William M. Bulger

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William Michael Bulger (born February 2, 1934) is a retired American politician from South Boston, Massachusetts who rose to become President of the Massachusetts State Senate and president of the University of Massachusetts.

Contents 1 Education and early career 2 Political career 3 Political milestones 4 Controversies involving James J. ("Whitey") Bulger 5 Suspicions raised in public about Billy's possible support of Whitey's criminality 5.1 1. John "Zip" Connolly: mutual acquaintance of Billy and Whitey 5.2 2. A criminal gang's headquarters next door to Billy Bulger's home 5.3 3. Questions about retribution against state law enforcement officials 5.4 Conclusions from the committee report 6 President of the University of Massachusetts 7 Active retirement 8 Bibliography 9 See also 10 Footnotes 11 External links

[edit] Education and early career

Bulger was born in Boston, Massachusetts to James Joseph Bulger and Jane Veronica "Jean" McCarthy,^[1] the third of their six children. The Bulgers grew up on Logan Way in South Boston. Congressman Joe Moakley was a close childhood neighbor.^[2] Although the Bulger family was poor, William successfully matriculated into Boston College High School. He enrolled at Boston College in 1952, but his undergraduate career was interrupted when he joined the United States Army and served from September 1953 to November 1955. He returned to the college and completed his undergraduate degree in English. Then he entered Boston College Law School, from which he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1961.^[2] During school, he was a key lifeguard at 'Southie's' "L" St. beach and bathhouse noted for its Brownies who annually trek into the icy waters there.

As a graduate of Boston College High School, Boston College (as an undergraduate), and Boston College Law School, he is what is commonly referred to as a "triple eagle." He is also the recipient of over 20 honorary degrees from a variety of academic institutions.^[2]

[edit] Political career

Bulger became interested in politics in 1959, a watershed year in Massachusetts politics, following the death in November 1956 of James Michael Curley former Mayor of Boston, Governor of Massachusetts, congressman and two-time convict.^[3] Bulger was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1961 and served four terms. He was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in 1970 representing the First Suffolk District. He was elected President of the State Senate in 1978 and re-elected every two years to 1996, making his time as Senate President the longest tenure in Massachusetts history.

A consummate South Boston Irish American politician, Bulger became a vocal opponent of Judge Garrity's court order forcing the integration of South Boston public schools through court ordered busing. While this opposition was expected and praised by many of his constituents it unfortunately limited his political appeal to voters statewide and limited his ambitions to the State Senate. Notwithstanding, after a series of scandals that indicted his predecessors, he was elected by his colleagues to serve out the remainder of their terms as President of the Massachusetts State Senate

Bulger was elected in 1978 as President of the Massachusetts State Senate, one of the four most powerful positions in Massachusetts politics, along with the Governor of Massachusetts, the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and the Mayor of Boston. He led the Senate until 1996.

[edit] Political milestones

During the 1960s, he led efforts to write the first child abuse reporting laws in the state.

Bill was among the first advocates of charter schools and public school choice. During the 1980s, he advocated funding of public libraries, the expansion of childhood nutrition services and fuel assistance programs. As Senate president, Bulger led the debate on welfare reform in the early 1990s, with the resulting legislation becoming the model for a national law.

For many years, Bulger hosted the annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast in South Boston. This was a "roast" of both local and national politicians.^[2]

[edit] Controversies involving James J. ("Whitey") Bulger

William returned home to discover that one of his brothers, James J. "Whitey" Bulger, was awaiting trial on a charge of bank robbery.

Whitey was also the reputed leader of the notorious Winter Hill Gang (a Boston crime organization) and an FBI informant. He has been listed as one the 10 most wanted fugitives since 1999 by the FBI for his role in numerous murders committed from the early 1970s to the mid 1980s; for his leadership of an organized crime group that allegedly controlled extortion, drug deals and what they describe as other illegal activities in Boston. Despite a bounty of $1 million (the typical FBI lure is $100,000) Whitey (born in 1929) remains stubbornly elusive. The FBI say that this old rogue has a violent temper; that he always carries a knife; that he is considered armed and extremely dangerous. All efforts to locate Whitey have thus far failed. The FBI has thus far been unsuccessful in apprehending Mr. Bulger.

