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John Kerry- Before the Senate Trivia Quiz

To my surprise, I found no quizzes on the person who faced George Bush in the hotly-contested presidential election of 2004. Learn more about the charismatic and controversial Kerry! This quiz covers Kerry's history before he was elected to the US Senate

A multiple-choice quiz by crisw. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
crisw

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
193,505

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
11 / 20

Plays
425

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. John Kerry has Irish ancestry.

True

False

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Question 2 of 20

2. John Kerry's paternal grandparents were born Jewish.

True

False

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Question 3 of 20

3. Kerry's maternal grandfather was from the powerful Forbes family. From what substance did he make much of his fortune? Hint

Opium

Tea

Silk

Ivory

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Question 4 of 20

4. To whom is John Kerry related through his maternal grandmother, Margaret Winthrop? Hint

John F. Kennedy

Rush Limbaugh

Pat Robertson

George W. Bush

5. Kerry attended a succession of private schools in several countries. The last school, from which he graduated, was St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. What sport did he NOT participate in during his prep school years? Hint

Ice Hockey

Lacrosse

Yacht racing

Bicycling

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Question 6 of 20

6. When not playing sports, what other activity occupied some of Kerry's prep school years? Hint

Painting

Competing in equestrian events

Playing in a rock band

Showing dogs

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Question 7 of 20

7. In 1962, Kerry participated in his first political campaign. For whom did he work? Hint

Richard Nixon

John Kennedy

Edward Kennedy

Barry Goldwater

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Question 8 of 20

8. What job did John Kerry hold during college at Yale University? Hint

He did not work during college

Door-to-door encyclopedia salesman

Yachting instructor

English tutor

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Question 9 of 20

9. Like George W. Bush, Kerry was a member of the secret Skull and Bones Society at Yale.

True

False

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Question 10 of 20

10. John Kerry was drafted into service for the Vietnam War.

True

False

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Question 11 of 20

11. In which branch of the armed forces did Kerry serve during the Vietnam War? Hint

Marines

Army

Navy

Air Force

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Question 12 of 20

12. In what part of his body does Kerry still carry shrapnel from the war? Hint

None- his injuries were only scratches

Left thigh

Right arm

Lower back

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Question 13 of 20

13. Kerry was awarded the Silver Star, for exceptional gallantry in battle against foreign forces, in 1969. What did he do to earn this award? Hint

Rescued several captured soldiers from a Viet Cong camp

Recaptured a Swift Boat that had been captured by enemy forces

Piloted his Swift Boat through enemy fire to apprehend a Viet Cong leader

Defended his Swift Boat as well as another from a Viet Cong ambush

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Question 14 of 20

14. John Kerry never actually killed anyone in combat.

True

False

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Question 15 of 20

15. When Kerry returned from the Vietnam War, he became one of the strongest protesters against the war. In his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971, what did he NOT claim? Hint

That the war in Vietnam did not pose any threats to the US

That he had witnessed war crimes

That returning veterans were not getting the support that they needed

That the reasons for the war were political; Nixon did not want to lose

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Question 16 of 20

16. Charles Colson, adviser to president Richard Nixon, feared that the charismatic young Kerry could turn public opinion against the war. In a memo to Nixon, he wrote, "Destroy the young demagogue before he becomes another __________." (Which name completes the quote?) Hint

Ralph Nader

John Kennedy

Bob Dylan

Jesus

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Question 17 of 20

17. As an anti-war protester, Kerry was arrested.

True

False

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Question 18 of 20

18. John Kerry graduated from the Boston College Law School in 1976. What was the first legal job that he held? Hint

Prosecutor for Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Assistant attorney for a large Boston pharmaceutical company

Public defendant in Boston, Massachusetts

Partner in the law firm of the Environmental Defense Fund

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Question 19 of 20

19. Kerry left his first position after college in 1978 to form a private law firm. He ran another business in Boston at the same time. What was it? Hint

A men's clothing store

A tax firm

A barbershop

A bakery

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Question 20 of 20

20. What was the first public office to which Kerry was elected? Hint

Massachusetts State Senate

Boston City Council

Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts

Middlesex County Commissioner

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. John Kerry has Irish ancestry.

