Kerry's an improbable success as diplomat-in-chief

Despite a successful political career that includes six statewide election victories in Massachusetts, capturing the Democratic presidential nomination and coming within a hair of winning the White House, John Kerry often seems awkward, aloof, pompous and politically tone deaf.

These traits, however, aren't inhibiting an auspicious start as a diplomat. In less than a year as secretary of state, he has rolled up more tangible accomplishments than his celebrated and cautious predecessor, Hillary Clinton, did in four.

Through persistence, energy, deep knowledge and dumb luck, he has joined with the Russians to make Syria turn over its chemical weapons, persuaded the Israelis and Palestinians to start talking, and was a central player in the interim agreement on nuclear weapons with Iran. All of these accomplishments could yet unravel, but they are substantial.

He wins praise from an illustrious Republican predecessor, George Shultz. "He is doing a terrific job," says Shultz, who served under President Ronald Reagan. "He has thought about this territory energetically and creatively for a long time."

There are caveats. Kerry's habit of periodically putting his foot in his mouth hasn't vanished. He hailed a long-term deal with Afghan President Hamid Karzai that hasn't yet materialized; his rhetoric on Syria was all over the lot; and he misspoke about leaders of Egypt's military coup.

It remains an open question whether the White House will try to rein him in. Associates say he and President Barack Obama respect each other, though accounts that they forged a close bond when Kerry helped prepare Obama for the debates against Mitt Romney during the last presidential campaign are exaggerated.

But this White House, more than any since Richard Nixon's, clings to power and authority. Even Secretary Clinton, despite her political standing, was kept on a bit of a leash.

She and Kerry share lunch periodically; the relationship, at best, is correct. A National Security Council review of Middle East policy didn't include the State Department, and the White House has imposed a number of top State Department officials.

Restraints or not, Kerry is a diplomatic risk-taker; the White House was delighted to give him the Israeli-Palestinian account, which was viewed as doomed. Progress has been minimal, but Kerry is relentless.

He is a lead figure in the tentative pact with Iran and will be central in selling the Iranians and Congress on any final deal. Much of his tenure has been consumed by the Middle East. An Asia trip is slated for this week that will include a stop in Vietnam. Kerry fought there in the 1960s, and in the 1980s and '90s, he led the move toward U.S. reconciliation with the southeast Asian nation.

He doesn't engender much goodwill in the State Department. This is left to Bill Burns, a deputy secretary and veteran diplomat; their relationship, by all accounts, is a good one. Reportedly, it was Burns who persuaded the secretary to tap a respected envoy, Martin Indyk, to work on the Israeli- Palestinian negotiations.

Top White House aides still occasionally roll their eyes at the mention of Kerry, though there's also a grudging respect now. Shultz says the key to Kerry's success will be his relationship with the president: "They weren't on the same page on Syria, and that was embarrassing. But if John's skills and knowledge are appreciated, he and the president can get together to work out strategies."