The look of Boston, thanks to Curley

By C. J. Doyle and Larry Overlan

November 15, 2008

AN ECONOMIC crisis, corruption-plagued politics, crumbling infrastructure, and a debt-burdened and deficit-ridden transportation system are a troubling but not unprecedented set of circumstances confronting the Bay State today. These conditions also prevailed three-quarters of a century ago, during the heyday of James Michael Curley, the most colorful and controversial chief executive in Boston’s history.

Curley, who died 50 years ago this month, was an unparalleled political phenomenon. His career spanned six decades. He first ran for Boston Common Council (the lower house of a then-bicameral city council) in 1897. He last ran for mayor in 1955. Between 1914 and 1950, he served four terms as mayor of Boston (and may have served longer had his Republican enemies in the Legislature not term-limited the mayor’s office). He served one term as governor and was elected four times to Congress. In all, he served 35 years in elective office, and one year in appointed office (1957-1958) as a state labor relations commissioner during the Foster Furcolo administration.

Curley ran for office 32 times. Counting state and federal primary and general elections, and municipal preliminary and final races, he contested 47 elections for office, along with six caucuses before that Progressive Era innovation, the primary, was established.

His 16 years as mayor was equaled only by Kevin White. In July, their record will be broken by Thomas Menino.

Longevity is not unknown in politics. What made Curley unique, however, was his seemingly inexhaustible ability to resuscitate himself from apparent political death. When he was reelected to Congress in 1942 at age 67, he made a comeback after four failed campaigns for senator, governor, and mayor.

The conventional story of James Michael Curley is a tale of vivid personalities, heartrending tragedies (seven of his nine children predeceased him), vexing scandals (he went to jail twice), and turbulent bare-knuckle politics. Lost in all of this drama, however, is Curley’s substantive and strikingly progressive record on a host of social justice issues including the rights of labor, access to healthcare (Boston City Hospital was the object of his untiring devotion), and equal pay for women.

Curley not only merited the title that adorns his headstone, “Mayor of the Poor,” but deserves another, that of Boston’s master builder. Curley was the city’s most indefatigable constructor of great public works. Historian Charles Trout wrote that Curley rivaled Caesar Augustus as a monumental builder. Curley widened Charles Street and Cambridge Street downtown, built the Sumner Tunnel, and replaced the mud flats of South Boston with a splendid three-mile-long strandway to Castle Island.

Nowhere is his legacy more apparent, however, than in the expansion of the city’s public transportation system, where Curley’s achievements are unequaled. The extension of the Red Line from South Boston to Dorchester; the Red Line’s Charles Street Station; the Huntington Avenue subway from Copley Square to Northeastern University; and the extension of the Green Line’s Boylston Street subway under Kenmore Square to new tunnel portals on Beacon Street and Commonwealth Avenue were Curley accomplishments. The conversion of the Blue Line from light rail to rapid transit, the construction of Maverick Square station and the extension of the Blue Line to Orient Heights are also part of his legacy. The removal of the Orange Line’s elevated structures in Roxbury and Charlestown was accomplished decades after he first proposed it, as was the extension of the Red Line beyond Harvard Square to Alewife.

In Edwin O’Connor’s novel of Boston politics, “The Last Hurrah,” Charlie Hennessey, referring to Curley’s fictional alter ego, Frank Skeffington, tells Festus Garvey, “You could live to be a hundred and twenty-five . . . and still they wouldn’t think of you as often as they will of Frank Skeffington when he’s been dead fifty years.”

With the passage of those 50 years, perhaps it is time to resist the temptation of defining Curley by the controversies that enveloped him and reexamine him in light of the accomplishments of his long career, many of which continue to benefit the citizens of Boston today.

C. J. Doyle and Larry Overlan are writing a book about James Michael Curley.

America lost a class act with the passing of former Boston Mayor Kevin White.

Mayor White died last month after a ten year battle with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 82. Kevin White served the City of Boston as its Chief Executive from 1968 to 1984, the first four term Mayor in the City’s history.

White was one of the first modern day Mayors who acted on his vision of what a city should be; turning Boston from a second tier City to one of the great urban centers in America today. White’s tenure was not without controversy - from the busing of students under a Federal Court Order to achieve racial balance - to dealing with an over zealous prosecutor by the name of William Weld, who became obsessed with ”getting” the Mayor to make a political name for himself- to bruising re election battles every four years - Mayor White handled all of the challenges with grace and dignity and, most importantly, kept the city moving in the right direction.

