John Kerry

John Kerry

John Kerry was a Democratic member of the United States Senate, representing Massachusetts. He is married to Teresa Heinz.

Early life

John Kerry was born on December 11, 1943 in Denver, Colorado. After graduating from Yale University, Kerry enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In time, he was serving on a gunboat in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. He received a Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. After his discharge from the Navy, Kerry began to publicly question the policies behind American military involvement in Vietnam. This lead him to become a spokesman for the anti-Vietnam War group, Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Later, after leaving the VVAW, Kerry founded the organization Vietnam Veterans of America.

Letter against Trump

John Kerry was a "National Security Leader" who signed an open letter titled National Security Leaders for Biden against President Donald Trump before the 2020 presidential election.

On Sept. 24, 2020, a group calling themselves "National Security Leaders for Biden" wrote "AN OPEN LETTER TO AMERICA" against President Trump. They write in part that under President Trump, "Climate change continues unabated, as does North Korea’s nuclear program." It continued to say that "The president has ceded influence to a Russian adversary who puts bounties on the heads of American military personnel, and his trade war against China has only harmed America’s farmers and manufacturers. The next president will have to address those challenges while struggling with an economy in a deep recession and a pandemic that has already claimed more than 200,000 of our fellow citizens. America, with 4% of the world’s population suffers with 25% of the world’s COVID-19 cases. Only FDR and Abraham Lincoln came into office facing more monumental crises than the next president."

Long term political consequences of the Hughes campaign

Opposing Ted Kennedy in the 1962 Massachusetts Democratic Primary was Edward McCormack, nephew of House Speaker John McCormack; Kennedy's Republican opponent was Yankee scion George Cabot Lodge; and on the left was Independent peace candidate Harvard Prof. H. Stuart Hughes, chair of the Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy.

Jerome Grossman was Hughes' Campaign Manager and Chester Hartman was the organizer of the massive signature drive required to place Hughes on the ballot. According to Grossman;

Hughes needed 72,000 signatures, a purposely prohibitive number in that era of McCarthyism and nobody in fact had tried to reach it since the law had first been passed.

In this talented field, Hughes polled 50,013 votes, 2.3% of the votes cast. However, we collected a startling 149,000 signatures in ten weeks for a "peace candidate." The Cuban Missile Crisis arrived in October just before the election. With the integrity that was his hallmark, Hughes went against the popular hysteria: he accused President Kennedy of acting over hastily in imposing the blockade of Cuba, of bypassing the United Nations, and unnecessarily stirring up an atmosphere of national emergency. His position cost Hughes thousands of votes.

In the process we built a town-by-town organization all over the state, a structure that remains in place today. A clear result has been the election over recent decades of so many progressive voices to the state's first-rate Congressional delegation, including Michael Harrington, Father Robert Drinan, Gerry Studds, Jim McGovern, Barney Frank, Ed Markey, John Tierney, Michael Capuano and John Kerry.

Vietnam Veterans Against the War/Operation RAW

During the Labor Day weekend of September 4-7, 1970, Operation RAW ("Rapid American Withdrawal") took place. It was a three day protest march from Morristown, NJ, to Valley Forge State Park by over 200 veterans. It was sponsored by Vietnam Veterans Against the War. They were joined by members of Nurses for Peace and other peace groups. Dressed in combat fatigues and carrying toy weapons, the march was designed to dramatize a Vietnam-type search and destroy mission to the Middle America they passed through. Upon entering each town along the march, sweeps were made, prisoners taken and interrogated, property seized and homes cleared with the assistance of previously planted "guerrilla theater" actors portraying civilians. The 86 mile long march culminated in a four hour rally at Valley Forge that over 1,500 people attended. The honorary commander during this event was retired Army Brigadier General Hugh B. Hester. Sponsors included Senators George McGovern and Edmund Muskie, Rep. John Conyers, Paul O'Dwyer, Mark Lane, and Donald Sutherland. Scheduled speakers were John Kerry, Joe Kennedy, Rev. James Bevel, Mark Lane, Jane Fonda, and Sutherland. Congressman Allard Lowenstein, Mike Lerner, and Army First Lt. Louis Font also spoke.

Gen. Hugh B. Hester (USA, ret), was the highest ranking American soldiers to have consistently supported the Communist Party USA and its various fronts, including the Soviet-connected New World Review magazine and the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship, identified by both Congress, the CIA and the FBI as a KGB operation. Hester apparently "married" into the CPUSA orbit (CITATION NEEDED).

The original FBI testimony on Soviet fronts in the U.S. appeared in the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearings of July 13 & 14, 1982, "Soviet Active Measures", esp. p. 204 re the NCASF.

