OK, I just want to know: who's Kerry's first wife and where is she hiding?

[Plaid Adder]

I'm not saying it wasn't a good idea not to dwell on the divorce--the Republicans whitewashed Reagan's first marriage too and nobody got on them for it. But I'm just curious as to who #1 was and what the story there is.

Anybody know?

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[JohnKleeb]

1. she's the fraternal twin of Kerry's good friend David Thorne

Julia Thorne is her name. I heard from my grandma that Kerry and her still are friends.

[Fenris]

3. I heard the same on good authority

She apparently really doesn't want to draw attention away from John, so she's keeping a very low profile.

[Plaid Adder]

4. OK, Thanks

As long as she didn't get locked in a closet somewhere all week, my mind is at rest.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[JohnKleeb]

nope

David is a great friend of his, sure no problem.

[LynneSin]

2. It was an amicable divorce

I read where she suffered through some mental issues and the annulment (he was not divorced but it was annulled through the catholic church) took a few years. However, they both remain excellent friends and she is quite supportive of John's campaign. I believe one of the daughters mentioned her mom last night in the campaign.

[ramapo]

6. I think she lives in Montana

Very private. Let her be.

[Taverner]

13. I also heard one of the reasons behind their divorce was political life

It's not easy being married to a politician - and the stress and always being an object of public attention got to her.

[redqueen]

5. Someone on NPR talked to her, I think

they were saying how she said she supports him for President and they are still friends but she doesn't want to get in the limelight.

[LWolf]

7. I wondered that, too.

With all of the focus on family and Kerry's history, she was conspicuously missing. I thought about her when I saw the pics of Kerry holding his kids/babies.

I respect the choice to keep the private life private, though.

[htuttle]

8. I didn't actually realize until last night...

...that two of the kids are his, and two are hers.

We're electing the Brady Bunch!

:D

[JohnKleeb]

10. you mean the Kerry bunch

[SiouxJ]

15. Lol! True, we're just missing

a lisping little blonde.

[JohnKleeb]

17. but maybe Vanessa had a lisp when she was younger heh

[yellowcanine]

9. No one is hiding it. It was an amicable divorce. There was no reason to

dwell on it - it was a long time ago and she prefers not to be in the spotlight - as is her right, just as it was for Jane Wyman. It is not a whitewash to protect someone's privacy. Someone no longer married to a politician should not be an issue, absent any evidence of moral failure on the part of the candidate - and then only if the ex-spouse wants to make an issue of it.

[liberalpragmatist]

11. Julia Thorne, Sister of Kerry's Best Friend, David Thorne

David Thorne is still Kerry's closest friend. Julia remains in touch with Kerry and they talk regularly. She supports his presidential bid and they are on good terms. She has a good relationship with her daughters (Vanessa and Alexandra) and they see her often. A few weeks back, when Alexandra premiered her film at LA, Julia was there, along with Kerry.

Julia, while initially enthusiastic with Kerry's political efforts, found herself disillusioned with the political process and found the whole thing very traumatic and depressing. She went into major depression and often contemplated suicide.

Julia separated from Kerry in the early '80s. They divorced in '88. After Kerry remarried to Teresa, per Roman Catholic dictates, he annulled his first marriage (a controversial move). There are rumors that the relationship between them was not good for some time after the separation. She opposed the annulment, for instance. But the two are currently on friendly terms.

Julia currently lives in Bozeman, Montana, where she is remarried to an architect. She is the author of two books on depression, You Are Not Alone and A Change of Heart.

Links:
1. Newsweek: "The First Mrs. John Kerry" -- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4825946/site/newsweek/

2. You Are Not Alone: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060969776/qid=1091215858/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/102-7903087-2440923?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

3. A Change of Heart: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060951052/qid=1091215858/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-7903087-2440923?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Thorne

[AspenRose]

12. If you can get your hands on the issue of Newsweek with Teresa

on the cover from May, there's an article about wife #1 in there.

She's a recluse and doesn't like the spotlight.

I think Alex resembles her.

[JohnKleeb]

14. Yeah because Julia is more dark haired

makes ya wonder though, why is Vanessa a blonde? Ive seen Cam, John's brother, Diane, his sister, and their parents, and they all had dark brown hair but Vanessa is blonde. Interesting, heh maybe she dyes it, that actually is unlikely, I saw pictures of her as a little girl.

[TEXASYANKEE]

16. I kind of respect the way the media is leaving this alone.

The same with Theresa's oldest son, a teacher in Pennsylvania, who also hates the spotlight. Maybe I'm being naive, but I like that the media is staying away from Kerry's first marriage and Theresa's oldest son.

[jukes]

18. Plaid Adder

Tx for asking, i'd been wondering the same thing, but didn't want to be laughed @ if ever1 else knew.




jukes is SO sensitive to ridicule!