married Benedikt Kohn from Bennisch (now [[Horní Benešov]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-07-21 |title=Śląscy przodkowie Johna Kerry'ego |trans-title=John Kerry's Silesian ancestors |url=https://naukawpolsce.pl/aktualnosci/news,17758,slascy-przodkowie-johna-kerryego.html |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=naukawpolsce.pl |language=pl}}</ref> His grandparents, shoe businessman Frederick A. "Fred" Kerry and musician Ida Löwe, immigrated from the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] to the U.S. Fred, his wife, and his brother converted from [[Judaism]] to [[Catholicism]] in 1901, and changed their names from Kohn to Kerry. Ida was of remote ancestry of Rabbi Sinai Loew of Worms, brother of [[Judah Loew ben Bezalel]].<ref name="kerry-orf">{{Cite web|date=January 30, 2013|title=John Kerrys alt-österreichische Wurzeln|trans-title=John Kerry's Old Austrian Roots|url=https://noe.orf.at/v2/radio/stories/2569409/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204144410/https://noe.orf.at/v2/radio/stories/2569409/|archive-date=December 4, 2020|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=noe.orf.at|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hearing of roots, Czech village roots Kerry on |first=Brian|last=Whitmore |date=February 22, 2004 |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref><ref name="Kerry-GlobeSurprise">{{cite news |url=https://boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061503.shtml |title=A privileged youth, a taste for risk |author=Kranish, Michael |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=June 15, 2003 |access-date=January 8, 2008 |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513122522/http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061503.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Fred and Ida Kerry emigrated to the United States in 1905, living at first in [[Chicago]] and eventually moving to [[Brookline, Massachusetts]], by 1915.<ref name="Kerry-GlobeBio"/> According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', "[the] brother and sister of John Kerry's paternal grandmother, Otto and Jenni Lowe, died in [[Internment|concentration camps]]". Kerry's Jewish ancestry was publicly revealed during his 2004 presidential campaign; he has stated that he was unaware of it until a reporter informed him of it in 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/16/us/kerry-s-grandfather-left-judaism-behind-in-europe.html|first=Joseph|last=Berger|title=Kerry's Grandfather Left Judaism Behind in Europe|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 16, 2004|access-date=August 13, 2018|archive-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814073159/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/16/us/kerry-s-grandfather-left-judaism-behind-in-europe.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Kerry's maternal ancestors were of Scottish and English descent,<ref name="Kerry-GlobeBio"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Hearing of roots, Czech village roots Kerry on |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/02/22/hearing_of_roots_czech_village_roots_kerry_on/ |first=Brian|last=Whitmore |date=February 22, 2004 |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=January 8, 2008 |archive-date=July 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726001021/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/02/22/hearing_of_roots_czech_village_roots_kerry_on/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and his maternal grandparents were James Grant Forbes II of the [[Forbes family]] and Margaret Tyndal Winthrop of the Dudley–Winthrop family. Margaret's paternal grandfather [[Robert Charles Winthrop]] served as the 22nd Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Robert's father was Governor [[Thomas L. Winthrop|Thomas Lindall Winthrop]]. Thomas' father John Still Winthrop was a great-great-grandson of [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]] Governor [[John Winthrop]]<ref name="news.google.com"/> and great-grandson of Governor [[Thomas Dudley]].<ref name="Kerry-GlobeBio">{{cite news|first1=Michael|last1=Kranish |first2=Brian C.|last2=Mooney |first3=Nina J.|last3=Easton|title=John Kerry: The Complete Biography by ''The Boston Globe'' Reporters Who Know Him Best |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=April 27, 2004}}</ref> Through his mother, Kerry is a first cousin once removed of French politician [[Brice Lalonde]].<ref name="Reitwiesner">{{cite web |url=http://www.wargs.com/political/kerry.html |title=Ancestry of Senator John Forbes Kerry (b. 1943) |access-date=September 11, 2014 |last=Reitwiesner |first=William Addams |author-link=William Addams Reitwiesner |archive-date=April 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427081750/http://www.wargs.com/political/kerry.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Marriages and children===
[[File:Secretary Kerry is Congratulated by his Family.jpg|thumb|Kerry's daughter Vanessa and grandson Alexander]]
Kerry was married to [[Julia Thorne]] in 1970, and they had two daughters together: documentary filmmaker [[Alexandra Kerry]] (born September 5, 1973) and physician [[Vanessa Kerry]] (born December 31, 1976).
