As John Kerry assumes the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he flashes back to his first contact with the committee

“I am honored to serve as chairman of a committee which I know from my own experience as a young man can impact the course of our security and help advance our values and interests in the world."

-- Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, on being named to chair
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

We'll continue our two-part update on 2010 Senate races -- with Senate Guru's report on the Missouri race -- in the next post. For now, let's return to the Senate that goes into action next month. Yesterday Majority Leader Harry Reid submitted his list of proposed chairmanships, and despite the large number of major changes, there were no surprises. However, our friend Bob Geiger (as we often note, one of the really good people) has a special take, on his blog BobGeiger.com, on the elevation of John Kerry to chair Foreign Relations. -- Ken

Kerry Comes Full Circle on Foreign Relations Committee

On April 22, 1971, young Lieutenant Junior Grade John F. Kerry appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations committee to give testimony in hearings about ending the Vietnam war. The opportunity put Kerry center stage in the anti-war movement and, sadly, would later become the linchpin in Republican attacks on his patriotism when he became the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004.

Of course the rest is history and the Senate part of Kerry's story began when he was elected to that body in 1984 and he has been a member of the Foreign Relations committee ever since.

And things really came full circle on Monday when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced that Kerry would be the new chairman of that powerful committee for the 111th Congress, which convenes in January.

“I am honored to serve as Chairman of a committee which I know from my own experience as a young man can impact the course of our security and help advance our values and interests in the world," said Kerry. "I look forward to working with all members of the committee to help strengthen America’s hand in Afghanistan and Pakistan, work towards global climate change solutions, and end the war in Iraq responsibly."

"We have a big agenda ahead of us, just as our country faces big challenges across the globe.”

During his tenure on the committee, Senator Kerry has chaired the Asia and Middle East subcommittees and authored and passed major legislation on international drug trafficking, global AIDS, international money laundering, and climate change – and negotiated the UN’s genocide tribunal to prosecute war crimes in Cambodia’s Killing Fields.

“John will do an excellent job as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the nation’s fortunate to have him in this high position," said Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA). "I know he’ll make significant contributions to our foreign policy in dealing with the many challenges we face in our relationships with other countries, and he’ll work well with President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to restore America’s respect in the world.”

Kerry assumes his chairmanship with Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) moving on to the White House and the only Democratic colleague with more seniority, Chris Dodd (D-CT), choosing to remain chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committee.

AIDES TO SENATOR KERRY ADD "ONE MORE DETAIL"

When JK gave his testimony against the Vietnam War in front of the SFR, then-Chairman Claiborne Pell said that he hoped Kerry "might one day be a colleague of ours in this body." Nearly 38 years later, he takes the same seat from which Senator Pell said that.

RECAPPING THE SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIR SHUFFLE

APPROPRIATIONS
With 91-year-old Robert Byrd (WV) relinquishing the chair, Daniel Inouye (HI) gives up the chair of Commerce, Science and Transportation to take over.

COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION
With Chairman Daniel Inouye taking over the Appropriations chair, Jay Rockefeller (WV) takes the job, giving up the Intelligence chair.

INTELLIGENCE
With the departure of Chairman Rockefeller, Dianne Feinstein (CA) is elevated to the chair.

RULES AND ADMINISTRATION
Chuck Schumer (NY) takes over from Senator Feinstein.

FOREIGN RELATIONS
With Joe Biden (DE) leaving the Senate to become vice president, and Chris Dodd (CT) choosing to remain chair of Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, John Kerry (MA) takes over.

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTRENEURSHIP
Mary Landrieu (LA) replaces Kerry.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF SENATE CHAIRMANSHIPS --

None other than our pal Bob Geiger has 'em all, those that haven't changed as well as those that have.

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