One of his many accomplishments was the development of the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, also known as Quincy Market. A national tourist attraction, comparable to Disney, White actually had to assist in the securing of the finances for the project from Wall Street in New York, not State Street in Boston. There was simply not enough confidence in the economic climate in Boston for this type of project, which later turned into an economic development model for the nation. Other notable White accomplishments include Copley Place, Rowes Wharf and Park Plaza, all of which completely changed the character of Boston.

Each development had its share of political challenges. However, in the end White held on to the vision he had for Boston as a world class city.

Ironically,had it not been for poor political timing, Kevin White would never have become a legendary Mayor. Mayor White took on the Democratic political establishment in 1970 and won the nomination for Governor after losing the Convention to the President of the State Senate, Holyoke’s Maurice A. Donahue. He then teamed with a little known State Representaive from Brookline named Michael S. Dukakis as his Lt. Governor running mate. They lost the election that year to Republican Frank Sargent and another Holyoke favorite son, Donald Dwight. Some Democrats who had supported Donahue in the primary voted for the likeable Sargent, using the excuse they preferred to keep White as Mayor of Boston rather than electing him Governor.

In 1972, Mayor White was actually the Vice Presidential selection of Senator George McGovern…..for about 2 hours. It seems the Democratic Presidential nominee did not consult with Senator Ted Kennedy before he offered the position to White. Unfortunately, Kevin White was with Eddie McCormick against Ted in the 1962 Senate race to fill the seat of President Kennedy. The Kennedys never forget. McGovern then offered the Vice Presidency to Missouri Senator Tom Eagleton, who accepted, then withdrew after records were released revealing he had undergone electric shock treatment for depression. Sargent Shriver, Senator Kennedy’s brother-in-law, was then selected as McGovern’s Vice Presidential running mate after a “national search.” President Richard Nixon was re elected that year carrying 49 states.  Massachusetts went for McGovern.

Mayor White was gracious enough to spend time with newly elected officials during his teaching tenure at Boston University. I first met Kevin White in 1995, after my election as Springfield’s 52nd Mayor. Following an introduction by BU President John Silber - a separate story in itself - Mayor White spent two hours with me offering invaluable advice. His main theme, however, was to develop a vision for the City and follow that vision no matter the political opposition or financial obstacles that would stand in the way. He also shared his experiences with former US Attorney William Weld, who was now Governor William Weld.

As Mayor, I recalled the advice of Mayor White in dealing with the Governor. Weld sat in my office and offered me a choice:  funding for the new Basketball Hall of Fame; or, funding for a new Civic Center. Responding in Kevin White style, I told the Governor that Springfield and western Massachusetts should not have to choose between the two projects when Boston and Mayor Menino was scheduled to receive nearly $700 million for a new convention center. Eventually, with the assistance of the Speaker and the Legislature, Springfield prevailed.

I’d like to think of that time as a Kevin White moment.

I last spoke to Mayor White at the 70th birthday celebration of Governor Michael Dukakis in 2003. Suffering from the early stages of Alzheimers, Mayor White recalled our 1995 conversation and had followed the progress we made in Springfield. “Keep the vision going” he said, “keep it going.”

The many friends and supporters of the Mayor often referred to him as “Kevin, from Heaven.” I’m sure he is there now - planning a redevelopment project.

Kevin White - a visionary Mayor.  A Mayor’s Mayor.

Anyone who has watched Oliver Stones’s JFK will remember the scene when Kevin Costner, playing the role of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison and while reading the Warren Commission Report stated “ask the question, ask the question.” Garrison was not impressed with the Attorneys for the Commission, believing they did not ask the right questions when interviewing key witnesses to the assassination of President Kennedy.

I have been waiting for the national media to “ask the question” regarding Mitt Romney’s role at Bain Capital and the millions he earned as a venture capitalist. Capitalism has always been a risk -reward type of proposition. Investments are made with the realization the distinct possibility exists that a loss may occur, similar to your 401K Retirement Plan. There are no quarantees in the financial world. Unless, of course you’re at Bain Capital where even if you close a business and put employees out on the street - you still make a profit on your investment. Romney and company, during these leveraged buyouts would take money for “management fees” - even if the business closed. If the business survives and expands, you double, or triple up on the profit. The classic win-win situation.

This is predatory, or as Texas Governor Rick Perry described it, “vulture” capitalism, because there is no downside to the investment, especially if you don’t count the employess who lose their jobs. The question: how, Governor, do you justify making money when you fail in your mission to retain or expand the operation and keep employees on the job? My 401K doesn’t make money when the stock market falls.