[[File:John Kerry 13879 006.jpg|thumb|right|Kerry at the [[LBJ Presidential Library]] in 2016]]
[[File:John_Kerry_in_Mongolia.jpg|thumb|right|Kerry at the [[Naadam|Great Naadam]] in [[Mongolia]], 2016]]
Alexandra was born days before Kerry began law school. In 1982, Julia asked Kerry for a separation while she was suffering from severe [[clinical depression|depression]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.washingtonian.com/people/madame_ex.html |last=McLellan |first=Diana |title=Lunch with Diana McLellan – Madame Ex |work=Washingtonian |issue=July 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123094018/http://www.washingtonian.com/people/madame_ex.html |postscript=. |archive-date=November 23, 2005}}</ref> They were divorced on July 25, 1988, and the marriage was formally [[annulment|annulled]] in 1997. "After 14 years as a political wife, I associated politics only with anger, fear and loneliness", she wrote in ''A Change of Heart'', her book about depression. Thorne later married Richard Charlesworth, an [[architect]], and moved to [[Bozeman, Montana]], where she became active in local environmental groups such as the [[Greater Yellowstone Coalition]]. Thorne supported Kerry's 2004 presidential run. She died of cancer on April 27, 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/28/julia_thorne_author_and_ex_wife_of_sen_kerry_dead_at_61/|title=Julia Thorne, author and ex-wife of Sen. Kerry, dead at 61|work=boston.com|date=April 28, 2006|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072640/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/28/julia_thorne_author_and_ex_wife_of_sen_kerry_dead_at_61/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Kerry and his second wife—[[Portugal|Portuguese]]-born businesswoman and philanthropist [[Teresa Heinz]], the widow of Kerry's late Pennsylvania Republican Senate colleague [[John Heinz]]—were introduced to each other by Heinz at an [[Earth Day]] rally in 1990. Early the following year, Senator Heinz was killed in a plane crash near [[Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania|Lower Merion]]. Teresa has three sons from her marriage to Heinz, Henry John IV, [[André Heinz|André]], and [[Christopher Heinz|Christopher]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-05-23-heinz-kerry-cover_x.htm|title=With Teresa, expect an unconventional campaign|work=USA Today|first1=Jill|last1=Lawrence|date=May 26, 2004|access-date=March 1, 2015|archive-date=March 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329011719/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-05-23-heinz-kerry-cover_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Heinz and Kerry were married on May 26, 1995, in [[Nantucket, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/nation/20020605teresanat1p1.asp|title=What Teresa Heinz found and what she lost|work=post-gazette.com|access-date=August 27, 2015|archive-date=August 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817074104/http://old.post-gazette.com/nation/20020605teresanat1p1.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Net worth===
The ''[[Forbes 400]]'' survey estimated in 2004 that Teresa Heinz Kerry had a [[net worth]] of $750{{spaces}}million. However, estimates have frequently varied, ranging from around $165{{spaces}}million to as high as $3.2{{spaces}}billion, according to a study in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Regardless of which figure is correct, Kerry was the wealthiest U.S. Senator while serving in the Senate. Independent of Heinz, Kerry is wealthy in his own right, and is the beneficiary of at least four trusts inherited from [[Forbes family]] relatives, including his mother, [[Rosemary Forbes Kerry]], who died in 2002. ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine (named for the [[Forbes family (publishers)|Forbes family of publishers]], unrelated to Kerry) estimated that if elected, and if Heinz family assets were included, Kerry would have been the third-richest U.S. president in history, when adjusted for [[inflation]].<ref name=Ackman102904>{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Ackman |title=Kerry Would Be Third-Richest U.S. President If Elected |url=https://www.forbes.com/2004/02/13/cx_da_0213kerry.html |work=Forbes |date=October 29, 2004 |access-date=September 1, 2017 |archive-date=October 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010200047/https://www.forbes.com/2004/02/13/cx_da_0213kerry.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This assessment was based on Heinz's and Kerry's combined assets, but the couple signed a [[prenuptial agreement]] that keeps their assets separate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20040823.html |title=What is George W. Bush's net worth vs. John Kerry's net worth? |date=August 23, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040824083032/http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20040823.html |archive-date=August 24, 2004 |publisher=Ask Yahoo!}}</ref> Kerry's financial disclosure form for 2011 put his personal assets in the range of $230,000,000 to $320,000,000,<ref>{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=Healy |title=John Kerry Personal Finance |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/CIDsummary.php?CID=N00000245&year=2011 |work=[[Open Secret]] |year=2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127060237/http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/CIDsummary.php?CID=N00000245&year=2011 |archive-date=January 27, 2013}}</ref> including the assets of his spouse and any dependent children. This included slightly more than $3,000,000 worth of [[H. J. Heinz Company]] assets, which increased in value by over $600,000 in 2013 when [[Berkshire Hathaway]] announced their intention to purchase the company.