John Kerry is from the Winthrop family. Their family has been in politics since the 1600s. In a book written in 1937, 'America's 60 Families' by Ferdinand Lundgren, the Winthrop's were the 22nd richest family in America.
If you are from an oligarch family and prove your loyalty you can get just about any job you want without being an A player.
John Kerry is also from the Kohn family.