Early Life: 1927-1950

 

Above: State Senator Joe Moakley watches as Governor Frank Sargent signs the Massachusetts "Anti-Snob Zoning Law," 1969.

John Joseph "Joe" Moakley grew up in the tight-knit, blue collar neighborhood of South Boston during the Depression.  His tough, fair-minded father, Joe, taught him to stand up for what was right.  He watched his compassionate and deeply religious mother, Mary, care for others.  On the street corners he learned loyalty and values.  At the age of 15, he altered his birth certificate to enlist in the U.S. Navy.  He served as a Seabee in the Pacific theater during World War II.  After the war he took advantage of the GI Bill to attend Newman Prep and the University of Miami.  In 1950, he began two lifelong passions - a romance with Evelyn Duffy and a career in public service.

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Massachusetts Politics: 1950-1972

In 1950, Joe Moakley was a well-known, well-liked football star and veteran with a college education.  But to Moakley, the most interesting sport was politics.  His friends and fellow GIs urder him to run, as "someone who represents us."  So he ran for state representative of South Boston in 1950 - and lost.  Undeterred, he ran again in 1952 and won. 

In 1956, Moakley graduated from Suffolk University Law School and in 1957 opened his law practice in South Boston with fellow graduate Dan Healy.  In 1960, Moakley ran unsuccessfully for State Senate against John Powers.  Out of office, he practiced law until winning the Senate seat in 1964.

In 1970, Joe Moakley threw his hat into the congressional race to succees the legendary House Speaker John McCormack.  The packed race was won by Louise Day Hicks.  Moakley ran for Boston City Council, winning the highest vote total on record.  In 1972 he narrowly defeated Congresswoman Louise Day Hicks for the Massachusetts Ninth District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Over these 20 years, as a state representative, state senator and city councilor, Joe Moakley built his skills and reputation as a "bread-and-butter politician."  He worked tirelessly for all his constituents, finding jobs and housing and filing legislation to assist and protect his working-class district.  At the same time, Moakley established an agenda of isses that he would carry through nearly 50 years of public service: environmental protection, social justice, job creation, historic preservation and economic development.  While his ability to build consensus made him effective, he also demonstrated a willingness to stand for what he thought was right - however unpopular.

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Congressional Years: 1973-2001

Above: President Bush signs bill naming the federal courthouse for Moakley

Elected to Congress in 1972, Joe Moakley expanded his impressive constituent services to meet the needs of the large and diverse Massachusetts Ninth Congressional District.  At the same time he entered his apprenticeship to Tip O’Neill and the national Democratic Party.  His core agenda remained the same: meeting constituent needs, protecting the environment, social justice and creating jobs and housing through government-funded projects.

While continuing to work towards revitalizing Boston’s waterfront, he embraced the concerns and agendas of his entire district, even as its boundaries changed.  The Miles Standish Industrial Park was rescued when GTE located its $4.3 billion Army contract operation in Taunton.  The Town of Walpole fought off a sludge landfill with his assistance.  Also, numerous historic sites, including Dorchester Heights, the African Meeting House, the USS Constitution and the Old State House we protected and renovated with funding he secured.

Congressman Moakley’s interpersonal skills and strong work ethic made him a popular and capable member of the Personnel and Rules Committees.  In 1989, he was appointed Chair of the powerful House Rules Committee.   In addition to his important work, Moakley loved to meet with his constituents.  He visited each town in his district every year, holding open "office hours" at the local post office.  In 1983, Salvadoran refugees seeking asylum in his district told him their stories of torture and terror and of their fear of retribution should they return to their homeland.  Moakley’s embrace of the Salvadoran immigration cause transformed him from a politician to a statesman.  He is most well-known for his courageous leadership of the investigation into the murders of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter in El Salvador in 1989.  Moakley also participated in or led delegations to China, Ireland, Egypt, Israel and Cuba.

In the 1990s Congressman Moakley championed his agenda while fighting personal battles, enduring a liver transplant, the death of his beloved wife, Evelyn, and, finally, incurable leukemia.  Despite these challenges, he continued to ably and energetically represent his district and survived to see many of the causes he championed come to fruition - including the end of war and growth of democracy in El Salvador.

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