John Kerry

Senator John Kerry, one of our best and brightest public servants, is about to take on a global leadership role as U.S. Secretary of State. Although often overshadowed during his 27 years in the Senate, he is one of finest representatives that the people of Massachusetts have sent to Washington.

I have five lasting memories of Senator John Kerry, and I recall them as way of recognizing his many laudable characteristics while he is on the verge of becoming our nation’s lead diplomat.

First, I recall in early 1987 walking the halls of the U.S. Senate as a legislative assistant for foreign policy and national security, and passing by and looking up to John Kerry — then a freshman and junior senator to the iconic Ted Kennedy. I admired Senator Kerry for his interest in foreign policy, choosing to be a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, at the expense, perhaps, of a more powerful post on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, where my boss, Senator Barbara Mikulski, chose to serve. It was difficult as a rank-and-file member on Foreign Relations to have much of a voice, but Senator Kerry’s patience and long-term view is a rare characteristic in politics. Clearly, it’s paying dividends now as he is about to become President Obama’s chief foreign policy partner.

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Second, on October 30, 1996 John Kerry and then very popular Governor Bill Weld were locked in battle, with Kerry fighting for re-election. The election was just a couple of days away. That morning, Sarah gave birth naturally to our first and second daughters, Madeleine and Cashen, six minutes apart at Brigham & Womens’ in Boston, but our third daughter, Emma, was not as forthcoming, remaining in utero. While “waiting” four hours for Emma to emerge, Sarah, on her back on the operating table, convinced two nurses, who seemed inclined to support Weld, that John Kerry was the better candidate because he voted on principle and on behalf of the vulnerable. Emma was born about an hour later. Kerry, of course, won.
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Politics is unpredictable. We step forward, sidle sideways, fall back, then lurch forward again. John Kerry waited 25 years to become the senior senator from Massachusetts, constantly overshadowed by his partner, waiting to mentor a young, promising, Democratic colleague. He did not get to mentor the junior senator from Massachusetts, but did develop a relationship with the junior senator from Illinois, who soon became president. Together, they will be partners on the global stage, facing bigger, broader, and more intractable challenges: war, terrorists, rogue states, dictators, non-state belligerents, recalcitrant prime ministers, stubborn presidents, and other, perhaps unforeseen problems. There is no better statesman than John Kerry for such a task.

Read more: Conroy: There is no better statesman than John Kerry - Sudbury, MA - The Sudbury Town Crier http://www.wickedlocal.com/sudbury/topstories/x1783188450/Conroy-There-is-no-better-statesman-than-John-Kerry#ixzz2GSN3yXnI