Bob Kerrey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bob Kerrey
Official portrait, 2006
7th President of The New School
In office 2001–2010
Preceded by	Jonathan Fanton
Succeeded by	David E. Van Zandt
United States Senator from Nebraska
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by	David Karnes
Succeeded by	Ben Nelson
Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999
Leader	Tom Daschle
Preceded by	Bob Graham
Succeeded by	Robert Torricelli
35th Governor of Nebraska
In office January 6, 1983 – January 9, 1987
Lieutenant	Donald McGinley
Preceded by	Charles Thone
Succeeded by	Kay Orr
Personal details
Born	Joseph Robert Kerrey (1943-08-27) August 27, 1943 (age 81) Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (1978–present)
Other political affiliations	Republican (before 1978)
Spouses	Beverly Defnall ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1978)​ Sarah Paley ​ (m. 2001)​
Children	3
Education	University of Nebraska–Lincoln (BS)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1966–1969
Rank	Lieutenant (junior grade)
Unit	SEAL Team 1
Battles/wars	Vietnam War (WIA)
Awards	Medal of Honor Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart

Joseph Robert Kerrey (born August 27, 1943) is an American politician. He served as the 35th governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987. Later, he was a U.S. Senator for Nebraska from 1989 to 2001.

Before becoming a politician, Bob Kerrey was a United States Navy SEAL officer in the Vietnam War. He received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in combat. He was seriously injured during this time.

After his time in the Senate, he became the president of The New School, a university in New York City, from 2001 to 2010. In 2012, he ran for his old Senate seat again but was not elected.

Early Life and Education

Bob Kerrey was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on August 27, 1943. His mother, Elinor Fern, was a university instructor. His father, James Henry Kerrey, was a builder.

He went to public schools in Lincoln and graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School in 1961. In 1966, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Military Service and Heroism

Kerrey served in the United States Navy as a SEAL officer during the Vietnam War. He completed his training in December 1967 and joined SEAL Team ONE.

On March 14, 1969, Kerrey was badly wounded in combat on Hon Tre island. He lost the lower part of his right leg. Even though he was injured and bleeding, he led his team in a counterattack. For his brave actions, President Richard Nixon awarded him the Medal of Honor on May 14, 1970.

Medal of Honor: A Story of Courage

The Medal of Honor is the highest military award for bravery. Bob Kerrey's award citation describes his actions on March 14, 1969. He led his SEAL team on a mission to capture enemy forces on an island.

His team climbed a 350-foot cliff to surprise the enemy. As they were going down, they faced heavy enemy fire. A grenade exploded near Kerrey, causing serious injuries. Even with his wounds, he bravely directed his team's fire. He also called for support from another part of his team.

After the enemy fire stopped, he calmly ordered his team to secure a safe place for evacuation. He continued to lead his men until he was taken away by helicopter. His leadership and bravery helped his team succeed and gather important information.

Thanh Phong Incident: A Difficult Memory

In 2001, news reports discussed an event during Kerrey's Vietnam War service. On February 25, 1969, he led a raid on a village called Thanh Phong. The U.S. military considered this area a "free-fire zone."

Kerrey stated that his team was shot at from the village. They returned fire, but later found that some of the people killed were women and children. He said, "The thing that I will remember until the day I die, is walking in and finding... women and children who were dead." He expressed deep sadness and guilt over this event.

Another team member, Gerhard Klann, gave a different account. He said the team gathered civilians and decided to kill them. Kerrey stated that this was not how he remembered it. Other survivors also shared their difficult memories of the attack.

Kerrey has spoken about his pain from that night. He said, "I thought dying for your country was the worst thing that could happen to you, and I don't think it is. I think killing for your country can be a lot worse." He received a Bronze Star Medal for the raid.

Business Career Before Politics

After his military service, Bob Kerrey started a business career. From 1972 to 1982, he owned and ran a chain of restaurants called Grandmother's Skillet. He also had other businesses, including fitness centers and a bowling alley.

He also gained early political experience. He worked on a voter registration drive and helped a friend's campaign for the state legislature. He also served on the Human Rights Commission for the city of Lincoln.

Serving as Governor of Nebraska

In 1982, Bob Kerrey ran for Governor of Nebraska. He won the Democratic nomination easily. He then had a close victory over the current Republican governor, Charles Thone.

