In November 1971, Bill Buckley had as a guest on Firing Line John Kerry, then a member of the group Vietnam Veterans against the War. Kerry’s testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in April of that year to the effect that American soldiers had “personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Ghengis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam,” had caused something of a stir.
Today, Kerry finds himself once again before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, this time for his confirmation hearing as secretary of state. A glance back at their conversation provides context and cause for reflection.