Whitey is also a 1991 lottery winner. His share of the winnings amounted to $1.6 million - $80,000 a year for 20 years.^[2]

The House Committee on Government Reform called Bulger on June 19, 2003 to testify about the scandal involving his brother.^[4]

Bulger was asked about an incident in which, while still President of the Massachusetts State Senate, he "went to an arranged location in 1995 to take a call from his fugitive brother, apparently to avoid electronic eavesdropping. He said that accepting the call from the gangster without bothering to inform the FBI was 'in no way inconsistent with my devotion to my own responsibilities, my public responsibilities.'"^[5]

When Rep. Dan Burton R-Indiana asked William what he thought his older brother Whitey did for a living, William gave this response:

“

I had the feeling that he was uh in the business of gaming and and uh ... Whatever. It was vague to me but I didn't think, uh—for a long while he had some jobs but uh ultimately uh it was clear that he was not uh um being um uh you know he wasn't doing what I'd like him to do.[5]

”

[edit] Suspicions raised in public about Billy's possible support of Whitey's criminality

Several issues have come up in public (at the June 19, 2003, Congressional hearing and elsewhere) about how much Billy Bulger knew of his brother's criminal activity and whether he aided his brother. These issues aren't necessarily proof of anything, but they have raised public concerns:^[4][5]

[edit] 1. John "Zip" Connolly: mutual acquaintance of Billy and Whitey

John Connolly is a former FBI agent who was convicted of racketeering and was received a 10-year jail sentence. He is alleged to have had a close relationship with Whitey as an informant for the FBI, which had a detrimental effect on the Italian Mafia. Whitey, meanwhile, received some protection from the government as an informant.^[5]

Connolly was also working on the political campaigns of Billy Bulger, who is alleged to have suggested to his fellow Southie pol Ray Flynn, Mayor of Boston, to appoint the corrupt agent as police commissioner, before criminal charges emerged. Flynn did not oblige.^[5]

At the 2003 Congressional hearing, one congressman asked Billy Bulger: "Did you write a letter of recommendation for him (John Connolly, the corrupt FBI agent now in federal prison and the man Bulger suggested become Boston's police commissioner) to attend graduate school?"^[4]

"I don’t believe so," Bulger initially answered. Then his lawyer whispered something in his ear.^[4]

"Oh," Bulger said. "About the Kennedy School of Government, I am reminded I think I did send a letter over to the Kennedy School."^[4]

In 1994 Connolly informed Whitey that he was wanted, allowing Bulger to flee. The one-time candidate for police commissioner is (as of 2006) an inmate in federal prison.^[5]

“

He's a special, special person," Connolly said of Billy. "He taught me the value of public service.[5]

”

At one point, Connolly was making so much money on illegal activities – more than $200,000 from the mob, according to Carr – that he allowed his government paychecks to accumulate uncashed.^[5]

[edit] 2. A criminal gang's headquarters next door to Billy Bulger's home

Steve Flemmi, a member of Whitey's gang, lived next door to William Bulger. Flemmi's home became a hangout for Whitey's gang, and law enforcement officials even called it a "clubhouse." One of Flemmi's girlfriends, Debra Davis, 26, was strangled by Whitey.^[4]

The following quotations are from a report of the public June 19, 2003, Congressional hearing, as reported by Howie Carr in The Brothers Bulger.^[4]

Congressman Martin Meehan asked William Bulger, "How much distance is there between your house and the Flemmis'?"
Bulger: "Perhaps from here to the first desk." According to Carr, that amounted to about 15 feet.
Meehan: "Nothing ever looked suspicious over there?"
Bulger: "No."
Meehan: "You’re aware Debra Davis was murdered next door?"
Bulger: "Yes."
At another point, a congressman asked Bulger: "Did you know that your brother and his crew had stored the largest criminal arsenal ever confiscated in New England in their clubhouse fifteen feet from your home?"
Bulger: "I didn’t know. Whoever put them there didn’t tell me."

