Kerry, John F., 1943-

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John Forbes Kerry was born on December 11, 1943, in Aurora, Colorado. He was one of four children born to Rosemary Kerry and Richard Kerry, who served as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. State Department. Shortly after he was born, his family moved to Massachusetts. After graduating from Yale University, Kerry enlisted in the United States Navy and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. During his service, he earned a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V, and three Purple Hearts. After returning to the United States, Kerry spoke out against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. He co-founded Vietnam Veterans of America and served as a spokesperson for Vietnam Veterans Against the War. He fought for better treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and increased veterans' benefits.

In 1976, he graduated from Boston College Law School and went to work as a prosecutor in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Kerry was elected lieutenant governor of Massachusetts in 1982 and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984. During his 28 years in the Senate, Kerry held senior positions on the Finance, Commerce, and Small Business committees. He also served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his entire tenure, chairing subcommittees on Asia and the Middle East. In 2009, Kerry became the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He also served as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Affairs.

In 2004, Kerry was the Democratic Party's nominee for President of the United States and lost to Republican nominee, George W. Bush, in the general election. President Obama nominated Kerry to succeed Hillary Clinton as the 68th Secretary of State. He was sworn in on February 1, 2013.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Records of, Sojourner, (inclusive), (bulk), 1920-2004, 1975-2002 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn January 2003 (#6030) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn October 2000 (#6009) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Hammersmith Farm Guest Book, 9/1961 - 10/15/2008 John F. Kennedy Library
referencedIn Millender-McDonald, Juanita, 1938-2007. Millender-McDonald (Juanita) collection, 1984-2007, 1997-2007 California State University, Dominguez Hills, CSUDH
creatorOf Christine White collection, 1983-1987. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
referencedIn Home to War/Vietnam Veterans Archive 2008-224; 2008-277; 2009-103; 2009-190., 1960s-2000s Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
contributorOf Richard Stearns - Collection Finding Aid William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn 2004 - Exit Polls - CNN (1)-(2), [Not yet open but can be added to the Review-for-Access Queue] Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Video Recordings Relating to Prisoners of War (POWs) and Soldiers Missing in Action (MIA), 1983 - 1992 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Secretary Alphonso Jackson at Rosa Parks Bill Signing Ceremony - Secretary Alphonso Jackson among dignitaries joining President George W. Bush at the signing ceremony, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, for H.R. 4145, directing the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain a statue of Rosa Parks, which will be placed in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall. Standing behind the President are, left to right, Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, HUD Secretary Jackson, First Lady Laura Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. of Illinois, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, and Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi National Archives at College Park
referencedIn October 2004 (#6048) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Records of the Fishermen's Wives of Gloucester (Association), (inclusive), (bulk), 1950-2009, 1977-2004 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Ariail, Robert. Wisconsin Primary editorial cartoons, 2004. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Wyner Family Papers Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society
referencedIn July 2003 (#6036) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn December 13, 2003(#6039) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn 2004 - Exit Polls, [Not yet open but can be added to the Review-for-Access Queue] Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn March 2004 (#6042) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn 2004 - Exit Polls - CNN (3)-(7), [Not yet open but can be added to the Review-for-Access Queue] Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn December 14, 2003 (#6040) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Media Activities During John Kerry's Visit to Kennedy Space Center National Archives at College Park
referencedIn January 2002 (#6023) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Staff Working Files of Camilla J. Bartles of the Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs from the 102nd and 103rd Congresses Center for Legislative Archives
referencedIn New York State Democratic Committee. New York State Democratic Committee records 1970-2007 (Bulk dates: 1990-2004). Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn John Kerry 2004 campaign materials, 2004. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Women's State-Wide Legislative Network of Massachusetts. Records of the Women's State-Wide Legislative Network of Massachusetts, 1982-2003 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Kerry, John M. John M. Kerry : commercials , 1982. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
creatorOf Massachusetts. Lieutenant Governor. Administrative files, 1975-1984 (bulk 1978-1984). Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Archives
referencedIn McNamee, Wally, 1932-2017. Wally McNamee Photographic Archive, ca. 1950-2017 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn December 2004 (#6050) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn SIGIR Response to The Honorable John Kerry, 03/08/2011 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Office of the Administrator - Department of State Air Monitoring National Archives at College Park
referencedIn September 1998 (#4092) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn April 2003 (#6034) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Kenneth Hubbard Collection of Political Campaign Ephemera, 1880-2012 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn McNamee, Wally, 1932-2017. Wally McNamee Photographic Archive, ca. 1950-2017 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Massachusetts. Lieutenant Governor. Correspondence files, 1983-2006. Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Archives
referencedIn Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association. Records, 1905-2002 1977-1999. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn January 1999 (#4095) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn June 2004 (#6044) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Auchincloss Family Collection, 1961 - 2008 John F. Kennedy Library
referencedIn Political ephemera, 2001-2004. State Historical Society of North Dakota State Archives
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Wendt, Bruce. Bruce Wendt photograph collection, 2004. State Historical Society of North Dakota State Archives
referencedIn Millender-McDonald (Juanita) Collection, 1984-2007, (Bulk 1997-2007) California State University, Dominguez Hills Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Kerry, John, 1943-. John Kerry : commercials , 1982-1990. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
referencedIn May 2004 (#6043) Gerald R. Ford Library
creatorOf Massachusetts. Lieutenant Governor. Legal counsel's administrative files, 1978-1984. Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Archives
referencedIn March 1999 (#4096) Gerald R. Ford Library
creatorOf Washington University (Saint Louis, Mo.). Collection, 2004. Washington University in St. Louis, .
referencedIn July 2004 (#6045) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Sanford, Terry, 1917-1998. Terry Sanford Papers, 1926-1996 (bulk 1986-1992) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Evans, Rowland, 1921-2001. Rowland Evans Jr. and Robert D. Novak papers, 1948-2008. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Correspondence Files of the Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs from the 102nd and 103rd Congresses Center for Legislative Archives
creatorOf Papers of Julian Bond 1897-2006 University of Virginia. Small Special Collections Library
referencedIn Gordon Webber papers, 1936-1986 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Electoral College Records., 1988-2012. Minnesota Historical Society
contributorOf An Oral History Interview with John Kerry Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Purdum, Todd S. Prep school peers found Kerry talented, ambitious and apart / by Todd S. Purdum. New Hampshire Historical Society Library
referencedIn Fonds d'archives du collège des Irlandais de Paris Centre culturel irlandais (Paris). Service des ressourcesdocumentaires
referencedIn Secretary Alphonso Jackson at Rosa Parks Bill Signing Ceremony - Secretary Alphonso Jackson among dignitaries joining President George W. Bush at the signing ceremony, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, for H.R. 4145, directing the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain a statue of Rosa Parks, which will be placed in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall. Standing behind the President are, left to right, Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, HUD Secretary Jackson, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, First Lady Laura Bush, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. of Illinois, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, and Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi National Archives at College Park
referencedIn October 1999 (#6001) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn January 2004 (#6041) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Nicosia, Gerald. Home to War/Vietnam Veterans Archive, 1960s-2000s University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn May 2003 (#6035) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn CLANDESTINE LIBERATION RADIO IN ENGLISH. 3 MAY 1971 TIME MAGAZINE ARTICLE REPORTING ON JOHN KERRY'S STATEMENTS ON VIETNAM WAR READ BY POW National Archives at College Park
referencedIn September 2003 (#6037) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn New York State Democratic Committee Records, 1970-2007, [Bulk Dates: 1990-2004]. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Massachusetts. Lieutenant Governor. Scheduling files, 1983-2006. Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Archives
referencedIn July 1999 (#4099) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Collection Number: 1849., 1905-2002, bulk 1977-1999 The Vietnam Center and Archive, Texas Tech University
referencedIn August 2004 - Pre-Republican Convention (#6046) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Massachusetts AFL-CIO Records MS 369., 1908-2009 Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
referencedIn Christine White collection, 1983-1987 Hoover Institution Archives
referencedIn Curry, Robert, 1952-. Oral history interview with Robert Curry, [sound recording], 2006. Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center
referencedIn December 1998 (#4094) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn November 2003 (#6038) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn December 2002 (#6029) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn October 2002 (#6028) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn September 2004 (#6047) Gerald R. Ford Library
Role Title Holding Repository

