Senator John Kerry (D-Mass) was overwhelmingly confirmed Tuesday as the 68th Secretary of State by his colleagues in the U.S. Senate and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Only Republican Senators John Cornyn, Ted Cruz and James Inhofe voted against his appointment. Kerry voted present on his own nomination. Earlier in the day, he unanimously received the "yes" nod by his colleagues at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. There he had has served on the committee for decades, and has been the panel chairman for the past four years.
Senator Kerry will succeed outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the country's top diplomat, and makes him the first new member of Obama's second-term cabinet.
The swift confirmation was expected as the veteran Massachusetts senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee has won high marks from both Democrats and Republicans over the years. They gave no indication that Kerry's confirmation would be a problem.
"Witnessing almost daily his exemplary statesmanship is one of the highest privileges I've had here." Arizona Senator John McCain recently said of his colleague and friend.
After Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations withdrew from consideration, nominating Senator Kerry made the most practical and political sense for President Obama. The president also recently nominated Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense, and his current Chief of Staff Jack Lew to be Treasury Secretary.
