John O'Neill served as a Swift boat commander in Vietnam during 1969 and 1970. He came to national attention by debating John Kerry on the Dick Cavett show in June of 1971, opposing Kerry's claims that the U.S. military routinely committed atrocities in Vietnam. The prospect of seeing Senator Kerry become Commander-in-Chief has now motivated him to continue that debate, and to help form an organization of Swift boat veterans to tell the truth about the nature of their service -- see SwiftVets.com.

Mr. O'Neill was graduated from the United States Naval Academy with honors in 1967, and received his J.D. from the University of Texas in 1973, graduating first in his class. He was a member of the Texas Law Review from 1972-1973 and a member of the President's National Advisory Counsel on Supplemental Services and Centers during 1973-1974. Mr. O'Neill served as a law clerk to Justice William H. Rehnquist, U.S. Supreme Court from 1974-1975. He has been a member of the Federal Regulation of Securities Committee, Section of Corporation, Banking and Business Law, American Bar Association since 1978, and currently specializes in large-scale commercial litigation at Clements O'Neill, a law firm he founded.

The National Review recently ran an article on John O'Neill titled The Un-Kerry. Also of interest is Two Veterans: Study in Contrasts, a 1971 Philadelphia Inquirer article published shortly after the Kerry / O'Neill debate.

John O'Neill is the author of two opinion pieces that describe his past experiences with John Kerry and explain his reasons for taking an active role in Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Unfit for Office, and Why We Oppose Kerry. He was also interviewed recently by Investors Business Daily.

Last Updated Friday, July 23 2004 @ 08:31 AM PDT