[edit] 3. Questions about retribution against state law enforcement officials

During the 2003 Congressional hearing, congressmen asked William Bulger about a number of instances in which state employees had been investigating Whitey, only to be transferred, or have their pay frozen, or have staff cut. "Billy said he knew nothing about any of it," according to Howie Carr's description of the hearing.^[4] U.S. Rep. Dan Burton questioned Bulger about one attempt from the state Legislature to punish state police who had investigated Whitey. In 1982, a rider was anonymously added to the state budget that would have forced the retirement of several senior State Police, one of whom had authorized the bugging of a West End garage that Whitey was using as his headquarters.^[4] Carr wrote:

"Burton sighed and reiterated how odd it seemed that the president of the state Senate, a renowned micromanager, could forget a no-fingerprints amendment to the state budget that was aimed solely at destroying the careers of a handful of police officers, including one who was causing 'heartburn,' as Burton put it, for the Senate president’s gangster brother."^[4]

[edit] Conclusions from the committee report

On November 20, 2003, the Government Reform Committee issued a report stating that Bulger gave "inconsistent" testimony to the committee about whether the F.B.I. had contacted him in its search for his fugitive brother. In his testimony, William Bulger said the F.B.I. never asked him if he knew where his brother was, although a retired F.B.I. agent later said he tried to speak to Bulger but was told that Bulger wouldn't talk. The report did not say that Bulger had committed perjury.^[6] The report also said there was insufficient evidence to find that Bulger, when he was president of the Senate, had used his influence to punish law enforcement people who investigated his brother.^[6]

[edit] President of the University of Massachusetts

Although a lifelong Democrat, Bulger was appointed President of the University of Massachusetts by Republican Governor William Weld in 1996.

As President of the University of Massachusetts university system, he invited Gerry Adams, head of Sinn Féin (the Provisional IRA's political wing) to speak to a surprised graduating college class several years ago.^[2]

On August 6 Bulger announced that he would resign as President of the system with effect from September 1, 2003. His resignation came due to pressure from then-Governor Mitt Romney. Other factors included the Boston Herald publishing the payroll records of the University of Massachusetts. In the seven years that Bulger had been president, numerous payroll increases occoured for both his role and the patronage jobs he extended to his loyalists. Under his leadership, the five-campus university saw dramatic increases in private support, alumni activity, research funding and the academic scores of incoming freshmen. President Bulger also launched a scholarship program that rewards students who finish at the top of their high school graduating class.^{[citations needed]}

In November 2005, Massachusetts Superior Court Justice Ernest B. Murphy ruled that the State Retirement Board should include items such as Bulger's housing allowance when calculating his pension. This raised his pension to an estimated $208,000. When Bulger retired as president of the University of Massachusetts he received a severance package of $960,000.^[7] This ruling is currently being heard under appeal of the state's Attorney General, claiming that these allowances were "perks", rather than compensation for actual service, and should not be a factor in pension calculation.^[8]

[edit] Active retirement

Bulger is a past president of the Boston Public Library Board of Trustees and continues to serve on the board. He is also Overseer Emeritus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he is a former member of the Massachusetts General Hospital Board of Trustees, Museum of Fine Arts Board of Trustees, McLean Hospital Board of Trustees and Citizens Bank of Massachusetts Board of Directors. He joined the faculties of Boston College and Suffolk University as a lecturer of political science in 2004. Bill lives in South Boston with Mary, his wife whom he married in 1960. They have nine children (Bill, Jim, Sarah, Patrick, Mary, Dan, Kathleen, Chris and Brendan) and now have 26 grandchildren.

[edit] Bibliography

• Bulger, William M. While the Music Lasts: My Life in Politics. New York: Houghton Miflin, 1996. ISBN 0-395-72041-9.
• Carr, Howie. The Brothers Bulger: How They Terrorized and Corrupted Boston For a Quarter Century. Lebanon, IN: Warner Books (Hachette Book Group, Inc.), 2006. ISBN 0-446-57651-4.

[edit] See also

• Alan Dershowitz: Bulger controversies

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links

• Gitell, Seth. "Bulger's Denouement." Boston Phoenix December 12, 2002. Accessed September 11, 2006.

Preceded by Kevin Harrington

President of the Massachusetts State Senate 1978 - 1996

Succeeded by Thomas Birmingham