"Emergency Conference of New Voters"

In an effort to increase student power in electoral politics, an estimated 1600 Bay area students will gather November 18, 1971 at 8:30 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium to voice their opposition to President Nixon and the Vietnam War. Main speakers at the rally will be Republican Congressman and Presidential candidate Pete McCloskey, (R-San Mateo); former New York Congressman Allard Lowenstein (now Chairman of the Americans for Democratic Action); Senator Alan Cranston (Dem.-Calif.) and John Kerry, spokesman of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. The "Emergency Conference of New Voters" is being organized by the student body presidents of 19 local colleges and universities to "ignite students into seizing the political process to change the country," according to ASSU co-president Larry Diamond. The student leaders feel that although President Nixon is winding down that war for middle class American college students, he is increasing the horrors for the victims of our bombing policy in Cambodia and the two Vietnams. They assert that the President has no moral justification for his policies and that he has been dishonest in presenting those policies and their effects to the American people.

In keeping with the goal of increasing student political power those attending the rally will have the opportunity to register to vote in California elections. Between 7 and 8 p.m., a preliminary conference will be held on registration laws and on 1972 convention delegate selection and party reform.. Explaining that the 19 colleges to be represented at the rally have 189,000 potential voters enrolled as students, a rally organizer warned President Nixon that "We've got the votes, we're getting organized and by 1972, we'll drive you out of office." In addition to the four main speakers, those scheduled to appear at the rally are Congressman Donald W. Riegle, Jr. (Rep.-Mich.); State Senate Majority Leader George Moscone; Assemblyman Willie Brown, (Dem.-San Francisco); Assemblyman John Vasconcellos (Dem.-San Jose); and Yvonne Westbrook, the 18 year old black woman who ran for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors this year.

The Conference is the twenty-fourth and last in a series of local rallies held across the nation since May in such diverse locations as Providence, R. 1.; Minneapolis, Minn.; and Austin. Texas. ADA Chairman Lowenstein, who led the "Dump Johnson" movement after 1967, has been providing volunteer manpower to aid most of the local rallies. A national conference of new voters will be held at. Loyola University in Chicago December 3-5. A similar conference in 1967 endorsed Senator Eugene McCarthy's candidacy for President. The ASSU is now raising funds from private sources to send Stanford delegates to the Chicago conference.

Assassination plot rejected

On March 19 2004 Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts retreated from his earlier steadfast denials that he attended a meeting of Vietnam Veterans Against the War at which a plan to assassinate U.S. Senators was debated.

The reversal came as new evidence, including reports from FBI informants, emerged that contradicted Mr. Kerry’s previous statements about the gathering, which was held in Kansas City, Mo. in November 1971.

“If there are valid FBI surveillance reports from credible sources that place some of those disagreements in Kansas City, we accept that historical footnote in the account of his work to end the difficult and divisive war,” the statement said.

It did not address the murder plot, though as recently as Wednesday a top aide to Mr. Kerry said that the Massachusetts senator and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee was “absolutely certain” he was not present when the assassination plan, known as the “Phoenix Project,” was discussed.

The New York Sun first reported that other anti-war activists placed Mr. Kerry at the Kansas City meeting. A total of six people said publicly that they remember seeing Mr. Kerry there. Participants say the plot was voted down, and several say they remember Mr. Kerry speaking and voting against it.

A historian and expert on activism against the Vietnam War, Gerald Nicosia, provided the Sun with minutes of the meeting.

Mr. Nicosia also read quotes from FBI surveillance documents he obtained under the Freedom of Information Act as he was preparing his 2001 book, “Home to War.”

“My evidence is incontrovertible.He was there,” Mr. Nicosia said in an interview yesterday. “There’s no way that five or six agents saw his ghost there,” said the historian, who lives in Marin County, north of San Francisco.

Mr. Nicosia said that the records show Mr. Kerry resigned from the group on the third day of the meeting, following discussion of the assassination plan and an argument between Mr. Kerry and another VVAW national coordinator, Al Hubbard.

Reading from an FBI informant report, Mr. Nicosia said, “John Kerry at a national Vietnam Veterans Against the War meeting appeared and announced to those present that he resigned for personal reasons but said he would be able to speak for VVAW” at future events.Another document “describes a conversation actually a confrontation between John Kerry and Hubbard that was taking place on one of the days of that meeting,” Mr. Nicosia added.

Mr. Nicosia said it is clear that Mr. Kerry and the others resigned because of the extreme actions the group was considering.

“It’s kind of unmistakable to see a pattern. All four of them were out the door, bingo, the morning after” the socalled Phoenix plot was discussed, the author said.

