text:  He had been a veteran of the Marine Corps. Back then, he was a strong advocate of national defense. Back then, he was a believer in American world leadership, very much the opposite of what he is now. He was also groping his way forward to a new kind of politics. And he was recognized by everyone as an emerging political talent. And everyone who knew him understood this was someone who was on his way to being somebody important. He had this extraordinary personal story.