Romney claims that capitalism and free enterprise represents the America we all know and love and his Republican opponents shoud not be criticizing him for being a  successful businessman. Laying off employees and closing businesses is a very strange way to gauge success.

Bain Capital is not the only problem Romney will have on the campaign trail. Tax Returns. Romney stumbled so badly with his sophmoric answers in the last two debates that it cost him dearly in the South Carolina Primary. Answer the question: are you going to release your tax filings? His answer in the last debate:  ”maybe.” It now turns out, because of the thumping he received in South Carolina by former Speaker Newt Gingrich; and, after prodding by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, he will release his 2010 filing and a “profile” of his 2011 returns. That will not be enough for the national media, nor should it be  After all, his father, George Romney who ran for President in 1968 was the first national candidate to publicly release tax filings and did so for his prior 12 years. He did no favor for his son by saying that release of one year was not enough - intimating that a candidate could hide the real facts behind one’s earnings and tax liability from a single filing.

In addition, Mitt Romney refused to release his tax filings when he ran for the Senate in 1994; Governor in 2002 and President in 2008. By now releasing his taxes, this action will be viewed as another “flip-flop” on his past held position on an important issue. In fact, it will be “a flip, flop, flip.”

An inconvenient truth and reality in today’s political environment for the former Governor and his staff, both of whom should have known the issue would be raised by his opponents.

If this is not enough, Governor Romney will also have to answer the question of why millions of his money, anywhere from $8 million to over $100 million, are being held in the Cayman Islands. Name me one middle income family in America that invests money in the Cayman Islands. Just one.

Rachel Maddow, of MSNBC had the best answer: maybe Romney wants to give his money a nice view of the ocean; or, most likely wanted to store it in a warm climate.

It’s a tax shelter. Period. Otherwise, why not invest it in an American firm like Fidelity - especially if your running for President of the United States - not President of the Cayman Islands.

Predatory capitalism. Release of tax returns. The Cayman Islands.

In baseball - three strikes and you are out.

John McCain is a true American hero. A distinguised serviceman and Purple Heart Recipient. A five year Prisoner of War during the Vietnam Conflict. A United States Congressman and Senator from Arizona. Twice a candidate for President, once being the Republican nominee in 2008 against Barack Obama

McCain has worked on immigration and workforce development legislation with no other than the Liberal Lion, Ted Kennedy, and spoke at the late Senator’s funeral in 2009. They were close personal friends despite being adversaries on major issues and political philosophy.

In 2004, Senator John Kerry, the Democratic nominee for President even considered McCain as his Vice Presidential running mate. John McCain is one of the few in Congress who knows how to work both sides of the aisle. He is exactly what Washington needs today - a political player who can work in a non partisian fashion in the best interests of the country.

However, his endorsement of Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is no profile in courage. It is simply political payback from 2008, because his once Senate colleague, Rick Santorum endorsed Romney against McCain for President that year.

Paybacks, political or otherwise are always very sweet measures. Sometimes it take weeks, or months, or even years to get even. But when it comes in the presidential arena, it is special.

Senator McCain has no particular use for Willard “Mitt” Romney. During the 2008 campaign, he often mocked the former Massachusetts Governor as the “candidate of change” - not that he would change the Washington culture - but because of his flip flopping on major issues such as abortion, gay rights and taxation policies. He even took a line from Ted Kennedy’s 1994 Senate race where he described Romney’s position on abortion as “not pro choice, not anti choice, but multiple choice” because of his changing attitude on the issue.

Many forget the 2008 presidential primary campaign, but is was not pretty. Perhaps the right thing for McCain to have done for the Republican Party and himself would have been to pick Romney as his running mate instead of Sarah Palin. Clearly, that would have made for a stronger ticket and spared the country from the subsequent right wing ramblings of the reality television show hostess and former Governor of Alaska. But the personal relationship between McCain and Romney was so strained that such a ticket was impossible.

On the other side, Santorum, the former Senator from Pennsylvania who was handily defeated by 18 points for re election in 2006 by Bob Casey, had no reason to get involved in the fray - other than the fact that he intensely disliked McCain. While both now say it was based on public policy differences- Santorum was one of the biggest earmark Senators in the history of Congress; and, McCain, on principle, considers earmarks “corrupt” - the simple fact is that neither can stand each other on a personal level.

