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Kerry signs memoir deal

Kerry signs memoir deal
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Former secretary of State John KerryJohn Forbes KerrySunday shows preview: Washington prepares for Kavanaugh hearings WATCH: George W. Bush's full speech honoring John McCain McCain’s last stand for unity highlights Obama, Bush, Biden MORE has a book deal with publisher Simon & Schuster for a memoir covering his life and political career.

Kerry's book project, first reported by the Associated Press Thursday, has no release date.

"This is the first opportunity I've had in a long time to pause and look back, with an eye toward looking forward. I hope we can produce a good book that captures for readers not so much my story, but some of the lessons learned along the way, including lessons learned the hard way," Kerry wrote in a statement.

"I am grateful that Simon & Schuster is working with me to revisit meaningful moments lived at the intersection of history, and to help readers get to know some of the compelling people I've known, learned from, admired, and even debated with across my years," he added.

Kerry first came into the public spotlight as a Vietnam veteran in the early 1970s, gaining a name for himself as a spokesman for Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

Kerry regularly criticized U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

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"How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?" Kerry famously asked during one Senate hearing.

Kerry went on serve as a Democratic Massachussetts senator from 1985 to 2013.

He then tried to run for president in 2004, but lost to then-President George W. Bush.

Former President Obama tapped Kerry to serve as his secretary of State during his second term, succeeding Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWashington honors McCain at funeral Trump blasts FBI, DOJ over report on Carter Page surveillance warrants Giuliani praises Cohen’s lawyer for having ‘more integrity than CNN’ MORE

Kerry played a large role in some of the Obama administration’s keystone foreign policy agreements, including the Paris Agreement on global warming and the Iranian nuclear deal.

Kerry previously authored several other books, most recently “The New War: The Web of Crime That Threatens America's Security.”

He also teamed with biographer Douglas Brinkley to write "Tour of Duty,” which recounts his experience in Vietnam.

This new book deal, however, will be the first full memoir.

Jonathan Karp, publisher of Simon & Schuster, praised the memoir deal because it will allow Kerry to tell his story in its entirety.

"This is a great American life, and what's exciting about John Kerry's memoir is that he's finally got the time and perspective to tell the full story, in all of its sweep," Karp said in a statement to the AP.

The AP reports that Kerry talked to several publishers before settling on Simon & Schuster.

It is unclear how much money Kerry will receive for the book deal.

Washington attorney Robert Barnett represented him in the deal, the AP reports. 

Barnett also recently represented former President Barack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama7 subtle jabs speakers took at Trump during John McCain’s funeral New York Daily News honors John McCain, Aretha Franklin: ‘The heart & soul of America’ Cindy McCain tweets after husband's funeral: 'Together we go on' MORE and Michelle ObamaMichelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaMoment between George W. Bush and Michelle Obama at McCain funeral goes viral Washington honors McCain at funeral Beto O’Rourke to appear on 'Ellen' next week MORE for their book deal, which they signed with Penguin Random House publishers for $60 million.