Raymond Flynn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raymond Flynn
Flynn (circa 1984–1987)
4th United States Ambassador to the Holy See
In office September 2, 1993 – September 20, 1997
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Thomas Patrick Melady
Succeeded by	Lindy Boggs
Mayor of Boston
In office January 2, 1984 – July 12, 1993
Preceded by	Kevin White
Succeeded by	Thomas Menino
49th President of the United States Conference of Mayors
In office 1991–1992
Preceded by	Robert M. Isaac
Succeeded by	William Althaus
Boston City Councilor
In office January 1978 – January 2, 1984
Preceded by	Louise Day Hicks and John J. Kerrigan
Succeeded by	N/A (number of at-large seats reduced)
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office January 1975 – January 1978
Preceded by	Royal L. Bolling and Dorris Bunte
Succeeded by	Dorris Bunte
Constituency	7th Suffolk
In office January 1971 – January 1975 Serving with Michael F. Flaherty Sr.
Succeeded by	Elaine Noble
Constituency	6th Suffolk
Personal details
Born	Raymond Leo Flynn (1939-07-22) July 22, 1939 (age 85) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Catherine Coyne
Children	6 (including Ed)
Parents	Stephen Flynn Lillian Kirby Flynn
Alma mater	Providence College (BA) Harvard University (MA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army

Raymond Leo Flynn (born July 22, 1939) is an American politician. He served as the Mayor of Boston from 1984 to 1993. He was also the United States Ambassador to the Holy See (the Vatican) from 1993 to 1997. Before becoming mayor, Flynn was a talented college basketball player. He later worked as a teacher and a probation officer.

Early Life and Education

Raymond Flynn grew up in South Boston, Massachusetts. His family was Irish-American. His father worked as a longshoreman (someone who loads and unloads ships), and his mother was a cleaning lady.

Flynn was a star athlete in three sports at South Boston High School. He earned a basketball sports scholarship to Providence College. There, he became an All-American college basketball player. In his final year, he was named the "Most Valuable Player" in the 1963 National Invitation Tournament.

Later, while serving on the Boston City Council, Flynn earned a master’s degree in education from Harvard University.

Early Career and First Steps in Politics

After college, Flynn was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals in the 1963 NBA draft. He played briefly in a professional basketball league. Then, he joined the United States Army.

Before starting his political career, Flynn worked in different jobs. He was a youth worker, a high school teacher, and a probation officer. As a probation officer, he investigated criminal cases.

Flynn began his political involvement by supporting U.S. House Speaker John W. McCormack. He also helped Vice President Hubert Humphrey during his 1968 presidential campaign.

Serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives

Flynn was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1970. He represented his home neighborhood of South Boston from 1971 to 1978. As a state representative, he supported trade unions, affordable housing, and tenants' rights. He also opposed redlining (unfair housing practices) and cuts to welfare programs.

During the 1970s, Boston faced a difficult time with school desegregation through busing. Flynn opposed this plan, arguing it would harm poor families. However, he urged people not to use violence in their protests. Because he refused to join more extreme groups, his car was firebombed, and his family received threats.

In 1975, Flynn tried to run for mayor of Boston but withdrew due to fundraising issues. He then ran for the Boston City Council but lost by a small number of votes.

Boston City Council Member

Flynn was elected to the Boston City Council in November 1977. He was reelected in 1979 and 1981. In 1981, he received the most votes of any candidate.

As a city councilor, Flynn was known for working very hard. He often attended public meetings. He opposed price increases by utility companies and supported trade unions and working women. He also proposed many bills to protect tenants' rights, though these often failed.

In 1979, Flynn and another councilor, Joseph F. Timilty, helped rescue a Black man from a White crowd on the Boston Common.

Running for Mayor in 1983

Flynn, with his wife Kathy, at his 1983 election night celebration

In April 1983, Raymond Flynn announced he would run for mayor of Boston. In the first election, called the primary, Flynn and State Representative Mel King were the top two candidates. They moved on to the general election. Mel King was the first African American to run in a Boston mayoral general election. Both Flynn and King were seen as underdogs at first. Flynn won the general election.

Flynn's campaign did not get much money from big businesses. He refused to accept donations from developers who had projects waiting for city approval. His campaign spent much less money than previous mayoral campaigns. Flynn worked to be seen as a champion for the poor and elderly. He also tried to appeal to voters from all ethnic backgrounds.

Mayor of Boston (1984–1993)

Flynn, second from left, next to Boston City Council members Dapper O'Neil and James M. Kelly

Flynn served as mayor from January 2, 1984, until he resigned on July 12, 1993. He was a very popular mayor, with high approval ratings.

Reelection Campaigns

Flynn was reelected mayor in 1987 and 1991, winning more than two-thirds of the votes each time. In these elections, he received more votes in Black and Hispanic areas than in White areas.

City Finances and Development

When Flynn became mayor, Boston had a $40 million budget deficit. He managed to balance the city's budget every year he was in office. He also improved the city's financial health.

Flynn worked hard to get more state money for Boston and permission to raise new local taxes. In 1985, a plan was passed and signed into law by Governor Michael Dukakis.

