For Kerry, A Tough Decision Not To Run

His initials are J.F.K., but Massachusetts' junior senator has not amassed anything resembling the devoted following of the Kennedy clan in his home state.

He's a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, but unlike his colleague Sen. J. Robert "Bob" Kerrey (D-Neb.), who lost a leg in combat, he carries no visible scars of his service to remind voters of his heroism.

He's generally considered a New Democrat, but his unwillingness to toe the party line has set him apart from other supporters of the Clinton Administration.

So Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) stands alone, and for this reason, if for no other, his announcement last Friday that he will not be seeking the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 2000 came as no surprise to close friends and confidantes.

But it was hardly an easy decision for Kerry, who agonized up to the last minute over whether or not to throw his hat into the ring.

"I talked to him as late as midnight the night before [the announcement], and he was still struggling," said Ron Rosenblith, a former member of Kerry's Washington staff and a long-time adviser.

In the end, however, the specter of a grueling campaign combined with heavy fundraising demands dissuaded Kerry from running.

"My heart said, 'Go out and fight for these things.' My head said, 'The day after I make the announcement I've got to raise an exorbitant amount of money and do it all in 10 months,"' Kerry said at a Boston press conference Friday.

Kerry said that being tied up in the Senate trial of President Clinton had prevented him from doing necessary pre-campaign work, including sounding out potential sources of financial support and soliciting endorsements from national figures.

At the end of the long impeachment process, the ultimate outsider found himself too far removed from the political scene to enter the fray.

The Money Problem

This election cycle's newly shortened primary schedule--several states, including California, have moved up the date of their elections--means candidates must raise enough money early to spend exorbitantly in a rush of accelerated campaigning.

Had he chosen to run, Kerry would already have been behind in the race to woo donors. Vice President Al Gore '69, the Democratic front-runner, and former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley both began courting big contributors months ago.

By last week, Gore had reportedly already recruited several Massachusetts fundraisers, some who had worked for Kerry in past contests.

To compete for the nomination, Kerry says he would have needed to raise $20 million, a daunting task for a candidate who refuses to accept gifts from political action committees.

After emerging from his last political contest--a successful 1996 battle to retain his seat against former Mass. Gov. William F. Weld '66--with a debt of $2.5 million, Kerry was understandably reluctant to undertake another costly campaign.

"Money would have been a problem [had he chosen to run]," said Rep. Barney Frank '61-'62 (D-Newton), a long-time colleague of Kerry's and a fixture of Democratic politics at both the state and national levels.

In an interview with The Crimson, Frank emphasized the vice president's advantage as an incumbent, explaining that Gore will be able to solicit contributions from an established network of Clinton-Gore supporters.

"After six years [of the Clinton Administration], it would have been hard to turn that around," Frank said.

And Kerry himself ruled out another potential source of funding--his own purse. He has refrained from drawing on family money in the past, and on Friday, indicated an unwillingness to do so in the future.

Only a few years ago, Kerry would not have had this option. In the early 1990s, his assets were limited to a $100,000 trust fund, and his only income was his Senate salary of $133,600.

In 1995, however, when Kerry married Teresa Heinz, widow of Sen. John Heinz III, the heir to the ketchup and food industry fortune, his financial outlook changed dramatically.

But after considering using personal funds to support a run, Kerry said at last week's press conference that he and his wife rejected this option.

"[Teresa and I] feel strongly at this point in time that it's not appropriate," Kerry said.

A Minor Scandal

In explaining what had tempted him to run, Kerry cited the opportunity to improve education, fight poverty, revamp the government, fix health care and re-examine foreign policy.

Though campaign finance reform was not on the list of issues, the senator has been a vocal advocate of cleaning up the system in the past.

In 1997, however, Kerry was implicated in the Clinton-Gore campaign finance scandal after reports of his having accepted $10,000 from Johnny Chung--who was under Justice Department investigation at the time--surfaced.

Chung's money reached Kerry through employees and associates of the wealthy Asian businessman. Chung apparently authorized the donations after Kerry's office helped him arrange a meeting at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Kerry does not appear to have sustained lasting political damage from the incident, as he moved quickly to clear his name.

The contributions connected to Chung were returned, and Kerry's aides explained that the senator's office had simply arranged a tour of the SEC for Chung, calling it a routine perk offered to supporters.

"Kerry returned the money as soon as there was any question as to whether Chung was legitimate or not," Rosenblith said.

Asked about the effect of the fundraising scandal on the primary race, Melissa Ratcliffe, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, downplayed its significance.

"The American people have clearly said time and time again that what they care about is not the scandals that the Republicans have been focusing on," she said.

"They care about access to high-quality education for their children, getting affordable health care and saving Social Security," Ratcliffe added.

What He Stands For

If Ratcliffe's assessment proves accurate, Kerry might have done well to join the race.

The senator's legislative and voting records show his commitment to children's issues.

Kerry's number one priority of late has been improving the nation's schools.

Once the darling of teachers' unions, the senator risked alienating them recently when he proclaimed himself in favor of converting "every public school into a charter" and ending "tenure as we know it."

In addition to his efforts on behalf of youth in this country, Kerry has a strong record in the foreign policy arena.

After returning from Vietnam, he took an active role in Vietnam Veterans Against the War. In 1971, he testified on behalf of this organization before the Senate's Foreign Relation Committee, of which he is now a member.

During the period between his return from Vietnam and his election to the Senate in 1984, Kerry received a law degree from Boston College.

As a senator, he has earned a reputation as a vigorous crime-fighter, pursuing the prosecution of such notorious figures as former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega and Reagan functionary Oliver North.

"He was not afraid to push the envelope when he came back from Vietnam, and he's not afraid to now," Rosenblith said.

The 55-year-old Kerry is still relatively young, and his career is far from over.

He has certainly not ruled out a presidential run in 2004.

On receiving news of Kerry's decision not to run, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Malden) offered a tribute to his colleague that seemed to beckon the senator to the national stage.

"John Kerry's life of public service," Markey said, "from Vietnam to fighting organized crime to pressing for a better life for our children, represents a record Americans want in a candidate for the highest office in our land."