<ref>{{cite news |title=John Kerry May Have Made $670,000 On Today's Heinz Deal |author=Julia La Roche |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/john-kerry-heinz-ketchup-2013-2 |newspaper=Business Insider |date=February 14, 2013 |access-date=February 18, 2013 |archive-date=February 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217033635/http://www.businessinsider.com/john-kerry-heinz-ketchup-2013-2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In April 2017, Kerry purchased an 18-acre property on the northwest corner of [[Martha's Vineyard]] overlooking [[Vineyard Sound]] in the town of [[Chilmark, Massachusetts]]. The property is located in Seven Gates Farm and according to property records, cost $11.75{{spaces}}million for the seven bedroom home.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Arsenault |first1=Mark |last2=Shanahan |first2=Mark |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/26/john-kerry-switching-islands/hLY5MBMYk5hvWVlldbmeMN/story.html |title=John Kerry is switching islands |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=April 27, 2017 |access-date=April 27, 2017 |archive-date=July 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704063340/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/26/john-kerry-switching-islands/hLY5MBMYk5hvWVlldbmeMN/story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Religious beliefs===
[[File:Secretary Kerry Tours Chinese Automotive Factory (12538003213).jpg|thumb|Kerry touring a Chinese automobile factory in [[Beijing]]]]
Kerry is a [[Roman Catholic]], and is said to have carried a religious [[rosary]], a [[prayer book]], and a [[St. Christopher]] medal (the patron saint of travelers) when he campaigned. Discussing his faith, Kerry said: "I thought of being a priest. I was very religious while at school in [[Switzerland]]. I was an altar boy and prayed all the time. I was very centered around the Mass and the church." He also said that the [[Pauline epistles|Letters of Paul]] ([[Paul the Apostle|Apostle Paul]]) moved him the most, stating that they taught him to "not feel sorry for myself".<ref name=ReligionBackground/>
Kerry told ''[[Christianity Today]]'' in October 2004:
{{blockquote|text=I'm a Catholic and I practice, but at the same time I have an open-mindedness to many other expressions of spirituality that come through different religions{{spaces}}... I've spent some time reading and thinking about religion and trying to study it, and I've arrived at not so much a sense of the differences, but a sense of the similarities in so many ways.<ref name="ctoday"/>}}
He said that he believed that the [[Torah]], the [[Quran]], and the [[Bible]] all share a fundamental story which connects with readers.<ref name="ctoday">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2004/october/20.28.html |title=John Kerry's Open Mind |last=Stricherz |first=Mark |date=October 1, 2004 |magazine=Christianity Today |access-date=July 19, 2007 |archive-date=January 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119121135/http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2004/october/20.28.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Health===
In 2003, Kerry was diagnosed with and successfully treated for [[prostate cancer]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sen. Kerry's Surgery A Success |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/11/politics/main540196.shtml |publisher=[[CBS]] |date=February 11, 2003 |access-date=October 28, 2005 |archive-date=April 5, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050405132718/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/11/politics/main540196.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> On May 31, 2015, Kerry broke his right leg in a biking accident in [[Scionzier]], France, and was flown to Boston's [[Massachusetts General Hospital]] for recovery. MGH Hip and Knee Replacement Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Dennis Burke,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.massgeneral.org/ortho/doctors/doctor.aspx?id=16670|title=Dennis William Burke, MD – Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA|work=massgeneral.org|access-date=August 27, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823023409/http://www.massgeneral.org/ortho/doctors/doctor.aspx?id=16670|archive-date=August 23, 2015}}</ref> who had met Kerry in France and had accompanied him in the plane from France to Boston, set Kerry's right leg on Tuesday, June 2, in a four-hour operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/06/02/kerry-to-have-surgery-tuesday-on-broken-leg|title=Doctors complete surgery on Secretary Kerry for broken leg – US News|work=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=August 27, 2015|archive-date=July 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730055951/http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/06/02/kerry-to-have-surgery-tuesday-on-broken-leg|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/01/politics/geneva-john-kerry-bike-accident/|title=Bike accident puts John Kerry in hospital – CNNPolitics.com|first1=Ben|last1=Brumfield|first2 =Elise |last2 =Labott |date=June 1, 2015|work=CNN|access-date=August 27, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924182414/http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/01/politics/geneva-john-kerry-bike-accident/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Athletics and sailing===
