Tip O'Neill

Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. (December 9, 1912 – January 5, 1994) was an American politician. O'Neill was an outspoken liberal Democrat and influential member of the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for 34 years and representing two congressional districts of Massachusetts. He was the Speaker of the House from 1977 until his retirement in 1987, making him the second longest-serving Speaker in U.S. history after Sam Rayburn.

Early life

O'Neill was born to Thomas Phillip O'Neill, Sr., and Rose Ann (Tolan) O'Neill in the Irish middle-class area of Cambridge, Massachusetts. During his childhood, O'Neill received the nickname "Tip" after the baseball player James "Tip" O'Neill. After graduating from Boston College in 1936, he was elected as a Democrat to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1949, he became the first Democratic Speaker of the State House in Massachusetts history.

Related Topics:
Cambridge - Massachusetts - James "Tip" O'Neill - Boston College - 1936 - Massachusetts House of Representatives - 1949

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Educated in Roman Catholic schools, O'Neill first became active in politics at 15, campaigning for Al Smith in his 1928 presidential campaign against Republican Herbert Hoover. Four years later, he helped get out the vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt. As a senior at Boston College, Mr. O'Neill lost his first campaign which was for the Cambridge City Council, by only 150 votes. However, he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1936, where he rose to become the first Democratic Speaker in Massachusetts history, and where he remained until 1952, when he ran for a spot in the United States House. (The seat was vacated by then-Senator John F. Kennedy.)

Related Topics:
Al Smith - 1928 presidential campaign - Herbert Hoover - Franklin D. Roosevelt - 1952 - John F. Kennedy

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