Kerry Testifies Before Panel He Chairs

Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday before his confirmation hearing to become the next top diplomat, replacing Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

The official announcement for John Kerry’s nomination hearing came from the office of John Kerry.

The Massachusetts Democrat chairs the Senate committee charged with reviewing his nomination to succeed Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

It’s generally expected to be smooth sailing.

Fellow committee member John McCain joked this week that he was considering “waterboarding to get the truth” out of Kerry, but as yesterday’s sharp questioning of outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton showed, Republicans are taking the opportunity to question the Obama administration’s foreign policy.

• Video of confirmation hearing via C-SPAN

Guest:

• Bryan Bender, national security reporter for The Boston Globe. He tweets @GlobeBender.