Kerry's Ex-wife Endorses Kerry

NewsMax ^ | 3/4/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

It's not often that after a powerful political couple break up, the ex-spouse turns around and endorses her ex-husband.

But Sen. John Kerry's first wife, Philadelphia heiress Julia Thorne, has done that.

She says Kerry is a good man and deserves public support.

But her own revelations about her marriage to the Boston aristocrat show how tragic marriage can be in the political spotlight, and how his unbridled ambition might have contributed to the breakup.

In her 1996 book, "Change of Heart," Thorne said that playing the role of wife to the rising political star had made her so depressed she wanted to kill herself.

Without ever mentioning Kerry by name, she complained: "Politics became my husband's life. During the years of our marriage, he was appointed and elected to several political offices. Eventually he was elected to the U.S. Senate."

Thorne said that it wasn't long before she felt neglected. "The day our first child was born, my husband started law school thirty-five miles away. Stuck studying in the library until the early morning hours, he often did not come home.

"I was alone and overwhelmed," she remembers, "abandoned with a new baby in a town that held political disdain for us. ... I tried to be happy for him, but after fourteen years as a political wife, I associated politics only with anger, fear and loneliness."

'Vacuum of Misunderstanding'

As Kerry continued to focus on his career and political future, his wife's mental state deteriorated to the point of suicidal depression. In her 1993 book, "You Are Not Alone," Thorne chronicles with chilling vividness her decision to try to kill herself.

"February 1980, five months after my 36th birthday, my mind ravaged by corroding voices, my body defeated by bone rattling panics, I sat on the edge of my bed minutes from taking my own life.

"For weeks I had silently prepared my death. I believed I was a failure. I could no longer pretend I was of use to my husband or my children. ... I was emotionally, spiritually, and physically exhausted by a life destroying affliction - depression ... I was also alone - dying a lonely death in a vacuum of misunderstanding, ignorance and shame."

Two years after her brush with suicide, Thorne said she asked Kerry for a separation. "Six years and one reconciliation would pass before we actually divorced," she wrote.

She has said little about the marriage since writing her two books, beyond telling reporters that her ex-husband was a good man and that she supported his bid for the White House.

Despite her continuing political support, however, she and Kerry have clashed over their children at least twice in the intervening years.

In 1995, the Boston Globe reported:

"Seven weeks before Sen. John F. Kerry married wealthy heiress Teresa Heinz last month, his ex-wife, Julia Thorne, filed suit seeking an increase in support payments, asserting that the senator's income and resources 'have substantially increased' since she previously sought an increase in 1991."

Thorne insisted that the timing of the suit was purely coincidental had nothing to do with her ex-husband's remarriage.

But in 1997, when Sen. Kerry sought to have the marriage that had produced their two daughters annulled, Thorne was furious at being asked to acquiesce.

In an interview with the Boston Globe she said the request "was disrespectful to me ... and devoid of any sense of the humanity of what this means to me and the children."

"I cannot look my children in the eyes or stand before them with integrity and know in my heart that I have contributed in any way to a process that invalidates and nullified the union from which they were created," Thorne raged.

Still, the spurned ex-wife decided not to contest the annulment.

In a statement released to the press, Kerry declined to comment on his request for annulment, except to say that he "very much understands Julia's feelings and appreciates her support."

Thorne has since remarried and lives quietly in Montana.

[Izzy Dunne]

.. And I thought she would go for Sharpton...

[Betaille]

"my mind ravaged by corroding voices, my body defeated by bone rattling panics, I sat on the edge of my bed minutes from taking my own life."

I think I would feel like that too if I had to listen to John Kerry for more than 10 minutes.

[boxerblues]

"The day our first child was born, my husband started law school thirty-five miles away. Stuck studying in the library until the early morning hours, he often did not come home.

He cant make the 1/2 hour drive home to help out with a child he brought into this world. jerk

[MarketR]

In her 1996 book, "Change of Heart," Thorne said that playing the role of wife to the rising political star had made her so depressed she wanted to kill herself.

Clearly, not a person who can feel for another human being. Even the person supposedly most close to him.

This may well be the issue which destroys him. Can you imagine how this will play with the so called "Soccer Moms"?

[HenryLeeII]

But in 1997, when Sen. Kerry sought to have the marriage that had produced their two daughters annulled...

I guess the kids are lucky that he didn't try to have them annulled!

[bobo1]

If this was the story of a conservative politician, the news would have read:

"Senator's Neglect Drives Wife To Suicide."

"Wife With History of Mental Illness Backs Ex-Husband".

blessings, Bobo

[Ruth A.]

Most of the other candidtates had to drop out before she endorsed him. Hmmm...

Lots of contradictions in this story. What a sorry couple.

[anonymous_user]

Actually, I'd heard she'd since married a Republican.

In the bedroom, her new husband had a track record of being aggressive and "effective."

Whereas, John? He would just sit on the edge of the bed and promise how great it would be if he ever got in.

[mewzilla]

Here's a link to a NewsMax article about Kerry, Thorne, their divorce, and what Douglas Brinkley thinks about Kerry's private life and the campaign.

[joesnuffy]

Stuck studying in the library until the early morning hours, he often did not come home.

35 miles away and he "often" did not come home... He was cheatin on her...and she knew it...that's more likely why she divorced his sorry ass democrat...

imo

[Dahoser]

I am so glad I wasn't drinking anything just now.

[per loin]

I had heard that she had mental problems.

[mabelkitty]

Is Kerry the first divorced man to run for President?

[mass55th]

Sounds like John Boy was an absentee husband and father, just like his own father before him.

[EllaMinnow]

Ronald Reagan was divorced from Jane Wyman before he married Nancy.

[mass55th]

"Is Kerry the first divorced man to run for President? "

Nah! Reagan was divorced, and I believe so was Bob Dole.

[oldcomputerguy]

Opps, sorry. I thought this article was about Kerry's current wife endorsing him...which *would* be a newsworthy event.

I would say the annulment issue is potentially an explosive personality indicator and really shows his true colors.

[Howlin]

He didn't have to annul them; by getting an annulment, he bastardized them.

[SunnyUsa]

But in 1997, when Sen. Kerry sought to have the marriage that had produced their two daughters annulled, Thorne was furious at being asked to acquiesce.
In an interview with the Boston Globe she said the request "was disrespectful to me ... and devoid of any sense of the humanity of what this means to me and the children."
"I cannot look my children in the eyes or stand before them with integrity and know in my heart that I have contributed in any way to a process that invalidates and nullified the union from which they were created," Thorne raged.
Still, the spurned ex-wife decided not to contest the annulment

Her endorsement looks like she's still being a doormat for him - the fact that he sought to annullment after 2 children to marry the ketchup queen speaks volumes about his lack of character.