Timeline of the Kerry Administration (President Kerry)

2004
The Bush campaign refuses to concede defeat, and recounts are ordered in several states, including Ohio, which Kerry won by less than 1 per cent. By early December, recounts have completed, and the Kerry result stands. The Republicans lose seats in both houses of Congress, with Democratic momentum boosted by Kerry's performance. The Republicans lose seven House seats but retain their majority; in the Senate, several Republicans are defeated by Democrats and the Democrats become the majority party in the Senate.
 * November 2: The Democratic Presidential ticket of John Kerry and John Edwards defeats incumbent President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, with American participation in Iraq and a failing economy seen as key campaign issues. The result is narrow, but the Kerry/Edwards team wins the election by 283 Electoral Votes to 255. Kerry fails to win the popular vote, winning 49.8% of the vote to Bush's 49.2%. In his victory speech, President-Elect Kerry says "A stronger America begins today. A better America begins today. A new America begins today!"
 * December 13, 2004: The Electoral College formally meets and elects John Kerry as President and John Edwards as Vice President.
 * December 15, 2004: Senator Kerry officially resigns from the United States Senate. On December 19, Governor Romney of Massachusetts chooses Lieutenant-Governor Kerry Healey, a fellow Republican, to replace Kerry in the Senate. This is seen as the first major blow to Kerry, who has beeen dealt a slap in the face before he has even been sworn in. Vice-President-elect Edwards is not replaced by the Governor, since he did not seek re-election. He continues as a Senator until his term expires on 3rd January.

2005

 * January 5: Kerry announces some members of his cabinet. His former Senate colleague and 1988 Presidential candidate Joe Biden is invited to be Secretary of State, and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to be Secretary of Agriculture. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is appointed as Secretary of Energy. In perhaps the most surprising move, Kerry appoints Maine Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, as Secretary of Homeland Security. Other Cabinet appointments are announced in the next few weeks, including Janet Napolitano as Attorney General. Kerry suffers a setback when his first choice for Defence Secretary, Jack Reed, declines the offer to remain in the Senate. Kerry offers the position to Tony Lake, former National Security Adviser to President Clinton. It is revealed much later that Lake's successor, Sandy Berger, had been considered for the role, while under investigation for removing classified material from the National Archives.
 * January-February: The newly-Democratic Senate confirms all of Kerry's nominees.
 * January 20: At a ceremony at the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, John Forbes Kerry is sworn in by Chief Justice Rehnquist as the 44th President of the United States. Security is tighter than at any Presidential inauguration previously after Kerry recieves a higher-than-usual number of threats. In his inaugural speech, Kerry speaks of "a change in America" and promises to govern "wisely, for all Americans." He promises a thorough review of American policy in Iraq, and announces he will set up a bipartisan commission to study America's options. Notably, former President Bush is not present at the ceremony, normally a given for a Presidential inauguration.
 * January 24: Four days after taking office, President Kerry asks the U.S. Senate to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
 * January 30: Iraq holds its first free elections, but they are marred by horrific violence and inconsistent turnout across the country. The National Assembly begins to construct a new Constitution. The majority Shi'a population controls the new assembly, leading to violence among the country's Sunni population.
 * February 6: Kerry's home team, the New England Patriots, win the Superbowl. Kerry personally congratulates them, and later mentions them in his State of the Union address.
 * February 10: The Senate ratifies the Kyoto Protocol 51-50, with Vice President John Edwards forced to vote with the majority to break the tie. With its ratification, Australia is left as the only major industrialised power not to have ratified the treaty. President Kerry signs the treaty on February 13.
 * February 16: The Kyoto Protocol goes into effect.