Flynn also addressed unfair practices by banks in Boston. He pressured banks to agree to a $400 million plan to reinvest in the community. This meant banks would open new branches and change their lending practices to help neighborhoods.

His administration also created the "Boston jobs" program. This program required developers with city permits to hire Boston residents for half of their construction jobs. It also set goals for hiring minorities and women.

Changes to the School Board

Flynn speaks to children in a classroom

In 1991, Flynn successfully changed the Boston School Committee from an elected board to one where members are chosen by the mayor. This change took effect in 1992. However, by 1993, Flynn expressed regret about this decision. He felt it took away voters' say in school matters and upset many communities of color.

Public Safety and Urban Development

Flynn's administration supported neighborhood watch groups. In 1992, he appointed William Bratton as the city’s new police commissioner.

Flynn took office when many middle-class families were leaving Boston. He focused on using public-private partnerships and city rules like zoning and rent control to help the city. He successfully put in place rent control laws and strong tenants' rights laws.

His administration also built a record number of affordable housing units. They created a fund that received over $70 million from downtown developers, which helped create over 8,000 affordable homes. Flynn also worked to integrate public housing in South Boston.

A notable achievement was giving the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, a community group, the power of eminent domain. This allowed them to take over abandoned properties to help their neighborhood.

Resignation as Mayor

Flynn and his wife, Kathy, attend the ceremonial swearing-in of Thomas Menino as acting mayor

In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Flynn as the United States Ambassador to the Holy See. Flynn resigned as mayor on July 12, 1993, to take on this new role. Thomas Menino, who was the Boston City Council President, became the acting mayor.

Ambassador to the Holy See (1993–1997)

Flynn served as Ambassador to the Holy See from 1993 to 1997. He was the first Democrat to hold this position. President Clinton asked Flynn to expand the role of the ambassador. Flynn not only represented the U.S. to the Vatican but also worked on issues of social justice and economic justice around the world.

He helped with relief efforts after an earthquake in India and humanitarian aid in places like Bosnia and Herzegovina and Haiti. He was also involved in efforts to help create the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. Flynn also played a key role in helping Israel and the Holy See establish formal relations.

Later Career and Activities

Flynn endorsing Michael Flaherty in the 2009 Boston mayoral election (with Flaherty's "runningmate" Sam Yoon visible behind Flynn)

L–R: Kathy Flynn, Raymond Flynn, State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry, and U.S. Senator Ed Markey at the 2016 State of the Union Address

Flynn (center) during Boston's 2023 Saint Patrick's Day celebrations with Governor Maura Healey (left) and Congressman Stephen Lynch (right)

After his time as ambassador, Flynn considered running for governor of Massachusetts in 1998. Instead, he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives but lost in the primary election.

Flynn has remained involved in politics and public life. He has endorsed candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties. For example, he supported George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election and Scott Brown in the 2010 and 2012 Senate elections.

He also became involved in media, working as a radio host and a columnist for The Pilot and the Boston Herald. Flynn has also led Catholic advocacy groups, focusing on Catholic teachings in politics.

Personal Life

Flynn and his son Raymond Flynn Jr. with priests and Cardinal Bernard Francis Law (circa 1984–1987)

Flynn running in the 1984 Boston Marathon

Flynn is married to Catherine (Kathy) Coyne. They have six children, including Edward M. Flynn, who was elected to the Boston City Council in 2017. Flynn still lives in South Boston.

While he was mayor, Flynn appeared as himself in an episode of the TV show Cheers, which was set in Boston. He was also an enthusiastic runner. In 1984, he ran in both the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon.

In 2007, Flynn was the grand marshal of the New York St. Patrick's Day Parade. He has received an honorary degree from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology.

Political Views

Throughout his career, Raymond Flynn was seen as "economic liberal" and "cultural conservative." This means he often supported government programs to help people financially but held traditional views on social issues.

He initially opposed court-ordered school busing. While he opposed some gay rights issues early on, he later made efforts to connect with the gay community. However, he opposed same-sex marriage and tried to overturn the court ruling that legalized it in Massachusetts.

Honors and Recognition

Flynn (left) sits alongside Governor Charlie Baker on February 11, 2016, as Baker signs into law legislation renaming to the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal the "Flynn Cruiseport Boston".

In 2016, the Boston Marine Industrial Park was renamed the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park in his honor. A nearby bridge and the Flynn Cruiseport Boston were also named after him.

Flynn has received several awards for his public service. These include the B'nai B'rith International Humanitarian Award and the Martin Luther King Jr. Award. In 2019, he received a "Lifetime Achievement" award from A Better City, a business organization. Then-mayor Marty Walsh praised Flynn for always being a champion for everyday people in Boston.

Images for kids

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  Flynn and Governor Michael Dukakis campaigning with Democratic vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro before the 1984 presidential election

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  Flynn, with Massachusetts Senate President William Bulger, in the 1980s

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  Flynn working at the mayor's office in Boston City Hall (circa 1984-1987)

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  Flynn at the Boston waterfront

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  Flynn swearing-in Francis Roache as police commissioner in 1985