In addition to the sports he played at Yale, Kerry is described by ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', among others, as an "avid [[cycling|cyclist]]",<ref>{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Maloney |title=Kerry Au Tour |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/tour05/news/?id=/news/2005/jul05/jul24news2 |date=July 24, 2005 |access-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-date=September 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916110322/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/tour05/news/?id=%2Fnews%2F2005%2Fjul05%2Fjul24news2 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Politics? Armstrong has Kerry's vote ... maybe |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/more/specials/tour_de_france/2005/07/23/bc.cyc.tourdefrance.not.ap/ |date=July 23, 2005 |work=CNN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050725232420/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/more/specials/tour_de_france/2005/07/23/bc.cyc.tourdefrance.not.ap/ |archive-date=July 25, 2005 }}</ref> primarily riding on a road bike. Prior to his presidential bid, Kerry had participated in several long-distance [[challenge riding|rides]]. During his many campaigns, he was reported to have visited bicycle stores in both his home state and elsewhere. His staff requested recumbent stationary bikes for his hotel rooms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0327061kerry2.html |title=JK hotel needs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418062714/http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0327061kerry2.html |archive-date=April 18, 2010}}</ref> He has also been a snowboarder, windsurfer, and sailor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=merron/kerry/040726|title=ESPN: Page 2 : Rink turns and big deals|work=go.com|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=January 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115232215/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=merron%2Fkerry%2F040726|url-status=live}}</ref>
The ''[[Boston Herald]]'' reported on July 23, 2010, that Kerry commissioned construction on a new $7{{spaces}}million yacht (a Friendship 75) in New Zealand and moored it in [[Portsmouth, Rhode Island]], where the Friendship yacht company is based.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.friendshipyachtcompany.com/contacts.html |title=Friendship Yacht Company |publisher=Friendship Yacht Company |access-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510161359/http://www.friendshipyachtcompany.com/contacts.html |archive-date=May 10, 2011 }}</ref> The article claimed this allowed him to avoid paying Massachusetts taxes on the property including approximately $437,500 in sales tax and an annual excise tax of about $500.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fee|first1=Gayle|last2=Raposa|first2=Laura|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view/20100723senator_skipper_skips_town_on_sails_tax/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726010101/http://www.bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view/20100723senator_skipper_skips_town_on_sails_tax/|title=Sen. John Kerry skips town on sails tax|work=Boston Herald|date=July 23, 2010|archive-date=July 26, 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref> On July 27, Kerry stated he would voluntarily pay $500,000 in Massachusetts taxes on his yacht.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com:80/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/07/28/kerry_will_pay_mass_tax_on_ri_yacht|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100730114023/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/07/28/kerry_will_pay_mass_tax_on_ri_yacht|archive-date=July 30, 2010|last=Slack|first=Donovan|title=Kerry will pay Mass. tax on R.I. yacht|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=July 28, 2010|access-date=August 19, 2018}}</ref>
==Honors==
[[File:Secretary Kerry Delivers his Thanks After French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault Awarded him the Grand Office of the Légion d'honneur (31407214912).jpg|thumb|Kerry after he received Grand Officer of the [[Legion of Honour]] from French Foreign Minister [[Jean-Marc Ayrault]]]]
John Kerry was awarded:<ref name="state.gov">{{cite web|title=Remarks at a Ceremony Awarding the Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany to Secretary Kerry|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/12/264854.htm|publisher=Department of State|access-date=December 5, 2016|archive-date=August 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801120620/https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/12/264854.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== National ===
* [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] (3 May 2024)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Alanez |first=Tonya |title=John Kerry to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/03/metro/john-kerry-receive-presidential-medal-freedom/ |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Foreign ===
* {{flag|Germany}}: Grand Cross 1st class of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
* {{flag|France}}: Grand Officer of the [[Legion of Honour]]
