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 politician, lawyer, and educator. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Bulger served for 18 years as the President of the Massachusetts Senate. This was the longest time anyone has held that position. After his time in the Senate, he became the president of the University of Massachusetts.

Bulger grew up in the Old Harbor Village Housing Development in South Boston. He attended Boston College High School and later Boston College. He also studied law at Boston College Law School.

William Bulger had a brother named James "Whitey" Bulger. William Bulger faced criticism because he did not cooperate with authorities who were looking for his brother. He later resigned from his role as president of the University of Massachusetts. After that, he taught at Suffolk University as a visiting scholar.

Early Life and Education

William Bulger's father, James Joseph Bulger Sr., came from Newfoundland. His mother, Jane Veronica "Jean" McCarthy, was an Irish immigrant. William Bulger was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He was the third of six children in his family.

His father worked as a laborer and longshoreman. After an accident, his family faced financial hardship. In 1938, when William was four, his family moved to the Old Harbor Village housing project in South Boston. He grew up there and made many lifelong friends.

Bulger attended Boston College High School. He started at Boston College in 1952. His studies were paused when he joined the United States Army. He served from September 1953 to November 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 many honorary degrees from different schools.

Political Career

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

In 1978, Bulger was elected President of the Massachusetts State Senate. He was re-elected every two years until 1996. This made his time as State Senate president the longest 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 a strong opponent. He was known for hosting the annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast in South Boston. This event was a fun "roast" of politicians.

Key Political Actions

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

Bulger was a strong opponent of school desegregation through busing in Boston. He spoke out during protests against it.

In the 1960s, Bulger helped create the first child abuse reporting laws in Massachusetts. He also supported laws to protect the environment.

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

Leading the University of Massachusetts

On November 28, 1995, Bulger was chosen to be the president of the University of Massachusetts system. Governor William Weld supported his appointment. Some people in education thought this was controversial. Bulger did not have much experience in higher education. He also did not have the academic doctoral degree usually needed for such a role.

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. Bulger had not cooperated with authorities looking for his brother.

Later Life and Family

Bulger has been involved with several important 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, and she passed away on June 7, 2020. They had nine children and 33 grandchildren.

Images for kids

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  William Bulger's signature

See Also

• Massachusetts House of Representatives' 5th Suffolk district