# Skull and Bones- john kerrys secret society **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 15, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skull-and-bones-john-kerrys-secret-society/234361 "2004-03-15T03:20:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chefIL11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chefIL11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefIL11)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skull-and-bones-john-kerrys-secret-society/234361/1 "2004-03-15T03:20:28Z")
I have heard much talk about a secret society in which both bush and kerry were a part of… I have read a lot of information about it, but nothing about what actually goes on in this society. What benefits did the society have? What _actually_ went on here? Surely there must be some info out there! happy st. pattys day JT ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skull-and-bones-john-kerrys-secret-society/234361/2 "2004-03-15T03:39:46Z")
From what I know, the Skull and Bones society is based in Yale. It basically seems like an elite frat (they pick you, rather than vice versa). I read that in _Bigger Secrets_ by William Poundstone; I’d say more about it but I’d have to go dig the book out. There’s not a whole lot to them, though. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skull-and-bones-john-kerrys-secret-society/234361/3 "2004-03-15T03:42:11Z")
Here you go: [A rare look inside Skull and Bones, the Yale secret society and sometime haunt of the presumptive Republican nominee for President](http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2000/05/robbins.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skull-and-bones-john-kerrys-secret-society/234361/4 "2004-03-15T06:26:39Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > From what I know, the Skull and Bones society is based in Yale. It basically seems like an elite frat (they pick you, rather than vice versa). I read that in _Bigger Secrets_ by William Poundstone; I’d say more about it but I’d have to go dig the book out. There’s not a whole lot to them, though. It’s not even that secret, nor is it the only one. I could point out Skull & Bones, Book & Snake, and two or three others on a walking tour. It’s just an exclusive social group in college that becomes a back-scratching society out of college, just like any other fraternity or sorority. The only difference is how many powerful people have been in S&B, which tends to reinforce itself. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skull-and-bones-john-kerrys-secret-society/234361/5 "2004-03-15T14:02:01Z")
And don’t forget how they all have secret entrances to Hollow Earth in their headquarters, through which they pipe pure _Vril_ to power their mind-control lasers and 1920s-style deathrays. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skull-and-bones-john-kerrys-secret-society/234361/6 "2004-03-15T14:05:43Z")
> [@Dogface](#): > > And don’t forget how they all have secret entrances to Hollow Earth in their headquarters, through which they pipe pure _Vril_ to power their mind-control lasers and 1920s-style deathrays. Doesn’t that go without saying? I _said_ they were just like all the other fraternities and sororities.