* {{flag|UK}}: Honorary Knight Commander of the [[Order of St Michael and St George]] (2025)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/honorary-british-awards-to-foreign-nationals-2025/honorary-awards-to-foreign-nationals-in-2025|title=Honorary British Awards to Foreign Nationals – 2025}}</ref>
==Honorary degrees==
John Kerry has received several [[honorary degree]]s in recognition of his service to the United States, These include:
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="width:20%;"| State
! style="width:15%;"| Date
! style="width:25%;"| School
! style="width:40%;"| Degree
|-
| Massachusetts || May 28, 1988 || [[University of Massachusetts Boston]] || [[Doctor of Laws]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 16, 1988|title=News & Views - Vol. 06, No. 15 - May 16, 1988|url=http://scholarworks.umb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1080&context=university_newsandviews|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010150211/http://scholarworks.umb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1080&context=university_newsandviews|archive-date=October 10, 2017|access-date=May 26, 2017|website=[[University of Massachusetts Boston]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 28, 1988|title=Commencement Program, 1988|url=http://openarchives.umb.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15774coll21/id/502/show/471/rec/22|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010150212/http://openarchives.umb.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15774coll21/id/502/show/471/rec/22|archive-date=October 10, 2017|access-date=May 26, 2017|website=[[University of Massachusetts Boston]]}}</ref>
|-
| Massachusetts || June 17, 2000 || [[Northeastern University]] || Doctor of Public Service<ref>{{Cite web|title=Commencement Speakers & Honorary Degrees|url=http://library.northeastern.edu/archives-special-collections/find-collections/northeastern-history/commencement-speakers-honorary|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218155348/http://library.northeastern.edu/archives-special-collections/find-collections/northeastern-history/commencement-speakers-honorary|archive-date=December 18, 2017|access-date=May 8, 2017|website=[[Northeastern University]]}}</ref>
|-
| Ohio || May 2006 || [[Kenyon College]] || Doctor of Laws<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Patrice M.|date=May 12, 2006|title=Call me 'Dr.': It's honorary degree season|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/05/12/call-me-dr-its-honorary-degree-season/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010145916/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-05-12/features/0605120201_1_honorary-degrees-doctorate-film-studies|archive-date=October 10, 2017|access-date=May 8, 2017|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>
|-
| Massachusetts || May 19, 2014 || [[Boston College]] || Doctor of Laws<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 24, 2014|title=Secretary of State Kerry to Deliver Commencement Address - Cousy, Finck, Izquierdo-Hernandez, Morrissey also to be given honors|url=http://www.bc.edu/publications/chronicle/FeaturesNewsTopstories/2014/topstories/secretary-of-state-kerry-to-receive-honorary-degree-from-boston-.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010150312/http://www.bc.edu/publications/chronicle/FeaturesNewsTopstories/2014/topstories/secretary-of-state-kerry-to-receive-honorary-degree-from-boston-.html|archive-date=October 10, 2017|access-date=May 8, 2017|website=[[Boston College|The Boston College Chronicle]]}}</ref>
|-
| Connecticut || May 18, 2017 || [[Yale University]] || Doctor of Laws<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 18, 2017|title=Yale awards honorary degrees to eight individuals for their achievements|url=https://news.yale.edu/2017/05/18/yale-awards-honorary-degrees-eight-individuals-their-achievements|access-date=January 14, 2022|website=YaleNews}}</ref>
|}
==Electoral history==
{{Main|Electoral history of John Kerry}}
<!-- summary of split off pages required -->
==Works==
* {{cite book |last=Kerry |first=John |author2=Vietnam Veterans Against the War|author2-link=Vietnam Veterans Against the War |year=1971 |url= |title=[[The New Soldier]] |___location=New York |publisher=Macmillan Publishing |isbn=0-02-073610-X}}
* {{cite book |last=Kerry |first=John |author-mask=—— |year=1997 |title=The New War: The Web of Crime That Threatens America's Security |___location=New York |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=0-684-81815-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/newwarwebofcrime00kerr |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book |last=Kerry |first=John |author-mask=—— |year=2003 |title=A Call to Service: My Vision for a Better America |___location=New York |publisher=Viking Press |isbn=0-670-03260-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/calltoservice00kerr }}
* {{cite book |last1= Kerry |first1= John |author-mask= —— |first2= Teresa |year= 2007 |last2= Heinz Kerry |title= This Moment on Earth: Today's New Environmentalists and Their Vision for the Future |___location= New York |publisher= PublicAffairs |isbn= 978-1-58648-431-6 |url= https://archive.org/details/thismomentoneart00kerr }}
* {{Cite book |last=Kerry |first=John |author-mask= —— |year=2018 |title=Every Day Is Extra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V8q2DwAAQBAJ |___location=New York |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=9781501178955 |oclc=1028456250}} Memoir.
