John Kerry Biography

Fast Facts

• Returned from the Vietnam War with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V and three Purple Hearts
• Graduated from Yale University and earned his law degree from Boston College Law School in 1976
• Served two tours of duty in the United States Navy, patrolling the rivers of the Mekong Delta as a Swift Boat skipper
• Worked as a top prosecutor in Middlesex County, Mass
• Quote: "Global leadership is a strategic imperative for America, not a favor we do for other countries․ It amplifies our voice and extends our reach․"
• Served in the United States Senate for 28 years, the last for as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
• Was sworn in as the 68th Secretary of State of the United States in 2013
• Ran for President of the United States in 2004 as the Democratic Party's nominee
• An avid cyclist, he participated in several long-distance rides and during his campaigns he often requested stationary bikes for his hotel rooms
• Authored such best-selling books as "A Call to Service: My Vision for Better America" and "This Moment on Earth․"