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(Photo: AP Photo)
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Kerry announced on the Senate floor Jan. 24, 2007, that he WILL NOT RUN for president in 2008.
Age: 63
Born: December 11, 1943; Denver, Colo.
Education: B.A., Yale University, 1966; J.D., Boston College, 1976
Military: U.S. Navy, 1966-1970 (Vietnam); Naval Reserves, 1972-1978
Family: Married (Teresa Heinz); two children
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Religion: Catholic
Career: Organizer, Vietnam Veterans Against the War; Assistant District Attorney, Middlesex County, 1976-1981; practicing attorney, 1981-1982; Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor, 1982-1984; U.S. Senate, 1984-present
The Democratic candidate for President in 2004. He lost to George W. Bush 51 percent to 48 percent.
After being elected lieutenant governor on the Michael Dukakis ticket in 1982, Kerry became the Junior Senator in 1984 when he defeated state Republican chairman Raymond Shamie, 55 percent to 45 percent.
A decorated Vietnam War hero, Kerry first entered the political scene as one of the main organizers of Vietnam Veterans Against the War in 1971. He famously threw his war medals into the Potomac River as a form of protest.
Kerry has remained committed to issues relating to Vietnam. As Chairman of the Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, he led an investigation into whether any American were left behind at Vietnamese hands in 1973. He pushed heavily for the first U.S. ambassador to the country. Kerry also pushed for an international tribunal to hold hearings on genocide and war crimes in Cambodia.
In 1996, Kerry faced his greatest re-election challenge from Governor William Weld. The two had worked together previously on state issues, and shared many of the same views. The race went down to the wire, and after spending $12.6 million, Kerry came out on top, 52 percent to 45 percent.
In 1995, Kerry married Teresa Heinz, the widow of Senator John Heinz, who inherited his more than $800 million fortune.
Kerry was among the finalists to be Al Gore’s running mate in 2000.
Kerry criticized Mr. Bush on Iraq, but eventually voted in favor of the resolution allowing him to use force to disarm Saddam Hussein.
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