John Kerry’s War Experience and What it Means in November
August 2, 2004
Look it’s just a speech! Nobody elects a President for his duty in the war. But do not forget JFK used his LTjg status and his PT Boat friends, including my wife’s cousin, the late Lt. Cdr. Fred Rosen to campaign effectively. The “swift boat” episode was a metaphor for the question and the matter of character, not potential presidential leadership. GWBush's experiences as Governor of Texas, a weak governor system, was not highly meritorious or noteworthy accept in regards to many death sentences carried out. I would never oppose any governor on the death penalty as long as the state takes the utmost care in its imposition. So Kennedy served less than 8 years in the Senate and six in the House. Johnson was in the Senate 12 years and yes 10 years in the House, Truman was in the Senate 10 years, TR was Governor for two years, and Police Commissioner of NYC. Woodrow Wilson was Governor for one term I believe, and Nixon when put on the ticket was less than a one term Senator with 4 years in the House. George Bush was put on the ticket and had some elected experience, but was an appointee who spent little time in each position. Eisenhower had no elected experience as did Hoover. Coolidge was one term governor of Mass.
Yes, many had other lower elected offices and some had cabinet positions: Hoover, Taft, FDR (who had 8 years as asst. Secretary of the Navy, two terms as a State Senator and two terms as Governor!)
Kerry was a Lt. Governor, a State Attorney General, and a Senator for 20 years. He did have combat military experience, which benefited, Truman, TR, Eisenhower, Kennedy, even Johnson, George Bush and our earlier Presidents. In fact a great many of our earlier Presidents had some combat experience, but that was more typical of that age! Certainly Kerry's multiple terms reflected the will of the Massachusetts’s electorate, and his voting record also reflected their desires. LBJ had a much more conservative voting record in the Senate, as he represented a larger constituency than his former House seat. When he became President he moved further to the center left to reflect the needs of the time. Truman was also more conservative as a Senator, and was not seen as a fervent New Dealer in his last years in the Congress.
By the way McCain's father and grandfather were admirals. John “Slew” McCain, his grandfather, commanded fast carrier task forces and was highly regarded in the Pacific. He died suddenly at the end of WWII on September 6, 1945 at age 61. He became a naval aviator at the advanced age of 52, and eventually he was the designated commander of Task Force 38.1. By the way his father and uncles were retired from the Army as general officers. His son Admiral John McCain, Jr. known as “Junior,” was a submarine commander in WWII, who saw action during the North Africa landings, and in the Pacific on numerous war patrols. He eventually became Commander-in-Chief Pacific in which he oversaw the gradual disengagement from Vietnam. Upon his retirement he was special assistant to Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, Jr, the Chief of Naval Operations. Senator McCain, while operating his plane off the carrier Oriskany (remember the famous battle which gave this carrier its name, in upstate New York, where General Herkimer held off St.Leger and his Indian allies, insuring our eventual victory at Saratoga!) was shot down over Hanoi and was a prisoner for seven years.
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Look its just a speech! Nobody elects a President on his duty in the war. But do not forget JFK used his LTjg status and his PT Boat friends, including my cousin, the late Lt Cdm Fred Rosen to campaign effectively. The “swift boat” episode was a metaphor for the matter of character, not potential presidential leadership. GWBush's experiences as Governor of Texas, a weak governor system, was not highly meritorious or noteworthy accept in regards to many death sentences carried out. I would never oppose any governor on the death penalty as long as the state takes the utmost care in its imposition. So Kennedy served less than 8 years in the Senate and six in the House. Johnson was in the Senate 12 years and yes 10 years in the House, Truman was in the Senate 10 years, TR was Governor for two years, and Police Commissioner of NYC. Woodrow Wilson was Governor for one term I believe, and Nixon when put on the ticket was less than a one term Senator with 4 years in the House.
George Bush was put on the ticket and had some elected experience, but was an appointee who spent little time in each position. Eisenhower had no elected experience as did Hoover. Coolidge was one term governor of Mass. as well as Taft.
Yes, many had other lower elected offices and some had cabinet positions: Hoover, Taft, FDR (who had 8 years as asst. Secretary of the Navy, two terms as a State Senator and two terms as Governor!)
Kerry was a Lt. Governor, a State Attorney General, and a Senator for 20 years. He did have combat military experience, which benefited, Truman,TR, Eisenhower, Kennedy, even Johnson, George Bush and our earlier Presidents. In fact a great many of our earlier Presidents had some combat experience, but that was more typical of that age! Certainly Kerry's multiple reflected the will of the Massachusett's electorate, and his voting record also reflected their desires. LBJ had a much more conservative voting record in the Senate, as he represented a larger constituency than his former House seat. When he became President he moved further to the center left to reflect the needs of the time. Truman was also more conservative as a Senator, and was not seen as a fervent New Dealer in his last years in the Congress.
By the way McCain's father and grandfather were admirals. John “Slew” McCain, his grandfather, commanded fast carrier task forces and was highly regarded in the Pacific. He died suddenly at the end of WWII on September 6, 1945 at age 61. He became a naval aviator at the advanced age of 52, and eventually he was the designated commander of Task Force 38.1. By the way his father and uncles were retired from the Army as general officers. His son Admiral John McCain, Jr. known as “Junior,” was a submarine commander in WWII, who saw action during the North Africa landings, and in the Pacific on numerous war patrols. He eventually became Commander-in-Chief Pacific in which he oversaw the gradual disengagement from Vietnam. Upon his retirement he was special assistant to Admiral Elmo Zumwalt,Jr, the Chief of Naval Operations. Senator McCain, while operating his plane off the carrier Oriskany (remember the famous battle which gave this carrier its name, in upstate New York, where General Herkimer held off St.Leger and his Indian allies, insuring our eventual victory at Saratoga!) was shot down over Hanoi and was a prisoner for seven years.