He served one term as governor, from 1983 to 1987. He chose not to run for reelection in 1986. As governor, he worked on improving welfare, education, and job training. He also focused on protecting the environment. Many of his programs became examples for other states.

In 1986, Kerrey made national news. He ordered the Nebraska State Patrol to stop a train carrying nuclear waste. The federal government had not told him about the shipment. He even had the Nebraska Army National Guard park a tank on the tracks. After discussions, the train was allowed to continue, and federal officials agreed to inform state officials about future shipments.

Time in the U.S. Senate

Senate Elections: A Look at the Races

• 1988 Election: Kerrey ran for the U.S. Senate seat held by David Karnes. He won the Democratic primary with a large majority. In the main election, he defeated Karnes.
• 1994 Re-election: Kerrey was re-elected for a second term. He defeated businesswoman Jan Stoney.
• 2012 Comeback Attempt: After Senator Ben Nelson retired, Kerrey ran for his old Senate seat again in 2012. However, he was defeated by Republican candidate Deb Fischer.

Key Roles and Votes in the Senate

As a Senator, Bob Kerrey was a member of important committees. These included the Agriculture Committee and the Finance Committee. He also served as vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee from 1995 to 1999.

He was the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 104th Congress. This committee helps elect Democratic senators. He retired from the Senate in 2001.

One of his most famous votes was in favor of President Bill Clinton's 1993 budget plan. His vote was the deciding one.

9/11 Commission: Investigating the Attacks

After leaving the Senate, Kerrey joined the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. This group is also known as the 9/11 Commission. Congress created the commission to investigate the September 11, 2001, attacks. Its goal was to find out what happened and suggest ways to prevent future attacks.

The commission had ten members, five Democrats and five Republicans. They released their final report, the 9/11 Commission Report, on July 22, 2004.

1992 Presidential Campaign

In September 1991, Bob Kerrey announced he would run for president. He sought the Democratic nomination for the 1992 election. At first, he was seen as a strong candidate. However, his campaign struggled compared to others, like Arkansas governor Bill Clinton.

Kerrey finished third in the New Hampshire primary. He won the South Dakota primary but later dropped out of the race. He was considered as a possible vice presidential candidate for Bill Clinton, but Al Gore was chosen instead.

Leading The New School University

Bob Kerrey served as President of The New School university from 2001 to 2010. During his time, the university's financial support more than doubled. He also helped secure a lot of money from the federal government. These efforts helped The New School grow a lot.

Under his leadership, the university started many new academic programs. The number of students increased by 44%. The number of full-time teachers also grew significantly. He helped create the Faculty Senate, which improved standards for teachers.

In 2005, he announced that the university was changing its name from "New School University" to "The New School." Its different parts became separate, specialized schools.

There were some challenges during his presidency. In 2008, some senior teachers voted that they did not have confidence in his management style. However, the university's Board of Trustees fully supported him. Later, some students occupied a building, asking for changes. Kerrey worked with the students, and they reached an agreement.

His time as president ended on January 1, 2011. He was then named President Emeritus.

Personal Life and Connections

Kerrey at the LBJ Library in 2016

While he was Governor of Nebraska, Bob Kerrey dated actress Debra Winger. She was in Lincoln filming a movie. When asked about their relationship, Kerrey famously joked, "What can I say—she swept me off my foot," referring to his leg injury from the war.

Kerrey is good friends with fellow Vietnam veteran Jim Webb. In 2006, he helped convince Webb to run for the U.S. Senate. Kerrey also supported and appeared at campaign events for Al Franken when he ran for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.

Bob Kerrey married Sarah Paley in 2001. They have a son together. He also has two children from his first marriage.

In 2008, a pedestrian bridge connecting Omaha, Nebraska, with Council Bluffs, Iowa, was named in his honor. He has also received honorary doctorates from The New School and Southern New Hampshire University.

Awards and Decorations

Images for kids

• 

  A display at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City related to the Thanh Phong incident.

• 

  Bob Kerrey's 1992 presidential campaign logo.

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  The U.S. Navy's variant of the Medal of Honor.

See also

In Spanish: Bob Kerrey para niños

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
• Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge