Joseph Robert Kerrey is an American politician who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States from 1993 to 2001 and the first vice president under Robert Redford. Before becoming Vice President, he represented Nebraska in the United States Senate.
Biography[]
Kerrey was selected by Robert Redford during the 1992 Presidential Election as his running mate, due to Redford recalculating to appeal to more centrist voters after his loss in 1988 with his pervious running mate the liberal Jerry Brown. The Redford/Kerry ticket would go on to defeat Gerald Ford on November 3, 1992 bringing with them the Blue Wave of 1992 a period of liberal governance.[1]
Kerrey served as Redford's vice president for eight years. In the 2000 presidential election, Kerrey was taken off the ticket and replaced with Illinois Senator Carol Moseley Braun, which was a bold move and unexpected move.[1]
Trivia[]
- Due to the 25th Amendment, Gerald Ford would have to fill the role of the Vice Presidency, making whoever he made his VP during his term the 41st Vice President.
- In real life, Bob Kerrey was a candidate for the Democratic Nominee for President in 1992 and was an early front runner.
- Kerrey served in the Vietnam War as a United States Navy Seal, loosing his foot in combat. Due to his heroism in combat he would receive the Medal of Honor.
Speculation[]
- It's very likely the reason why Kerrey was kicked off the Democratic ticket in 2000, was due to revelations about his likely involvement in war crimes during the Vietnam War. Given that Vietnam, is most likely a pivotal state with a significant amount of electoral votes playing a crucial role in presidential elections, Redford likely sought to avoid any controversy that could jeopardize his chances in carrying the state. Therefore, Kerrey was replaced to ensure a stronger position in the election.