The minutes, prepared at the group’s national office in New York, recount the actions taken by Vietnam Veterans Against the War’s “emergency steering committee” during the four-day meeting, which ran from November 12 to 15, 1971. The minutes indicate that at the end of the day on Saturday, November 13, discussion turned to “national actions and other things.” The meeting is reported to have adjourned at 10 p.m. and resumed at 11 a.m. Sunday. The document goes on to say that the group passed a motion to hold a “national action… in 3 to 5 different sites.”The next entry in the minutes is, “John Kerry, Scott Moore, Mike Oliver and Skip Roberts resigned as national coordinators.”

Quotes About John Kerry by Other Vietnam Veterans

• Obituary story of former AF POW Kevin McManus, Washington Post, Patricia Sullivan, "Kevin McManus, 65; Vietnam War POW", p. C7. McManus was quoted as saying the following about John Kerry:

"John Kerry is probably the first man in 200 years of American history to make Benedict Arnold look good." McManus said this in a film entitled "Stolen Honor" according to the obit story.

Political career

In 1982, after working as a prosecutor in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, John Kerry ran for, and was elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. John Kerry ran for Senate in 1984. Kerry was elected, then re-elected in 1990, 1996, and 2002. Early in 2004, John Kerry emerged as the Democrtic Party's leading candidate to run against incumbent president George Bush in the November 2004 presidential election.

Institute for Policy Studies connections

John Kerry has long been close to the Institute for Policy Studies.

Nicaragua visit

When the $14 million aid package for the contras came up in spring 1985, Congress initially voted it down. Many congressmen said that, besides the PACCA report, reports of human rights violations had influenced them. . .Just forty-eight hours before the vote, Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) traveled to Nicaragua. Their celebrated meetings with Sandinista junta leaders, which captured the headlines and helped sway Congress, were arranged by Peter Kornbluh, a fellow at Institute for Policy Studies. Within a week the Sandinista president, Daniel Ortega, flew to Moscow and secured $200 million in Soviet aid. Shocked and embarrassed, Congress reversed gears and granted $27 million in humanitarian aid to the contras.

Promoting IPS propaganda

IPS often acts as the ideological center and hub of activism of the autonomous groups in the [pro-Sandinista "CISPES"] Latin network. For instance. . .in early 1985 IPS brought together various players in the Latin network to compile "the Reagan record of deceit and illegality on Central America." "In Contempt of Congress" was a mishmash of contradictory data and not particularly persuasive. But then it was not intended to persuade, but to confuse and sow distrust of the Reagan administration. As with the PACCA report, it got wide circulation in Congress. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) offered his praise for it and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) called it "essential reading for every American who remembers Vietnam or Watergate."

IPS aide

In the 1980s Senator Kerry hired a former fellow of the radical "think tank" Institute for Policy Studies, Gareth Porter, as a legislative aide.

Porter is a self-styled expert on Southeast Asia, notable for being one of those defending the bloody Pol Pot regime in Cambodia long after the evidence of its genocide of its own people had become overwhelming.

Take Back America Conferences

John Kerry was on the list of 129 speakers at the 2003 Take Back America conference, which was organized by the Institute for Policy Studies, and Democratic Socialists of America dominated Campaign for America's Future.

He was back in 2006.

Supporting "Veteran's fast for life"

John Kerry addresses the press conference

On September 1st, 1986, four veterans began a water-only "fast for life" on the Capitol steps in Washington, D.C. They wanted to to draw attention to, and to protest, President Reagan's "illegal and extraordinarily vicious wars against the poor of Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala."

The veterans were;

• George Mizo, U.S. Army, 1963-1970,Vietnam;
• Brian Willson, U.S. Air Force, 1966-1970, Vietnam;
• Duncan Murphy, U.S. Army, 1942-1945, ambulance driver, WWII;
• Charles Litekey, U.S. Army, 1966-1971, Vietnam, 2 tours;

The veterans believed that the President's explicit policy of directing the contra terrorists in Nicaragua to commit wanton murder and destruction, enabled by appropriations passed by a majority of members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, amounted to grotesque, unconscionable violent behavior in violation of both U.S. Constitutional and international law, and the egregious breach of the human rights of virtually all Nicaraguan citizens. The veterans believed that the President was clearly vulnerable to Constitutional impeachment, and that all members of the Senate and House of Representatives should have been subjected to criminal prosecution under international law as well, whether they were re-elected or not.

On October 7 several U.S Congressmen and Senators spoke at a press conference in support of the faster's cause. They included Senator Charles Mathias (R-MD), Claiborne Pell (D-RI), Don Edwards (D-CA), Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Leon Panetta (D-CA), Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Senator John Kerry (D-MA), David Bonior (D-MI), Lane Evans (D-Illinois), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT).

Opposed aid to El Salvador

On February 6, 1990, Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry introduced a Bill to cut off all aid to El Salvador just a few days after EI Salvador's President Cristiani had come to Washington to discuss the need for such support.

