John Kerry Author Event Livestream Video
by Michael Smerconish
When Andy Kahan, the Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams, Jr., Director of Author Events at the Free Library of Philadelphia invited me to interview Secretary John Kerry about his new memoir, Every Day is Extra, I readily accepted. Few living Americans have had a front row seat, and pivotal role in shaping contemporary American and world history.
What a life.
John Kerry famously served his country in Vietnam, then became the face of the anti-war movement, worked as a prosecutor, emerged from the hard-scrable world of Massachusetts politics, served in the Senate for 28 years, was the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate and came within one state of victory, and then served four years as Secretary of State. His tenure in the latter capacity continues to make news on the watch of our current President.
John Kerry says President Trump Doesn't Understand America
The book is beautifully written and strikes the right balance between substantive overview of domestic and world affairs, combined with those anecdotes that only an insider can provide. At nearly 600 pages, Kerry is right to call the book a sweep through almost three quarters of a century, and yet, readers could easily envision the author writing individual books on any number of the subjects he addresses.
I’m read-in and ready to conduct this interview. My challenge is in condensing about four hours worth of discussion into one! As is my custom, I’ve prepared far more than time will allow me to ask.
- What was it like as a student to sail with President Kennedy?
- What legislative lessons did he learn from President Kennedy’s brother, Senator Ted Kennedy?
- How close did he come to having John McCain as a running mate in 2004?
- Would a dedicated speech have thwarted the Swift Boat Veteran’s attack?
- What can be done to return civility to the world’s greatest deliberative body?
- Cuba, Russia, Israel, Syria—where to even begin?
- Not in the book, but what does he make of the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh?
The only thing certain is that I will ask him whether there are any limitations on something he wrote in the final paragraph: "I will keep using my extra days to do my part..."
Hmmmmm.
John Kerry on Face the Nation
John Kerry will speak to radio host, newspaper columnist, and author Michael Smerconish on Friday, October 5, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Parkway Central Library. Auditorium Sold Out. In-House Simulcast Tickets Still Available »
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