Share

John Kerry biography

1 photo

Quick Facts

more about John

Best Known For

Senator John Kerry has supported free trade, expansive foreign and military policy and education spending. In 2004 he was a democratic presidential nominee.

Synopsis

John Kerry was born December 11, 1943 in Denver, Colorado. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984 and was re-elected in 1990, 1996 and 2002. While serving in the Senate, he has supported free trade, expansive U.S. foreign and military policy, investment in education, environmental protection and growth of the high tech New Economy. In 2004 Kerry lost the presidential election to George W. Bush.

Contents

Profile

United States Senator. Born John Forbes Kerry on December 11, 1943 in Denver, Colorado. The son of a career foreign service officer, Kerry was raised in the Catholic faith and spent much of his childhood abroad. After graduating from Yale University, he served in Vietnam and was a recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V (for valor) and three Purple Hearts. Upon his return, Kerry co-founded Vietnam Veterans of America and became a spokesperson for Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

After graduating from Boston College Law School, Kerry worked for a District Attorney's office in Massachusetts and in private practice. In 1982, he won his first statewide political office and became Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor. He was elected to the United States Senate two years later, and was re-elected in 1990, 1996 and 2002.

While serving in the Senate, Kerry has earned a reputation as a left-of-center legislator. He supports free trade, expansive U.S. foreign and military policy, investment in education, environmental protection and growth of the high tech New Economy. He has also continued his work on behalf of Vietnam veterans, leading a Senate committee to ensure that there are no POWs left in that country.

In 2004, Kerry won the Democratic nomination for president, with much of his campaign platform criticizing the Bush administration's foreign policy, particularly in its handling of the Iraq war. Though Kerry voted to give the president authority to wage war in Iraq, he subsequently voted against an $87 billion aid package for the country. Kerry reasons that Bush misused the trust that Congress placed in him, and continues to criticize the president for "squandering the goodwill of the world after September 11." In July, Kerry chose North Carolina senator and former trial lawyer John Edwards as his running mate. Later that month, Kerry and Edwards were joined by speakers Bill and Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Madeline Albright and others at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. In November 2004, after a hard-fought and often bitter campaign, Kerry conceded the presidential election to incumbent George W. Bush.

In 1995, Kerry married Teresa Heinz, who is the widow of former senator John Heinz and heir to the Heinz fortune. Kerry has two daughters from a previous marriage, Alexandra and

ADVERTISEMENT
10673562 10673562
profile id: 10673562
profile name: John Kerry
profile occupation:
related profile id: 10673562
related profile name: John Kerry
related profile occupation:
related profile img: /imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/K/John-Kerry-10673562-1-402.jpg
related profile URL: /people/john-kerry-10673562
profile
pop
Your Connections

Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

specific profile connection
See More Bio Connections
Your Friends' Connections
specific friend connection
Profile Connections
    Show More Connections
    Included In These Groups

    See all related groups

    Shop Bio
    John Lennon DVD
    DVD
    $19.99

    Buy Now

    Celebrity Connections

    Show More Connections
    Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!