This bill was backed by four other Democratic Senators: Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Paul Simon of Illinois, Alan Cranston of California and Brock Adams of Washington state.

The Senators and Congressmen who vote against providing aid to the government of El Salvador were effectively handicapping the democratically-elected government in that area and paralleling the Communist line of the time.

The Communist Party USA newspaper, the People's Daily World of January 30, 1990 stated:

Last weekend's meeting of the Communist Party, USA resolved to Mobilize to build the March 24 demonstration in Washington, D.C. demanding an end to military aid to El Salvador and intervention in Central America.

Re-opening embassy in Cuba

August 14 2015 Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) released the following statement after joining U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and other members of Congress for the official re-opening of the U.S. embassy in Havana, Cuba.

“Today I was proud to join Secretary Kerry for the re-opening of the U.S. Embassy here in Cuba. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in U.S.-Cuba relations that leaves the Cold War behind and embraces the power of diplomacy.

“As a witness to this historic step for our two nations, I urge my fellow members of Congress to put politics aside and seize this moment. We should lift the trade embargo with Cuba and build on the progress made here today.

“Normal relations provide us with greater prospects to engage directly with a diverse range of Cuban society. Together, we can create new opportunities for American businesses, increase travel and exchanges, and support efforts in Cuba to advance political and economic reforms and promote human rights.

“I want to thank President Obama and Secretary Kerry for their leadership to help make today possible.

“Today, the U.S. and Cuba are united in saying we are ready to create a better future for our countries and our people. Now is the time for Congress to lead.”

Congressman McGovern has been a leading champion in the push to normalize U.S.-Cuba relations. In December 2014, when President Obama first announced the new U.S.-Cuba policy, Congressman McGovern joined Secretary Kerry to welcome home Alan Gross, the American aid worker who was released from Cuba the same day.

Joining Congressman McGovern for the U.S. embassy opening in Cuba today were Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), and Karen Bass (D-CA).

Democratic Socialists of America connection

John Kerry has long been close to Democratic Socialists of America.

Hearing on Economic Insecurity

Democratic Left, May/June 1996, page 15

Boston Democratic Socialists of America organized the January 1996 Boston Hearing on Economic Insecurity. Participants included Joe Faherty, DSA member Elaine Bernard, John Kerry, Joe Moakley, Barney Frank, Joe Kennedy, John Olver, Marty Meehan.

Felix Arroyo connection

On August 18 2001, Boston Democratic Socialists of America Summer conference voted to endorse Denise Provost and Kevin Tarpley for re-election to Somerville’s Board of Aldermen and Felix Arroyo for an At- Large seat on the Boston City Council.

Long-time progressive activist Felix Arroyo was raised in Puerto Rican public housing; his father was a police detective, his garment seamstress mother an ILGWU member.

Past President of the Boston School Committee and current critic of the MCAS test, Felix Arroyo was a policy advisor to both Mayor Ray Flynn and Senator John Kerry, and an active opponent of U.S. Central American policy in the 1980s. He is endorsed by the SEIU State Council, Boston NOW, CPPAX, Mel King, Boston City Councilor and DSA member Chuck Turner and State Rep. Shirley Owens-Hicks.

Relationship to Boston DSA

John Kerry appears to have a relationship with the Boston local of Democratic Socialists of America. In 2002 Boston DSA held their 24th annual Debs-Thomas-Bernstein awards.

Kerry sent greetings to the 25th annual dinner in 2002-as did Massachussetts Congressman James McGovern and Mike Capuano.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this evening a success, including Barbara Ackermann of MASS-CARE, Jim St. George of TEAM, and longtime DSAers Fran and Jake Schlitt for their eloquent introductions... and Congressmen Mike Capuano and Jim McGovern, Senator John Kerry, and last year’s awardee Dessima Williams, who sent greetings.

DSA support '04

In 2004, Democratic Socialists of America urged their members to support Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry (even though they preferred Howard Dean or Dennis Kucinich), in order to defeat Republican candidate George Bush.

A Democratic Socialists of America press release to this effect was reproduced in the Boston Democratic Socialists of America newsletter, The Yankee Radical, September 2004, page 3.

Local DSA support

As members of the Commonwealth Coalition, a "statewide alliance of unions, civil rights, environmental and community groups", Boston Democratic Socialists of America helped publicize the campaigns of "many winning progressive candidates for the state legislature, largely through our newsletter The Yankee Radica.

We also supported joined with Neighbor to Neighbor in swing state phone banking for the Kerry campaign. And we’ve tried to make the argument to our friends in the Green Party that, given current election law, third parties of the left mainly help Republicans, while Democratic Party primaries present better avenues for progressive insurgency.

British to face US pressure on Cory

The British government come under intense pressure at St Patrick's Day gatherings in Washington DC March 2004 to publish the Cory reports in full.

Prominent US senators, including Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, wrote to British prime minister Tony Blair calling for the speedy and complete publication of Canadian judge Peter Cory's reports into four killings where security force collusion is suspected.

Nationalists and republicans do not believe that Blair will publish the entire reports, despite his assurances last week that the reports would be made public before Easter.

Blair's government had since the reports since the previous October, but they remained unpublished. The Irish government published its two reports in December.

Cory had recommended public inquiries into the deaths of Catholic solicitors Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson, Portadown Catholic Robert Hamill and Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright.

US senators John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Charles Schumer, Chris Dodd and Patrick Leahy wrote to Blair expressing their concern at his failure to publish.

``Despite the fact that Judge Cory submitted his report nearly six months ago, the Cory report has not yet been published, no target date for publication has been given and there has been no clear confirmation that public inquiries will be held into all cases where Judge Cory has recommended them, said the letters.

Pro-China

In 2000, U.S. lawmakers publicly accused the China Ocean Shipping Co. of being a front for espionage and blocked plans to expand its Long Beach, Calif., port terminal over fears that Chinese spies would use it to snoop on the United States.

By 2009, Congress was seeing the state-owned Chinese behemoth in a far kinder light. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) authored a resolution applauding the company for employing thousands of Americans and helping keep the waters of Alaska clean. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) hailed the firm on the House floor, calling its chief executive "a people's ambassador" to the United States after it rescued Boston's port -- and thousands of jobs -- when a European shipping line moved out.

Committee of 100

1996: Committee of 100 Sixth Annual Conference: Washington, DC.

Conference participants included Senators Daniel Akaka, John Kerry, and Sam Nunn, U.S. Ambassador James Sasser, Representatives Doris Matsui, Patsy Mink, and Chinese Ambassador Li Daoyu. Highlight of the Conference revolved around the Committee’s background paper, “Seeking Common Ground While Respecting Differences: A Win-Win Strategy for U.S.-China Relations,” which was distributed to congressional, government, business, and academic leaders.

Supporting the CPA

Fair Elections Now Act

In 2010 Senator Maria Cantwell signed on as a Senate co-sponsor of the Fair Elections Now Act (FENA), S.752 - joining Senator Dick Durbin (original sponsor) and other Senate colleagues for a total of nine.

In the Senate, others were Sens. Barbara Boxer, Chris Dodd, Russ Feingold, Kirsten Gillibrand, Tom Harkin, John Kerry, and Arlen Specter.

Blue Green Alliance

The Blue Green Alliance sponsors the annual Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference. The 2010 conference was held from May. 4-6, 2010.

Conference speakers included:

• Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives
• Dr. Steven Chu, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy
• Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor
• Ed Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania
• Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of Colorado
• U.S. Senator John Kerry, United States Senator of Massachusetts
• U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, United States Senator of Oregon
• U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, Fifth District of Missouri
• U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison, Fifth District of Minnesota
• U.S. Congressman Ben Ray Luján, Third District of New Mexico
• U.S. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, First Congressional District of Maine

Soros funding

By 2008, Barack Obama was one of only a handful of candidates to get a personal contribution from George Soros. The others include Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), Bob Graham (D-Fla.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, and former Vermont governor Howard Dean.

Supported by Council for a Livable World

The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported John Kerry in his successful Senate run as candidate for Massachusetts.

Approval of Biden team

From the Council for a Livable World website, December 20, 2020:

This time next month will be the last minutes of the Trump administration, and like all those who value diplomacy over conflict and competence over chaos, we at the Council could not be more excited. President-elect Joe Biden has been a champion for nuclear risk reduction his entire career. In fact, the Council endorsed him in his first Senate bid in 1972, becoming his first endorsement from a national organization. The Council also endorsed him for President over the summer — our first ever endorsement at the Presidential level.

So far, we at the Council are optimistic about the selection of many of Biden’s Cabinet picks whose focuses overlap with ours, including Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken, Climate Change Envoy appointee John Kerry, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations nominee Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Director of National Intelligence nominee Avril Haines, National Security Advisor appointee Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense nominee Lloyd Austin and Secretary of Energy nominee Jennifer Granholm. We know that not everyone is thrilled about every pick, but we remain confident that the Biden administration will work to reduce nuclear threats, restore morale and purpose at the State Department after four years of damage, and try to rein in out-of-control defense spending.

Meanwhile, while our team continues to focus primarily on Congressional work, we have met with various members of the Biden transition team to provide our expert analysis and insight on the most critical national security issues we’ll face over the next four years.

Council for a Livable World, 50th Anniversary

On June 6, 2012, Council for a Livable World, along with its sister organizations Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and Council for a Livable World’s PeacePAC, celebrated the 50th Anniversary of their founding by Leo Szilard in 1962.

