Tip O'Neill and the Democratic Century by John A. Farrell

When I was 15 and was beginning to think very much about the war and the civil rights era, it was 1968 and that was when Bobby ran for President.

I remember the inaugural when I would have been eight. People would take quarters and on George Washington they would use red nail polish to give him a cardinal’s hat and cloak to intimate that this is what was going to happen to the American currency if a Roman Catholic was elected.Įven though I never, as far as I know, have faced any kind of prejudice for being an Irish American or a Catholic, I went into my relationship with Senator Kennedy having very warm feelings for John F. In my own book I put a footnote about how, in 1960 when I was growing up on Long Island in New York, you would get what were called Kennedy quarters. Kennedy on our walls at home, but one of the strongest political memories I have was of my mother’s passion and support for John F. I don’t remember opposing pictures of the Sacred Heart and John F. I’m John Aloysius Farrell, IV, which should indicate that I have a strong Irish- American background.

I think the best place to start would be if you could just tell us a little bit about yourself and your career in journalism and as a writer. Why don’t we start? Thanks again for agreeing to do this. That’s the kind of frustrating thing that we run across. I’m researching a book right now that involves a court case that took place in 1931, and the files will be opened in 2011. Again, I’m speaking from the perspective of a researcher. Generally we try to release all the material at once, so it’s unlikely it would be before that. I was actually hoping the sooner the better. So, you’re looking at at least four or five years. That would be the absolute soonest, and I’d be amazed if that takes place at that point. We’ve probably got another four or five years to go before any of this material is open. I guess the only question I have is how soon will it be available for researchers? Knott I think I’ve read enough of them on the other end.

Do you have any questions about how this works? Farrell

Tip O'Neill and the Democratic Century by John A. Farrell