Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
MPR News Staff

In 1971 speech, John Kerry spoke of the monster created by the Vietnam War

John Kerry speaks to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
John Kerry, 27, a former Navy lieutenant, speaks to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., April 22, 1971.
Henry Griffin | AP 1971

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Throughout 2017, Minnesota Public Radio will celebrate 50 years on the air by sharing highlights from our archives, connecting Minnesota's past to its present. | This speech by John Kerry originally aired in 1971.

MPR marks 50 years
• More stories from the archives
• Join the celebration, tell us your story

Be advised, Kerry's speech included descriptions that some listeners may find disturbing.

Long before he was elected a United States senator, John Kerry stood before a U.S. Senate committee on April 22, 1971, speaking on behalf of the group Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

During his speech, Kerry cited an investigation that resulted in over 150 honorably discharged veterans testifying to war crimes committed in Southeast Asia.

"Not isolated incidents, but crimes committed on a day to day basis, with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command," he said.

The testimonies were filled with emotional and horrific accounts of what their country, in a sense, had made them do, Kerry said. And by sending its men overseas to commit these crimes, America had created a monster.

"A monster in the form of millions of men who have been taught to deal and to trade in violence," he said. "And who were given the chance to die for the biggest nothing in history."

Kerry and his fellow veterans were angriest at the fact that despite what their superiors had told them about the fight against communism in Vietnam, they found the people they were supposedly trying to save were not at all invested in the fight — and in fact, couldn't distinguish communism from democracy.

"Because we couldn't lose, and we couldn't retreat. And because it didn't matter how many American bodies were lost to prove that point," Kerry said.