==See also==
{{portal|Government|United States|Biography}}
* [[List of foreign ministers in 2017]]
{{clear}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last= Brinkley |first= Douglas |title= Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War |___location= New York |publisher= William Morrow & Company |year= 2004 |isbn= 0-06-056523-3 |url= https://archive.org/details/tourofdutyjohnke00brin_1 }}
* {{cite book |last1= Kranish |first1= Michael |first2= Brian C. |last2= Mooney |first3= Nina J. |last3= Easton |title= John F. Kerry: The Boston Globe Biography |___location= New York |publisher= PublicAffairs |year= 2013 |orig-year= 2004 |isbn= 9781610393379 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=PWPyKNSd4-EC |edition= Retitled |access-date= November 30, 2019 |archive-date= August 3, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200803224717/https://books.google.com/books?id=PWPyKNSd4-EC |url-status= live }}
* {{Cite book |last1= McMahon |first1= Kevin |first2= David |last2= Rankin |first3= Donald W. |last3= Beachler |first4= John Kenneth |last4= White|title= Winning the White House, 2004 |___location= New York |publisher= Palgrave Macmillan |year= 2005 |isbn= 1-4039-6881-0}}
* {{cite book |last1= O'Neill |first1= John E. |last2= Corsi |first2= Jerome R. |title= Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry |___location= Washington, DC |publisher= [[Regnery Publishing]] |year= 2004 |isbn= 0-89526-017-4 |url= https://archive.org/details/unfitforcommands00onei }}
{{refend}}
==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
===Official===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041209135553/http://www.johnkerry.com/about/john_kerry/military_records.html Kerry's military records]—from JohnKerry.com via the [[Internet Archive]]
===Information===
* {{CongLinks | congbio=k000148 | votesmart=53306 | fec=S4MA00069 | congress=john-kerry/1379 }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://ballotpedia.org/John_Kerry Biography] at [[Ballotpedia]]
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/300060 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/300060 Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
* [http://www.rollcall.com/members/225.html Congressional profile] at ''[[Roll Call]]''
* [http://www.politifact.com/personalities/john-kerry Fact-checking] at [[PolitiFact.com]]
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00000245 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121011143109/http://apps.washingtonpost.com/politics/capitol-assets/member/john-kerry/ Financial investments (personal)] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* [http://www.legistorm.com/member/57/Sen_John_Kerry.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/John_Kerry.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n2002-14262 Works by or about John Kerry] in libraries ([[WorldCat]] catalog)
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/1485 Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* [http://www.charlierose.com/guest/view/1757 Appearances] on [[Charlie Rose (TV show)|''Charlie Rose'']]
* [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0449902 Appearances] at the [[IMDb]]
* [http://topics.bloomberg.com/john-kerry Collected news and commentary] at ''[[Bloomberg News]]''
* [https://www.theguardian.com/world/john-kerry Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The Guardian]]''
* [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/k/john_kerry/index.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The New York Times]]''
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gIQAjm0s6O_topic.html Collected news and commentary]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* -->
* {{C-SPAN|1485}}
* [http://www.archivoelectoral.org/politicos/john-kerry/89 John Kerry Campaign material] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405140739/http://www.archivoelectoral.org/politicos/john-kerry/89 |date=April 5, 2014 }}—from ArchivoElectoral.org
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050412181423/http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/John_Kerry.php Political donations made by John Kerry]
* [http://www.snopes.com/politics/kerry/service.asp Snopes.com: "Service Mettle"]—''[[Urban Legends Reference Pages|Snopes.com]]'' on Kerry's Vietnam service medals
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Thomas P. O'Neill III]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts]]|years=1983–1985}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Evelyn Murphy]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Hillary Clinton]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States Secretary of State]]|years=2013–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Rex Tillerson]]}}
|-
{{s-new|creation}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate|United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate]]|years=2021–2024}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Podesta]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Thomas P. O'Neill III]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts]]
