December 11: John Forbes Kerry is born at the Fitzsimmons Military Hospital in Denver to Rosemary (Forbes) and Richard Kerry. His family moves back to Massachusetts shortly after his birth.
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1950
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Kerry's family moves to Washington.
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1953
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Kerry is 10 years old.
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1957
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While his father is stationed at the US Embassy in Norway, Kerry is sent to Massachusetts for schooling. He attends Fessenden School in West Newton, where he meets friend Richard Pershing.
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1958
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Kerry enrolls at St. Paul's School in Concord, N.H.
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1959
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At 16, Kerry founds the John Winant Society at St. Paul's, a group that still exists and which debates major issues of the day.
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1960
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November 8: On Election Day, Kerry sees candidate John F. Kennedy speak for the first time.
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1962
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Kerry volunteers in the senatorial campaign of Edward M. Kennedy.
Enters Yale, and meets President Kennedy twice while dating Jacqueline Kennedy's half-sister, Janet Auchincloss.
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1966
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Graduates from Yale.
February 18: Kerry enlists in the US Navy.
October 19: Kerry is ordered into active duty.
December 16: Kerry receives his Navy commission, a few days after his 23rd birthday.
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1967
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Kerry spends the year in military training.
December: Kerry begins his first tour of duty, serving on the guided-missile frigate USS Gridley.
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1968
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February: With Kerry aboard, the Gridley sails into war to patrol the coast of Vietnam. He never came into contact with the enemy during this time.
June 6: Kerry's first tour ends as the Gridley returns home.
December: Begins second tour of duty as the skipper of swift boat No. 44, patrolling the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam.
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1969
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February 28: Kerry shoots and kills a Viet Cong guerilla who was threatening the lives of Kerry's crew. He received the Silver Star for his action.
April: Kerry ends his second and final tour in Vietnam.
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1970
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January 3: Discharged from the Navy.
February: Kerry gives up on his first bid for office as a protest candidate in the race for the Third Congressional district.
May 23: Kerry marries Julia Thorne, his best friend's sister.
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1971
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January: Attends ''Winter Soldier'' hearings in Detroit, but does not speak.
April 22: Kerry testifies before Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
April 23: Kerry and other veterans throw medals and ribbons over a fence at the Capitol to protest the war.
June 20: Debates John O'Neill on ''The Dick Cavett Show.''
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1972
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September: Kerry wins the Democratic primary in the race for the Fifth Congressional District.
November: Loses his bid for Congress to Republican Paul W. Cronin in the general election.
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1973
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September: Within a matter of days, Kerry's first daughter, Alexandra, is born and he enrolls in Boston College Law School.
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1974
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August 9: President Nixon resigns.
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1976
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May: Kerry earns his law degree from Boston College and later joins the Middlesex County district attorney's office.
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1977
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January: Kerry is promoted to first assistant district attorney in Middlesex County
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1978
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Feb. 16: Discharged from the US Navy Reserves.
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1979
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May: Leaves the Middlesex County district attorney's office and opens a private law practice.
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1981
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Fall: Kerry begins planning to run for lieutenant governor.
A timeline of events