An evening celebration was held at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Congressman Barney Frank acted as the Master of Ceremonies and, in the process, received a lifetime achievement award from former Rep. Tom Downey, a member of the Council’s Board of Directors. The Robert F. Drinan Peace and Human Award was presented to former Representative and PeacePAC Chairman David Bonior and the late Edith Wilkie, a longtime advocate and leader for peace and justice.

Six sitting Senators joined CLW in an afternoon national security forum in the U.S. Capitol to speak on the issues Council has been working on for 50 years. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) all spoke eloquently on these pressing issues.

Council for a Livable World has a long and close relationship with each of the Senators. They have all been leading advocates in the Senate for sensible national security policies, such as reducing the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction, reigning in the bloated defense budget, and bringing an end to the War in Afghanistan.

Chairman Kerry spoke primarily about US nuclear weapons policy and the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas. While his remarks were off-the-record, he remains a champion of the New START Treaty and is working hard to build a coalition in favor of the Law of the Seas Treaty.

Trade with Russia

Ending nearly 40 years of trade restrictions with Russia, the Senate voted December 2012 to approve a bill that will allow U.S. companies to expand business ties with the world's ninth-largest economy and its 140 million consumers.

The bill to grant permanent normal trade relations to Russia, which passed 92-4, now goes to President Obama, who said that he'll sign it.

Businesses lobbied hard for the legislation, saying it would allow them to cash in after Russia formally joined the World Trade Organization on Aug. 22.

With passage of the bill, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a top advocate of the legislation, predicted they will at least double within five years.

Sen. John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said all U.S. businesses will benefit because Russia now will be forced to lower its tariffs and allow more imports after joining the WTO.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said the trade deal "includes only concessions by Russia," since the United States is a member of the WTO.

Sinn Fein lobbying

In March 2013, Sinn Fein lobbyist Rita O’Hare showed her wide reach of connections, meeting with a New York City Council staffer from Christine Quinn’s office on March 11, and then meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department the morning of March 18. That same afternoon, she met with Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt..

Help on Iranian visas

In October of 2002 Iranian American Political Action Committee met with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the then Chairmen of the Senate Judiciary Sub-committee on Immigration, to discuss the immediate impact of the implementation of the Section 306 of the Enhanced Border Security & Visa Enter Reform Act. Section 306 of the law contemplates a ban on the issuance of all non-immigrant visas to residents or nationals of the seven countries that appear on the Department of State's list of state sponsors of international terrorism - including Iran...IAPAC spoke to Senator Schumer about the unfairness and short sightedness of the legislation and presented to him specific recommendations drafted by the Iranian American Bar Association on how Section 306 should be interpreted. Senator Schumer agreed to hold and chair a meeting with the Department of Justice, the Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agency to discuss the regulations that will be applied regarding the implementation of Section 306.

IAPAC also requested the following Senators to attend the meeting - Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. John Edwards (D-NC), Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN). All sent representatives to the meeting and were in agreement with our proposals. The first meeting was held in November of 2002 and the second meeting was held in March of 2003.

In addition, IAPAC asked for and received a press release from Senator Schumer regarding visa policy for non-immigrants. Senator Schumer summed up his concerns by stating that "we do not want our non-immigrant visa policy to impose an undue hardship on American citizens, including Iranian Americans, many of whom have made and continue to make outstanding contributions to the economic and social life of our country."

Iran lobby

According to Daniel Greenfield, writing on Iran's influence in the Democratic Party;

The real victory had come long before when two of their biggest politicians, Joe Biden and John Kerry, had moved into prime positions in the administration. Not only Iran America Political Action Committee, but key Iran Lobby figures had been major donors to both men.

That list includes Housang Amirahmadi, the founder of the American Iranian Council, who had spoken of a campaign to “conquer Obama’s heart and mind” and had described himself as “the Iranian lobby in the United States.” It includes the Iranian Muslim Association of North America (IMAN) board members who had fundraised for Biden. And it includes the aforementioned Hassan Nemazee.

A member of Iran’s opposition had accused Biden’s campaigns of being “financed by Islamic charities of the Iranian regime based in California and by the Silicon Iran network.” Biden’s affinity for the terrorist regime in Tehran was so extreme that after 9/11 he had suggested, “Seems to me this would be a good time to send, no strings attached, a check for $200 million to Iran”.

Questions about donations from the Iran Lobby had haunted John Kerry’s presidential campaign. Back then Kerry had been accused of supporting an agreement favorable to Iran. The parameters of that controversial proposal however were less generous than the one that Obama and Kerry are trying to sell now.

The hypothetical debates over the influence of the Iran Lobby have come to a very real conclusion.

