[neutrality]

It did, however, contain Kerry's academic record from his four years in college

This is actually a pretty plausible excuse for not releasing these records earlier.

[AmishDude]

I don't know why people thought a less-than-honorable would have been so embarassing for Kerry. His story was that of a man who had to suffer because of his opposition to Nixon. He would have just said a Nixon flunkie would have given him the LTH.