Answer: False

Instead, Kerry's surname, according to family stories, comes from when his grandfather, Fritz Kohn, changed his name to avoid anti-Semitism- a randomly-pointed pencil aimed at a map hit County Kerry in Ireland.

2. John Kerry's paternal grandparents were born Jewish.

Answer: True

Kerry's paternal grandfather, Frederick A. Kerry, was born Fritz Kohn, in the town of Horni Benesov, which is now in the Czech Republic. Frederick's wife, Ida Loewe, was born in Budapest, Hungary. The couple converted to Catholicism in 1901.

3. Kerry's maternal grandfather was from the powerful Forbes family. From what substance did he make much of his fortune?

Answer: Opium

James Grant Forbes was born in China, and profited greatly from the opium trade.

4. To whom is John Kerry related through his maternal grandmother, Margaret Winthrop?

Answer: George W. Bush

Bush is Kerry's 9th cousin, twice removed.

Answer: Yacht racing

Kerry bicycled over much of Europe during his childhood. He later also took up fencing and soccer.

6. When not playing sports, what other activity occupied some of Kerry's prep school years?

Answer: Playing in a rock band

Kerry played electric bass in a rock band called the Electras. Their one record was not a hit, it sold only 500 copies.

7. In 1962, Kerry participated in his first political campaign. For whom did he work?

Answer: Edward Kennedy

Edward Kennedy was running for the Senate. During this campaign, Kerry also met John Kennedy.

8. What job did John Kerry hold during college at Yale University?

Answer: Door-to-door encyclopedia salesman

He also loaded grocery trucks.

9. Like George W. Bush, Kerry was a member of the secret Skull and Bones Society at Yale.

Answer: True

One of only 15 students per year to be nominated. Kerry was chosen primarily because of his political potential.

10. John Kerry was drafted into service for the Vietnam War.

Answer: False

He volunteered for military service after graduation from Yale.

11. In which branch of the armed forces did Kerry serve during the Vietnam War?

Answer: Navy

He served in the military from 1966-1970.

12. In what part of his body does Kerry still carry shrapnel from the war?

Answer: Left thigh

His boat was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade on the Bo De River. Doctors opted to stitch the wound shut, with the shrapnel still inside, rather than make a large incision.

13. Kerry was awarded the Silver Star, for exceptional gallantry in battle against foreign forces, in 1969. What did he do to earn this award?

Answer: Defended his Swift Boat as well as another from a Viet Cong ambush

The boats were ambushed on the Bay Hap River. Kerry led his men ashore and destroyed the enemy positions without sustaining any casualties.

14. John Kerry never actually killed anyone in combat.

Answer: False

During the battle for which he was awarded the Silver Star, Kerry pursued a wounded Viet Cong soldier, who was armed with a rocket launcher, and killed him.

Answer: That he had witnessed war crimes

Although Kerry spoke of the terrible atrocities that others had witnessed, he did not claim to have seen any war crimes himself.

Answer: Ralph Nader

Unlike many of the bearded, unkempt hippies associated with the anti-war protests, Kerry was articulate, good-looking, and heroic.

17. As an anti-war protester, Kerry was arrested.

Answer: True

Kerry and 440 other protesters were arrested for trespassing at a demonstration in Lexington, Massachusetts in 1971.

18. John Kerry graduated from the Boston College Law School in 1976. What was the first legal job that he held?

Answer: Prosecutor for Middlesex County, Massachusetts

He worked for the District Attorney's office during law school and accepted a full-time position after graduation.

19. Kerry left his first position after college in 1978 to form a private law firm. He ran another business in Boston at the same time. What was it?

Answer: A bakery

"Kilvert & Forbes" sold mostly sweets like cookies. The business still exists today (although no longer owned by Kerry) as "Maggie's Sweets," and provided cookies to the 2004 Democratic Convention.

20. What was the first public office to which Kerry was elected?

Answer: Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts

Kerry achieved this position in 1982, with Michael Dukakis as governor.

Source: Author crisw

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor thejazzkickazz before going online.
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