- John Joseph Moakley Oral History Project
The Moakley Archive Oral History project seeks to document and preserve valuable information and observations that may not be a part of the paper, photographic, and audiovisual portions of the Congressman John Joseph Moakley Papers.
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- » Program History and Collecting Policy
- » Congressman John Joseph Moakley, 4/2/2001
- » Interviews with Congressman Moakley’s Family, Friends and Colleagues, etc.
- » Interview topic: Boston Harbor and Islands
- » Interview topic: El Salvador
- » Interview topic: Fire-safe Cigarettes
- » Interview topic: Garrity Decision
- » Interview topic: Historic Preservation
- » Interview topic: Massachusetts Politics and Government
- » Interview topic: Northern Ireland Peace Movement
- » Interview topic: South Boston, Mass.
- » Interview topic: U.S. Congress
- » Interview topic: World War II
- » Interviews A-C
- » Interviews D-F
- » Interviews G-J
- » Interviews K-M
- » Interviews N-Q
- » Interviews R-T
- » Interviews U-Z
Program History and Collecting Policy
The interviews are used to identify or solicit observations and opinions regarding key events and issues in Congressman Moakley’s life and career. The first oral history interview occurred in 2001 when Professors Robert Allison and Joseph McEttrick interviewed Congressman Moakley.
The project continues to collect recordings of audio- and videotaped interviews with family, friends, staff, colleagues, political opponents, political leaders and his constituents. The master tapes, transcriptions and supporting documentation make up the Moakley Archive Oral History Project Collection.
Congressman John Joseph Moakley, 4/2/2001
Congressman John Joseph Moakley, who served the Ninth District of Massachusetts from 1973 through 2001, discusses his life and political career. This interview covers what it was like to grow up in South Boston in the thirties and forties; his military service in the Navy during WWII; how he became involved in local politics in the fifties; his career as a member of the Massachusetts General Court during the fifties and sixties; his memories of Suffolk University Law School and his law practice; his late wife Evelyn; how the city of Boston has changed during his career in public office; his thoughts regarding the Boston school desegregation in the seventies; his campaigns for congressional office; his career working in Washington D.C.; his work in El Salvador as chairman of a special task force following the murder of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter; and his work to help improve conditions in Cuba. He ends by remembering important figures that helped shape his career and giving his own advice for future elected officials.
back to top^Interviews with Congressman Moakley’s Family, Friends and Colleagues, etc.
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Interview topic: Boston Harbor and Islands
| Robert and Thomas Moakley, 4/2003 | Governor Michael Dukakis, 7/2007 | William Shaevel, 10/2003 |
Interview topic: El Salvador
back to top^Interview topic: Fire-safe Cigarettes
| Congressman Peter T. King, 9/2004 |
Interview topic: Garrity Decision
back to top^Interview topic: Historic Preservation
| Sean Hennessey, 9/2005 | Fred Clark, 10/2005 |
Interview topic: Massachusetts Politics and Government
| Congressman Joe Moakley, 4/2001 | President William Bulger, 8/2003 | Congressman Marty Meehan, 9/2004 |
Interview topic: Northern Ireland Peace Movement
| Congressman Peter T. King, 9/2004 | Congressman Richard E. Neal, 9/2004 |
Interview topic: South Boston, Mass.
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Interview topic: U.S. Congress
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Interview topic: World War II
| Congressman Joe Moakley, 4/2001 |
Interviews A-C
Follow links to .pdf of interview transcript
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Interviews D-F
Follow links to .pdf of interview transcript
| John Daniel, 9/2004 | Congessman David Dreier, 9/2004 | Michael Dukakis, 7/2004 |
| James Feeney, 3/2005 | ||
| Lewis Finfer, 3/2005 |
Interviews G-J
Follow links to .pdf of interview transcript
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Interviews K-M
Follow links to .pdf of interview transcript
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Interviews N-Q
Follow links to .pdf of interview transcript
| Congressman Richard E. Neal, 9/2004 | John Nucci, 2/2006 | James O’Leary, 3/2008 |
| David Pomerantz, 9/2004 | Fran Price, 5/2003 | Carol Pryor, 5/2003 |
Interviews R-T
Follow links to .pdf of interview transcript
| William "Doc" Reid, 3/2005 | Sean Ryan, 4/2003 | |
| David J. Sargent, 9/2003 | Leanita Shelby, 10/2004 | |
| Deborah Spriggs, 9/2004 | Joanne Sweeney, 4/2005 | |
| Katheleen Teixeira, 9/2004 |
Interviews U-Z
Follow links to .pdf of interview transcript
| Rep. Brian Wallace, 3/2005 | Ruth Walsh, 3/2005 | John Weinfurter, 6/2005 |
| Anthony Voto, 2/2005 | Ginny Zanger, 4/2003 |