|years=[[1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|1982]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Evelyn Murphy]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Paul Tsongas]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Massachusetts|U.S. Senator]] from [[Massachusetts]]<br />([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 2]])|years=[[1984 United States Senate election in Massachusetts|1984]], [[1990 United States Senate election in Massachusetts|1990]], [[1996 United States Senate election in Massachusetts|1996]], [[2002 United States Senate election in Massachusetts|2002]], [[2008 United States Senate election in Massachusetts|2008]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ed Markey]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[George J. Mitchell]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]]|years=1987–1989}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Breaux]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Al Gore]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[List of United States Democratic Party presidential tickets|nominee]] for [[President of the United States]]|years=[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Barack Obama]]}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Paul Tsongas]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States Senators from Massachusetts|U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Massachusetts]]|years=1985–2013|alongside=[[Ted Kennedy]], [[Paul G. Kirk]], [[Scott Brown (politician)|Scott Brown]], [[Elizabeth Warren]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mo Cowan]]}}
|-
{{s-new|office}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs|Senate POW/MIA Affairs Committee]]|years=1991–1993}}
{{s-non|reason=Position abolished}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Dale Bumpers]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Senate Small Business Committee]]|years=1997–2001}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Kit Bond]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Kit Bond]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Senate Small Business Committee]]|years=2001–2003}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Olympia Snowe]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Senate Small Business Committee]]|years=2003–2007}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Olympia Snowe]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Senate Small Business Committee]]|years=2007–2009}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mary Landrieu]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Joe Biden]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Foreign Relations Committee]]|years=2009–2013}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bob Menendez]]}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Hillary Clinton]]|as=former U.S. Secretary of State}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br />''{{small|as former U.S. Secretary of State}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Rex Tillerson]]|as=former U.S. Secretary of State}}
{{s-end}}
{{Navboxes
| title=John Kerry
| titlestyle = style="background:#eee;
| list =
{{John Kerry}}
{{Unsuccessful major party pres candidates}}
{{United States Secretaries of State}}
{{Obama cabinet}}
{{United States senators from Massachusetts}}
{{Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Lieutenant governors of Massachusetts}}
{{US Senate Foreign Relations chairs}}
{{US Senate Small Business chairs}}
{{DSCC Chairs}}
{{2004 United States presidential election}}
{{Dudley–Winthrop family tree}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerry, John}}
[[
[[
[[
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:20th-century United States senators]]
[[Category:21st-century American diplomats]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:21st-century United States senators]]
[[Category:American anti–Vietnam War activists]]
[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American people of Austrian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American people of Hungarian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:American political writers]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholic writers]]
[[Category:Biden administration personnel]]
[[Category:Boston College Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2004 United States presidential election]]
[[Category:Catholics from Colorado]]
[[Category:Catholic politicians from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations]]
[[Category:Chairs of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]]
[[Category:Cornell family]]
[[Category:County district attorneys in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Democratic Party (United States) presidential nominees]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Fessenden School alumni]]
[[Category:Forbes family]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:Grand Officers of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Institut Montana Zugerberg alumni]]
[[Category:Kerry family]]
[[Category:Liberal Catholicism]]
[[Category:Lieutenant governors of Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Democrats]]
[[Category:Massachusetts lawyers]]
[[Category:Members of Skull and Bones]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Colorado]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Obama administration cabinet members]]
[[Category:Politicians from Aurora, Colorado]]
[[Category:People from Beacon Hill, Boston]]
[[Category:People from Chilmark, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:People from Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)]]
[[Category:People from Groton, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:People from Millis, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:People from Waltham, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Politicians from Boston]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients]]
[[Category:Psi Upsilon]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:Skull and Bones Society]]
[[Category:St. Paul's School (New Hampshire) alumni]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:United States Navy reservists]]
[[Category:United States secretaries of state]]
[[Category:United States special envoys]]
[[Category:Vietnam War POW/MIA issues]]
[[Category:Washington, D.C., Democrats]]
[[Category:Winthrop family]]
[[Category:Woolsey family]]
[[Category:Yale Bulldogs men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
| |||