Both of Obama’s secretaries of state were involved in Iran Lobby cash controversies, as was his vice president and his former secretary of defense. Barack Obama was also the beneficiary of sizable donations from the Iran Lobby. Akbar Ghahary, the former co-founder of IAPAC, had donated and raised some $50,000 for Obama.

IAPAC money

Senator John Kerry received money from the Iranian American Political Action Committee during the 2008 election cycle.

Staff

The following are past and present staff:

• George Abar
• Nardos Abebe
• Adam Abrams
• Corey Catherine Ahearn (Katie)
• Katrina Anderson (Kate)
• Sharde Armstrong
• Geoffrey Arvanitis
• Samuel Asher
• Kerri Axelrod
• Christopher Badger
• Zachary Bamberg
• Shannon Batten
• Jayona Beal
• Jeffrey Bean
• Camille Bedin
• Jesse Belcastro
• Ifetayo Belle
• Daniel Benaim
• Kelley Benander
• Hannah Bennett
• Michael T. Beresik
• Jonathan P. Berman (John)
• Shideh B. Biela
• Guljied Birce (Ed)
• Alison Bonebrake (Ali)
• Ryan Bounsy
• Kelly Bovio
• Tomeika Bowden
• April Susanna Boyd
• Brigid O'Rourke Brady
• Jeremy J. Brandon
• Felicia J. Brinson
• Amy J. Brundage
• Daniel W. Brundage (Dan)
• Sarah E. Buss
• Joseph F. Callahan
• Janice M. Camacho
• Joseph P. Canty
• Meaghan M. Carroll
• Janeen-Marie Castetter
• Theodore Chiodo
• James Chisholm (Jamie)
• Abraham Cho
• Eliza Chon
• Nicholas Christiansen (Nick)
• Patrick Coan
• Colleen M. Coburn
• Briana Collier
• Amy Corrigan
• Amanda Coulombe
• Arthur Coviello
• Francis Crowley
• Amy Dacey
• Jeremy D'Aloisio
• Lauren Daniel
• Andrew Davis (Andy)
• Christopher Dawe (Chris)
• Richard Dimartino
• Jonathan Epstein
• Mark Falzone
• Leslie Feinberg
• Patricia Ferrone (Tricia)
• Simon Fischer
• Roger Andrew Fisk
• Maura K. Neal Fitzpatrick
• Christopher R. Flanagan (Chris)
• Gordon Fletcher
• Michael J. Flynn (Mike)
• Kate P. Foley
• Dia L. Forman
• Judith S. Foster
• Taylor B. Francois
• Kathleen C. Frangione
• Matthew R. Frank
• Joseph D. Fritz
• Douglas H. Frost (Doug)
• Gordon C. Fung
• Michael A. Gaffin (Mike)
• Lisa A. Garcia
• Stephanie Gerard
• Jennifer Glynn
• Ian J. Goldin
• Samantha Goldman
• Caitlin F. Gollop
• Augusto F. Grace
• Justin Samuel Grad
• Daniel J. Gross
• Larry Gurwin
• Dillon S. Guthrie
• Alexandra R. Harper
• Morgan Day Harris
• Jamar Harrison
• Sebastian L. Hazzard
• James I. Hedberg
• Kevin C. Herbert
• Elohim D. Hernandez Camacho
• Christopher W. Hickling (Chris)
• Carmen M. Hicks
• Heather A. Higginbottom
• Kaaren G. Hinck
• Maura R. Hogan
• Ryan H. Honeyman
• Mirah A. Horowitz
• Kristian J. Horvei
• Matthew B. Howard
• Marcuse E. Howard
• Celes Eckerman Hughes
• James A. Hunter (Jamie)
• Erika Conway Hunter
• Jeffrey S. Jacobs
• Stanley Jean-Charles
• Vanessa C. Jean-Simon
• Aaron R. Jenkins
• Jon P. Jennings
• Tiffany L. Jilek (Tippi)
• William R. Johnson
• Patrick Y. Johnson-Cheatham
• James Matthew Jones (Jim)
• James M. Jordan (Jim)
• Kathleen C. Joyce
• Jeremy D. Kane
• Moses M. Karugu
• Antionetta Kelley
• Shailagh C. Kennedy
• Amy N. Kerrigan
• Kathleen M. Kerrigan (Kathy)
• Conor W. Kilroy
• Evan R. Kirsch
• Jackie H. Kohn
• Alexandra Kougentakis
• Johanna Michaels Kreisel
• Connor T. Kuratek
• Zachary R. Kurland
• Alexander C. Landin (Alex)
• Barry LaSala
• Roger W. Lau
• Dawn E. Lavallee
• Meghan E. Leahy
• Janet Lebel
• Michael S. Leighs
