Biography
American politician and attorney, this U.S. Senator formally declared his candidacy for President
on September 2, 2003. As a Massachusetts Democrat, Kerry was elected to the Senate first in 1984 and
again in three subsequent elections. His Senate record includes service on the Foreign Relations
Committee, where he was an active investigator into the Iran-contra scandals of the mid 80s. He also
served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics and International Operations. In 1991
he was appointed chairman of a Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, investigating the fate that
befell American soldiers missing or held captive in Vietnam. He has successfully sponsored Senate
bills providing environmental protection and incentives for women entrepreneurs, and his name is
associated with several bills on child care, education and criminal prosecution.
He first came to public attention as a veteran activist when he appeared before Congress on April
22, 1971, asking his now-famous questions, "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in
Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?" Kerry's testimony arose from
first hand experience in combat and disillusionment with the war’s purpose. As a Lieutenant in the US
Navy, he was wounded three times in Vietnam and is credited with saving at least one man's life. For
his actions and "calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire," he was awarded three
Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star.
Kerry is the oldest son, second of four children, whose father was an Air Force pilot turned diplomat. He
attributes his drive to his parents who "set very high standards." Dinner time conversation revolved around
political discussions and foreign policy. His dad, an avid sailor, taught him to navigate by blindfolding
him in the fog and making him figure out how to get home. He learned well the importance of depending upon
himself. At age 10, Kerry was sent to a Swiss boarding school where he was one of only three English-speaking
boys. In 1957, when his father was appointed chief political officer at the US Embassy in Norway, Kerry was
transferred to a private school in Massachusetts. The following year, he was enrolled in St. Paul's, another
prestigious school, where he was one of the few students whose parents were Catholics and Democrats. He was a
solid athlete and played bass in a band called the Electras, which released their only album in 1962. Interested
in current events and public speaking, he founded the John Winant Society to debate major issues of the
times, and he earned top prize for a speech made to the Concordian Literary Society.
At Yale University, Kerry remained active in sports and retained his interest in politics and current events.
In his senior year, he was inducted into the elite Skull and Bones Society. Delivering the class
oration, he was critical of the war even while on his way to becoming a commissioned officer in
Vietnam. He graduated in 1966 and enlisted in the military. After sustaining his third combat
injury, he was sent home in April 1969. Wanting to run for Congress on an antiwar platform, he
requested an early discharge on January 3, 1970. After three months of campaigning, he gave up his bid
to represent the Massachusetts Third District when he realized that he couldn’t win.
On May 22, 1970, he married Julia Thorne, and by 1971 he had become a leader in the organization
Vietnam Veterans against the War. Because of his Congressional testimony, anti-war protests, and TV
appearances on "60 Minutes" and other news shows, he had become a national figure. Hoping to fulfill
his life dream to be in politics, he ran for the Massachusetts congress in 1972 but lost. Cast adrift,
he worked as a fundraiser for CARE, the international aid organization, co-founded a cookie company,
and entered Boston College Law School. During that time, he and his wife became parents to two
daughters, Alexandra in 1973 and Vanessa in 1976. Upon graduation in 1976, Kerry launched his law
career, first as a public prosecutor and then in private practice. Six years later he again ran for
political office, this time successfully, and he became Lt. Governor under Michael Dukakis in 1982. Two
years later he was elected to the Senate.
The political life took its toll on his marriage, and he and Julia divorced in 1988 after 18 years of
marriage. Although he met Teresa Heinz in 1990, they did not begin dating until 1993. Their relationship
developed gradually, and they married on May 26, 1995 in Nantucket, MA. She has three sons from her first
marriage to Senator John Heinz III who died in a plane crash in 1991. With her multi-million dollar
inheritance from her first husband and the Heinz food companies, she heads a network of philanthropic
organizations.
On December 1, 2002, the Senator took the first steps toward entering the presidential race of 2004.
A few months later, on February 12, 2003 he underwent surgery for prostate cancer, joking that he was
about to have his "aloof" gland removed. Not long after, he returned to the campaign trail, and on
September 2, 2003, in Charleston, SC at about 10 AM, the Massachusetts Senator officially declared his
candidacy. Although he was considered the Democratic Party’s anointed candidate, he placed poorly in
voter polls, and his campaign initially floundered. Making changes in his campaign staff, strategy,
and speaking style, Kerry picked up momentum in time to win the majority of the first sets of primaries
and caucuses in 2004 and earned the label "Comeback Kerry." His athletic activities confirm that he is
a risk-taker: he is an ardent windsurfer, kite-boarder, motorcyclist, skier, airplane pilot,
hockey player, power-boater and sailor. Kerry has authored three books: "The New Soldier" in
1971, "The New War: The Web of Crime That Threatens America's Security" in 1997 and "A Call to
Service: My Vision for a Better America" in 2003. Of his come-from-behind success, he asserts, "I’m a
good closer." A former political opponent said of him, "He has a great survival instinct. He will
change his style if he has to."
Shortly after 11 AM on November 3, 2004, Kerry at his Boston, MA home
called President Bush in Crawford, TX to concede the 2004 Presidential
election. Kerry gave a gracious and emotional public concession speech
beginning at about 2 PM in Boston, MA on that same day.
Top
For More Information on the Web:
- Fellow astrologer, Matt Carnicelli, has a very interesting website called HPleft (Human Potential Left) He
has lots of stimulating articles on Kerry and Bush that include astrological references:
http://www.hpleft.com/
- Robert Blaschke, who went to considerable effort to obtain a birth
time for Kerry, has an article about the candidate in the current
newsletter on his website:
http://www.earthwalkastrology.com
Top
What Do You Think?
We have a new birth time on the Democratic front runner, thanks to Robert Blaschke. Robert spoke
with one of Kerry's former in-laws who knows astrology and got the birth time from Kerry himself.
We have been waiting until we could confirm a more accurate birth time before making him a
newsmaker. The previous 7:10 birth time was based on a report of "sunrise." We now have a whole new
Midheaven to look at.
- What type of leader would he be?
- How does the Gemini stellium opposite his Sun manifest?
- Early on in his campaign he was criticized for not being warm. That
seems to have changed. Who is the real John Kerry?
View Others'
Answers
Fill out this form to submit your thoughts:
|