It remains to be seen if Senator McCain’s endorsement of Romney means much of anything. There was no evidence that it helped in New Hampshire, according to exit polls. South Carolina, which votes this Saturday is a solid Republican and very conservative state. McCain is not particularly well liked there, often considered to be a moderate and having lost that critical primary to George W. Bush in 2000 after winning in New Hampshire. However, there are some 400,000 retired military citizens living in the Palmetto State and McCain could have the influence to put Romney slightly over the top.

Charles Dudley Warner, the great American editor and author was quoted, stating “politics makes strange bedfellows.”

McCain endorsing Romney for President is the classic example.

The Boston Media, in particular the Boston Globe has set their sights on Lt. Governor Tim Murray.

As everyone now knows, the Lt. Governor was involved in an serious automobile accident, the details of which have been exhaustively outlined in every possible media outlet. Is it a story? Of course. A two day story  - at most.

Apparently, Tim Murray is not going to be the Globe’s candidate for Governor. While the Globe has a responsibility to report the news, they do not have a responsibility to try and make the news, or even invite speculation. Leave that to the National Inquirer.

The Globe’s intrigue with the story, however is more about destroying Murray’s character and career and making this matter a disqualifer in the race for Governor in 2014.

Anyone who knows the Lt. Governor believes his version of the events and the Globe should let the story die a natural death. Tim Murray is a dedicated family man and a true public servant. It is no surprise to many of us that he was actually out doing his job when the accident occurred in Sterling.

This will not be the first time The Globe has set out to elect a Governor. Many remember what they did to Ed King after he defeated incumbent Governor Michael Dukakis in the 1978 Democratic Primary and went on to become Governor. From January, 1979 to September 1982, the Globe worked daily to defeat Ed King. The Globe even wrote a front page story about his lunch menu - lobster salad from Dini’s, a now closed restaurant across from the State House - that projected the Governor as out of touch with working men and women and spending lavishly at taxpayer’s expense.

This is the same lobster salad you can get today at DeAngelo’s, but it sounds a lot more expensive when the Globe writes about it.

What’s interesting about the Lt. Governor is that he actually works a job that has virtually no constitutional responsibilities other than acting on matters when the Governor is out of state, or otherwise unavailable; and, Chairing Governor’s Council meetings. Tim Murray knows more about public policy from housing, to energy, to transportation, to economic development than any official in state government. He knows more elected and public officials on a first name basis than anyone else. He is an asset to the State and could fill in immediately without missing a beat if Governor Patrick, for example, joined the Obama Administration.

It is interesting that the Globe took a “hands off” approach to Governor Weld when his schedule did not include actually working at the State House. Boar hunting that year was more important than working on legislation. That, the Globe said, was “his management style.”

Or, when his top political advisor, Ron Kaufman was arrested for Driving Under the Influence after leaving the Governor’s home. The Globe let Weld off the hook after his explanation that he did, in fact, witness Mr. Kaufman consuming “an amber colored beverage” while in his company. Spoken like a true US Attorney. If it was anyone else, the Globe would have demanded an Indictment.

This story about Tim Murray should be put to rest. It’s over.

And, it is not a disqualifier - by any means.

Scott Brown. An underdog? I don’t think so.

Senator Scott Brown is attempting to play the role of an underdog in his November race against presumed Democratic opponent Harvard Professor Elizabeth Warren. Brown used just those words in a recent interview with the Boston Globe.

Any candidate, not just the one who succeeded Ted Kennedy in a purely Blue State and is sitting on $10 million in campaign funds, can ever be considered “an underdog.” His current status makes him a superdog, not an underdog. And for good reason.

The junior Senator has delivered exactly what he campaigned on. He told the citizens of Massachusetts he would be an independent voice in Washington and he has met that pledge by voting against his own party leadership; criticizing his own party; and voting with Senator Kerry on issues important to middle income families. He is no automatic vote for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Make no mistake. Scott Brown is no Ted Kennedy. But the voters of the state knew that when they elected him in a special election against Attorney General Martha Coakley. They voted for a regular guy, as portrayed by Brown driving around the state in his now famous pick up truck. They also voted against a vanilla candidate, who ran an uninspiring campaign - even pausing to take a one week vacation for herself and her staff in a 6 week cycle special election. After all, there was no way a Republican could take the seat of Ted Kennedy.

One problem - no one told Scott Brown.

This will be the challenge for Warren. A Harvard Professor, extremely liberal and already spending money to define herself as a regular person. That dog don’t hunt either. By labeling her as a professor, the Republicans have begun to define the race as “an out of touch Harvard liberal” against the “regular guy.” Clearly, a winning strategy.

