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Boston Politics

Boston Politics. Political Machines in Boston. Boston in the years before 1890. Boston politics were controlled by a group of wealthy, protestant families known as Brahmins. They had names like Quincy, Adams, Pierce, Lincoln, Saltonstall, and Cabot-Lodge. Leverett Saltonstall I.

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Boston Politics

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  1. Boston Politics Political Machines in Boston

  2. Boston in the years before 1890 • Boston politics were controlled by a group of wealthy, protestant families known as Brahmins. • They had names like Quincy, Adams, Pierce, Lincoln, Saltonstall, and Cabot-Lodge.

  3. Leverett Saltonstall I Henry Cabot Lodge

  4. The Irish take over • In the late 1800’s, Party Bosses began to take over in Boston’s neighborhoods. • Most of these Party Bosses were Irish Americans, who were Catholic and oppressed by the Brahmins. (ex. Irish Catholics were not allowed to go to Harvard University.) • By working in the neighborhoods, the Party Bosses were able to get elected to city and state offices.

  5. Cogs in the Political Machine • Once in office, the Party Bosses would put their friends, relatives, and constituents in jobs working for the government. • By employing people from their neighborhoods, the Party Bosses ensured that they would continue to be elected.

  6. PJ Kennedy • Born and raised in East Boston by Irish Immigrant parents. • Attended Boston College. • Spent 5 years in the MA House of Representatives and 6 years in the MA State Senate. • In 1895 he left the Senate and spent the rest of his career in appointed positions like Fire Commissioner, while acting as the backroom boss of Boston’s Ward 2 (East Boston).

  7. John F. Fitzgerald • Known as ‘Honey Fitz’. • Born and raised in South Boston to Irish Immigrant parents. • Attended Boston Latin Academy and Boston College. • Spent 2 years in MA State Senate, 7 years in US House of Representatives, and served 2 terms as the Mayor of Boston. • Was considered the most powerful politician in Boston and was a close ally of PJ Kennedy.

  8. Powerful Families Unite… • In 1914 PJ Kennedy’s only son, Joe, married John J. Fitzgerald’s oldest daughter, Rose.

  9. and have even more success in politics. • Joe and Rose Kennedy had 9 children (the grandchildren of PJ Kennedy and John J Fitzgerald) some of whom were: • Joe Kennedy – WWII pilot, died in action in 1944. • John Fitzgerald Kennedy – US Senator and President of the United States. Assassinated in 1963. • Robert Kennedy – US Senator and US Attorney General (during his brother’s Presidency). Assassinated in 1968 while a candidate for President. • Edward ‘Teddy’ Kennedy – US Senator from MA for 47 years. • Jean Ann Kennedy – US Ambassador to Ireland.

  10. James Michael Curely • Born and raised in Roxbury to Irish Immigrant parents. • Succeeded John J Fitzgerald as Mayor of Boston. Served as mayor for 4 separate terms (totaling 12 years). • Also served in 2 years in the US House of Representatives, 2 years as the Governor of MA, and over 1 year in Prison.

  11. Curely had several nicknames, including ‘The Rascal King’ and ‘The Purple Shamrock’. • His house, known in his time as "the house with the shamrock shutters," located at 350 The Jamaicaway • Curley is considered the inspiration for the protagonist Frank Skeffington in the novel and film The Last Hurrah. The Rascal King

  12. Legacy of the Machine • Since Curley, every Boston Mayor has been driven in a car with the license registration 576 - which were the corresponding numbers for his first, middle, and last name. James (5) Michael (7) Curley (6). • From the election of Fitzgerald, and including Curely, an Irish American was mayor of Boston from 1905 until Mayor Menino’s election in 1993.

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