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Relation Name
associatedWith Bond, Julian, 1940- person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Boston College. Law School corporateBody
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Curry, Robert, 1952- person
memberOf Democratic Party (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Evans, Rowland, 1921-2001. person
associatedWith Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Fessenden School corporateBody
correspondedWith Fishermen's Wives of Gloucester (Association) corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
spouseOf Heinz Kerry, Teresa, 1938- person
associatedWith Hubbard, Kenneth person
sibling of Kerry, Cameron Forbes, 1950- person
associatedWith Massachusetts AFL-CIO. corporateBody
associatedWith Massachusetts. Lieutenant Governor. corporateBody
leaderOf Massachusetts. Office of Lieutenant Governor corporateBody
associatedWith McNamee, Wally person
associatedWith Millender-McDonald, Juanita 1938-2007 person
associatedWith Millender-McDonald, Juanita, 1938-2007 person
associatedWith New York State Democratic Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith Nicosia, Gerald person
subordinateOf Obama, Barack, 1961- person
associatedWith Purdum, Todd S. person
associatedWith Sanford, Terry, 1917-1998 person
associatedWith Sojourner (Cambridge, Mass.) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf St. Paul's School (Concord, N.H.) corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate corporateBody
leaderOf United States. Department of State corporateBody
memberOf United States. Navy corporateBody
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
memberOf Vietnam veterans against the war corporateBody
associatedWith Webber, Gordon. person
associatedWith Wendt, Bruce. person
associatedWith White, Christine, person
associatedWith Women's State-Wide Legislative Network of Massachusetts. corporateBody
associatedWith Wyner Family family
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Yale University. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Groton MA US
Waltham MA US
Concord NH US
Lowell MA US
Washington, D. C. DC US
Newport RI US
New Haven CT US
Zug ZG CH
Aurora CO US
Newton MA US
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Cabinet officers
Legislators
Lieutenant governors
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Birth 1943

Birth 1943-12-11

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Americans

English

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