Candidate Warren must change her image, somehow, to appeal to the under paid laborer at the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission as opposed to the beautiful people like Attorney Alan Dershowitz. Not an easy task. Not everyone understands how a professor can make $300,000 plus a year.

Even though Ted Kennedy was a zillionaire, the averge guy and gal loved being around him - and he loved being around them. He earned their trust and respect over the years. That’s why organized labor went to work in 1994 against one Willard “Mitt” Romney to get him reelected. Romney had a sizable lead in the polls going into September of that year.  Labor, and traditional Democratic party loyalists went to work and Kennedy eventually won by a comfortable margin.That will be the challenge for Warren - getting people motivated when there is no trust or confidence in Washington.

Another problem. Elizabeth Warren is no Ted Kennedy.

Senator Brown will receive millions in campaign contributions from outside Massachusetts. This is a very special Senate seat. If Republicans can win again here, they can win anywhere.

Warren will have to run a campaign not just against Wall Street, which her premature ads imply, but for the working families of Massachusetts. And, she will have to earn the voters trust.

No easy task against a superdog.

Iowa. If you haven’t been there in January, I really don’t recommend it. But this is how America begins the process of selecting a President.

As a lifelong Democrat, I’m sure the Republicans don’t need me forecasting their election. However, as one who worked in Sioux City in 1988 for Governor Michael Dukakis, I feel obligated to offer my opinion on who is going to prevail next Tuesday.

First, weather will play a significant role. If it is very cold as in 1988, when the wind chill was -45 degrees, Congressman Ron Paul has an excellent chance to win. His voters are true believers and will bear the cold and waiting upwards of three hours - listening to speeches in church basements, libraries, schools, barnyards or next door neighbor’s homes to eventually cast a ballot.

That’s right. There is no typical voting booth, which, on average takes a voter about ten minutes. Here you have to register, wait, listen to speeches and then vote. Plan on three hours, minimum. This is how a caucus is run in Iowa, which only makes the Ron Paul supporters that much stronger.

Second, if you’re Mitt Romney and decided not “to play” in Iowa; then, decided “to play” in Iowa your chances of winning are about 23.5% which is exactly the amount of support the former Governor has registered in almost every state or national poll. He can’t seem to get above that number with Republicans anywhere in the country. My sense, however is that Romney will garner somewhat less in Iowa, simply because people don’t trust him on issues such as abortion. Had Romney made a full effort like he did in 2008, he probably would have pulled out the extra votes necessary to win. Therefore, with all his campaign funds and pro-Romney PAC money running negative ads on Gringrich, I predict a second place finish. Not bad considering that Ron Paul cannot be nominated for President by the Republicans and Romney’s “home state” of New Hampshire is a week later.

Former Senator Rick Santorum is my surprise pick to come in third. I base this on the fact that social issues still count very much in Iowa. Remember Evangelist Pat Robertson. He beat the sitting Vice President, one George Herbert Walker Bush in 1988, who actually came in third that year losing to the good Reverend and Senator Robert Dole from neighboring Kansas. Santorum has spent the most time in Iowa and has the most conservative voting record on social issues. He will do much better than the polls predict and give him a needed boost to take his campaign to New Hampshire - where social issues don’t count nearly as much.

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is by far the most talented player in the field, has virtually no organization and little in campaign funds to offset the onslaught of negative campaigning against him. Positive campaigns can be successful - but only if you have sufficient funding. Newt doesn’t. Field organization counts big time in Iowa - often more than ideas and solutions to the national issues of the day. Ron Paul will out navigate Newt on the field by a landslide.

By the way, these national polls that have been ongoing since last August mean very little. No one in Iowa really starts paying attention to the caucus until today. No one plans to actually attend until the day before.

So there it is. Congressman Ron Paul. Former Governor Mitt Romney. Former Senator Rick Santorum. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich.

No one asked this Democrat. But it is fun to watch from the sidelines.

Michael J. Albano, former Mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts has been appointed to the Adjunct Faculty at Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield, Connecticut. The former Mayor began teaching courses in American Government in January, 2009.

Mayor Albano has been teaching and lecturing since 1979 at colleges including Asnuntuck, Springfield Technical Community College, Westfield University, Holyoke Community College, Springfield College, American International College, Suffolk University, The University of Massachusetts and the Kennedy School of Government.

Mayor Albano, who originally began his public service career as a teacher stated, “it is great to be back in the classroom working with many students who wish to pursue a career in public service. In offering my own experiences, I hope to bring a unique perspective of the practical realities of government in relationship to the intent and philosophy of the framers of the Constitution.”