NEW: Obama to Nominate Kerry for Secretary of State
Friday, December 21, 2012
Kerry is the Bay State's senior Senator, serving in the upper chamber of Congress on behalf of the Commonwealth since 1985. He is currently chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
Before being elected to the Senate, Kerry served as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts under Michael Dukakis. He is a graduate of Yale and Boston College Law School.
Kerry is famously a veteran of the Vietnam War turned anti-Vietnam war protestor, serving as spokesman for the organization Vietnam Veterans Against the War. During the war, he won a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts.
In 2004, Kerry mounted a failed run for the Presidency, winning the Democratic nomination but losing to incumbent George W. Bush in the general election.
If confirmed by the Senate, Kerry would be the 68th person to hold the office of Secretary of State since its creation in 1789.
Kerry's appointment would also trigger a special election for his seat in the Senate, and the names of many Massachusetts political veterans have already been circulated as both possible interim appointees and candidates. The seat will be up for a full six-year term election in 2014 as well.
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