John Kerry was by then a powerful Senator
anyone have documentation for this statement?
I was quoting SkyPilot. Lehman was SecNav 1981 to 1987, I believe, and Kerry wasn't in the Senate until 1984. Unless all Senators are 'powerful Senators', a first term Senator ought not necessarily be called powerful.
Kerry bio
here and
here, with dates he held political office, practiced law, etc.