Transcript of Oral History Interview of Robert and Thomas Moakley

Transcript of Oral History Interview of Robert and Thomas Moakley

Boston (Mass.)
Busing for school integration
El Salvador
Moakley, John Joseph, 1927-2001
South Boston (Boston, Mass.)

In this interview, Robert and Thomas Moakley discuss the life and career of their late brother, Congressman John Joseph Moakley. Among other topics, they reflect on the impact of Judge W. Arthur Garrity's 1974 decision in the case of Morgan v. Hennigan, which required some students to be bused between Boston neighborhoods with the goal of creating racial balance in the public schools, since the issue was a significant one in the course of the Congressman's early Congressional career. They also discuss their family life in South Boston, Mass.; the issues that were most important to the Congressman during his career, especially human rights violations and injustices in El Salvador; the ways in which they've seen politics change over the years; and their late brother's legacy.

John Joseph Moakley Archive & Institute at Suffolk University, Boston, Mass.

Moakley Oral History Project

John Joseph Moakley Archive & Institute at Suffolk University, Boston, Mass.

April 29, 2003

Kintz, Laura

Copyright Suffolk University. This item is made available for research and educational purposes by the John Joseph Moakley Archive & Institute. Prior permission is required for any commercial use.

Moakley Oral History Project: http://moakleyarchive.omeka.net/collections/show/1

PDF (Computer file format)

English

Oral history interview transcript

OH-003

MOV video (QuickTime)
Note: Original video recording is available for viewing at the John Joseph Moakley Archive & Institute at Suffolk University, Boston, Mass.

1:50:11

See PDF transcript

Allison, Robert J.
McEttrick, Joseph

Moakley, Robert
Moakley, Thomas

Home of Thomas Moakley, Braintree, Mass.

Part 1
Growing up in South Boston p. 3 (00:24)
Military service p. 12 (17:01)
Family background p. 15 (22:55)
Involvement in local politics p. 18 (28:02)
Part 2
El Salvador involvement p. 24 (12:44)
Staff relationships p. 25 (15:36)
Congressional campaigns p. 26 (18:38)
Part 3
School desegregation p. 34 (05:39)
Thoughts on political figures p. 37 (12:28)
Improvements to Boston p. 41 (21:38)
Congressman Moakley’s health (1995) p. 44 (27:10)
Part 4
Change in politics p. 45 (00:09)
Congressman Moakley’s legacy p. 46 (01:35)