William Bulger facts for kids

Quick facts for kids William Bulger
Bulger c. 1984–1987
President of the University of Massachusetts
In office January 4, 1996 – September 1, 2003
Appointed by	Bill Weld
Preceded by	Shirley Penney
Succeeded by	Jack M. Wilson
President of the Massachusetts Senate
In office January 6, 1978 – January 3, 1996
Preceded by	Kevin B. Harrington
Succeeded by	Tom Birmingham
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 1st Suffolk district
In office January 6, 1971 – January 3, 1996
Preceded by	Joe Moakley
Succeeded by	Stephen Lynch
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from Suffolk County
In office January 4, 1961 – January 6, 1971
Preceded by	Joe Moakley
Succeeded by	Raymond Flynn
Constituency	7th Suffolk district (1961–1965) 5th Suffolk district (1965–1969) 6th Suffolk district (1969–1971)
Personal details
Born	William Michael Bulger (1934-02-02) February 2, 1934 (age 91) Dorchester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Foley ​ ​ (m. 1960; died 2020)​
Relations	Whitey Bulger (brother)
Education	Boston College (BA, JD)
Signature
Nickname	Billy
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1953–1955

William Michael Bulger (born February 2, 1934) is an American former Democratic politician. He is also a lawyer and an educator from South Boston, Massachusetts. He served as President of the Massachusetts Senate for eighteen years. This is the longest time anyone has held that position. After leaving the Senate, he became the president of the University of Massachusetts.

Bulger grew up in the Old Harbor Village Housing Development. He went to Boston College High School and then Boston College. He studied Classics and later earned a law degree from Boston College Law School.

William Bulger is the younger brother of James "Whitey" Bulger. His brother was involved in serious crimes and became a fugitive. William Bulger faced criticism for not helping authorities find his brother. This led to him resigning from his role at the University of Massachusetts. Later, he taught at Suffolk University. He has since retired from public life.

Early Life and Education

William Bulger's father, James Joseph Bulger Sr., came from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. He married Jane Veronica "Jean" McCarthy, who was an Irish immigrant. William was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He is the third of six children. His older brother was James Joseph "Whitey" Bulger Jr.

Bulger's father worked as a union laborer. He also worked as a longshoreman. After an accident, his father lost an arm, and the family became very poor. In 1938, when William was four, his family moved to the Old Harbor Village in South Boston. He grew up there and made many lifelong friends. One close friend was Fred L. Toomey, a Korean War veteran. The late Congressman Joe Moakley was also a childhood neighbor.

Even though his family was poor, William attended Boston College High School. In 1952, he started at Boston College. His studies were paused when he joined the United States Army. He served from 1953 to 1955. After his service, he returned to Boston College. He finished his degree in English Literature with help from the G.I. Bill. In 1961, he earned his law degree from Boston College Law School. He has also received over 20 honorary degrees from different schools.

Political Career Highlights

Bulger became interested in politics in 1959. He was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1960. He was a member of the Democratic party. After serving five terms, he was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in 1970. He represented the First Suffolk District.

In 1973, he became the Second Assistant Floor Majority Leader. In 1978, Bulger was elected President of the Massachusetts State Senate. He was re-elected every two years until 1996. This made him the longest-serving State Senate president in Massachusetts history.

Bulger was very popular in his district. He won his district election every two years from 1961 to 1994. He rarely faced strong opponents. He hosted the annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast in South Boston. This event is known for its humorous "roast" of politicians.

Key Political Actions

Bulger (right), with Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn (left), in the 1980s

Bulger was a strong opponent of busing to desegregate Boston schools. He spoke out against the police during some protests.

In the 1960s, Bulger helped create the first child abuse reporting laws in Massachusetts. He also supported laws for environmental protection.

Bulger was an early supporter of charter schools. He also advocated for public school choice. In the 1980s, he pushed for funding for public libraries. He also supported programs for childhood nutrition and fuel assistance. As Senate president, he led the discussion on welfare reform in the early 1990s. The law that resulted became a model for a national law.

Leading the University of Massachusetts

On November 28, 1995, Bulger was chosen to be president of the University of Massachusetts. Governor William Weld supported his appointment. Some people in education disagreed with this choice. Bulger did not have much experience in higher education. He also did not have a doctoral degree, which is usually required for such a position.

On August 6, 2003, Bulger announced he would resign. His resignation became effective on September 1, 2003. This decision came after pressure from Governor Mitt Romney. The pressure was due to Bulger not fully cooperating with authorities. They were looking for his brother, James "Whitey" Bulger.

Life After Politics

Bulger has been involved with many organizations. He was a past president of the Boston Public Library. He was also a member of the board of trustees for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He served on the boards of Massachusetts General Hospital and the Museum of Fine Arts.

In 2004, he began teaching political science at Boston College and Suffolk University. William Bulger lived in South Boston with his wife, Mary Foley. They married in 1960. Mary passed away on June 7, 2020. They had nine children and 33 grandchildren.

See also

• Massachusetts House of Representatives' 5th Suffolk district
• 1961–1962 Massachusetts legislature
• 1963–1964 Massachusetts legislature
• 1965–1966 Massachusetts legislature
• 1967–1968 Massachusetts legislature
• 1969–1970 Massachusetts legislature
• 1971–1972 Massachusetts legislature
• 1973–1974 Massachusetts legislature
• 1975–1976 Massachusetts legislature
• 1977–1978 Massachusetts legislature
• 1979–1980 Massachusetts legislature
• 1981–1982 Massachusetts legislature
• 1983–1984 Massachusetts legislature
• 1985–1986 Massachusetts legislature
• 1987–1988 Massachusetts legislature
• 1989–1990 Massachusetts legislature
• 1991–1992 Massachusetts legislature
• 1993–1994 Massachusetts legislature
• 1995–1996 Massachusetts legislature

Books About William Bulger

• Bulger, William M. While the Music Lasts: My Life in Politics. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996. ISBN: 0-395-72041-9.
• Bulger, William M. James Michael Curley: A Short Biography with Personal Reminiscences by William M. Bulger. Beverly, Massachusetts: Commonwealth Editions, 2009. ISBN: 978-1-933212-97-5.
• Burke, John J. A Profile in Political Power, a 2010 documentary produced by JAMAR Productions, highlights the political career of William M. Bulger.