• Robin Jennifer Lerner
• Matthew E. Levin
• Richard A. Levitt
• Shaunda C. Lewis
• Carissa A. Lewis
• Simon G. Limage
• Colleen R. Lineweaver
• Frank Graham Lowenstein
• Danielle Marie Luber
• James M. Ludes
• Nathan R. MacKinnon
• Ian MacPherson
• Rachel J. Mann
• Katherine L. Manning
• Mary F. Marcuss
• Sarah C. Marks
• Roy Edward Martin
• Matthew A. Martin
• Alyssa Mende Mastromonaco
• Megan S. McCafferty
• David McKean
• Patrick S. McKiernan
• Christopher C. McMahon
• Gregory R. McMorrow
• Bradford P. Meacham
• Jason D. Meininger
• Stephen J. Meunier
• Dimitri M. Michaud
• Heather R. Mizeur
• William D. Moody
• Keshia Morall
• Erik J. Morrill
• Vincent S. Morris (Vince)
• Tim R. Morrow
• Greg P. Moscow
• Nassar F. Mufdi Ruiz
• Khalifah A. Muhammad
• Brendan C. Neal
• Karena J. Neubauer (Karen)
• David Nibert
• Marvin D. Jr. Nicholson
• Eric S. Niloff
• Alexandra C. Nunez (Alex)
• Tyler J. Obenauf
• Andrew O'Brien (Drew)
• Brendan K. O'Donnell
• Christopher L. Olson
• Leigh C. O'Neill
• Ashley L. O'Neill
• Brittney M. Opacak
• Kathryn C. Ousley
• Mary K. Pappey
• Megan M. Perkins
• Alexis M. Perlmutter
• John Christopher Phillips
• Anna-Liviya Piccione
• Evan M. Pinsonnault
• Carlos M. Polanco
• Ayanna S. Pressley
• Colleen T. Puma
• David M. Quinn
• Haley M. Rauch
• Kathryn A. Rhudy
• Brian F. Rice
• Elizabeth C. Richardson (Liz)
• Alex D. Rindler
• Jennifer B. Ritter
• Erica Giers Rixen
• Andrew A. Robichaud
• Dana N. Robinson
• Theressa D. Robinson
• Geri-Lynn Robinson
• Nancy M. Rogers
• Shauvi S. Rogers
• Cheryl M. Rolfes (Cheri)
• Lisa E. Rosenberg
• Lindsay G. Ross
• Gregg A. Rothschild
• Caitlin M. Russi
• Allison N. Sandera
• Kristen J. Sarri (Kris)
• Aaron L. Saunders
• Brett H. Schenker
• Eugene M. Schlesinger (Gene)
• Jack E. Schnirman
• Daniel A. Sepulveda (Danny)
• Jodi Bennett Seth
• Patrick J. Shearns
• Charles Scott Shepard (Scott)
• Clare S. Sierawski
• Alison F. Silberman
• Hadid C. Simmons
• Kyle A. Simon
• Kristen C. Simpson
• Hilleary C. Smith
• Whitney K. Smith
• Alexander A. Soto
• Kathryn E. Stack
• Mark Samuel Sternman
• Nancy H. Stetson
• Jesse V. II Stevens
• Gregory B. Stewart (Greg)
• Ari J. Strauss
• Keerthi Sugumaran
• Brendan C. Sullivan
• Paul M. Sullivan
• Nancy Lynn Sullivan
• Kyle J. Sullivan
• Matthew R. Summers (Matt)
• Mary C. Szpak
• Brandon A. Tabassi
• Meaghan Hohl Taborda
• Tristan D. Takos
• Mary M. Tarr
• Carmina A. Taylor
• Cameron Proffitt Taylor
• Megan L. Thompson
• Lauren E. Tighe
• Jose L. Toirac
• Atman Madhukar Trivedi
• Lawrence Trundle
• Christina N. Tsafoulias
• Eva Tsui
• Brendan Tully
• Kelsey J. Utne
• Brady J. Van Engelen
• Carmen A. Velazquez
• Kevin E. Verge
• Karen M. Vigliano
• Michael J. Vito
• David Eckels Wade
• Bridgette L. Walker
• Meghan E. Walsh
• Lumay Wang
• Cathleen E. Ward
• Setti David Warren
• Joan M. Wasser
• Maria A. Wassum
• Stephanie Renee Szaro Wayne
• Michael J. Wayno
• Thomas L. Weber
• Jodi L. Williams
• Hope E. Winship
• Julie Ann Wirkkala
• James D. Wise
• Christina A. Wiskowski
• David L. Wood
• Sheila M. Wulsin
• Anthony J. Wyche (Tony)
• Christopher R. Wyman (Chris)
• Sarah Yedinsky
• Brian S. Young
• Krista L. Zalatores
• Juan C. Zavala
• Heather Zichal
• Anna Ziskend

External links

• Kerry's website with the Senate

References

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