John Kerry: podcast appearances and interviews

John Forbes Kerry is an American attorney, politician, diplomat, and former naval officer who served as the 68th United States secretary of state from 2013 to 2017. During his tenure, he played a key role in initiating Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and negotiating Iran nuclear agreements including the 2013 Joint Plan of Action and the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Kerry also signed the Paris Agreement on climate change on behalf of the United States in 2015. Prior to serving as secretary of state, he represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1985 to 2013 and was the Democratic presidential nominee in the 2004 election. After his time in the Senate, Kerry served as the first U.S. special presidential envoy for climate from 2021 to 2024 under President Joe Biden. He left this role to work on Biden's 2024 presidential campaign. Born into the Forbes family in Aurora, Colorado, Kerry grew up in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. After graduating from Yale University in 1966, he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve, serving as a lieutenant during the Vietnam War. He served in South Vietnam, earning three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star Medal, and Bronze Star Medals for his conduct in combat. Following his military service, Kerry became an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War and gained national recognition as an anti-war activist. His later career included law practice, media work, and political roles culminating in his prominent diplomatic service. In 2024, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden.