Curley, James Michael, 1874–1958, American political leader, b. Boston. He held many municipal offices, served (1902–3) in the Massachusetts legislature, and became a power in the Democratic party of Boston before he served (1911–14) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Curley—whose colorful personality and shrewd political manipulations steadily increased his popularity—served three terms as mayor of Boston (1914–18, 1922–26, 1930–34) before he was governor of Massachusetts (1935–37) and again U.S. Congressman (1943–46). After Curley was once more elected (1945) mayor of Boston, he was convicted (1946–47) of mail fraud. He served (1947) five months in prison before his sentence was commuted by President Truman. After he fulfilled his duties as mayor (1947–50) and was defeated (1949) for reelection to that post, Curley was given (1950) a full pardon by Truman.

Bibliography

See his autobiography (1957).

Curley, James Michael

(born Nov. 20, 1874, Boston, Mass., U.S.—died Nov. 12, 1958, Boston) U.S. politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1911–14). As Boston's mayor (1914–18, 1922–26, 1930–34, 1947–50), he dominated the city's politics for 50 years. He owed much of his success to serving the needs of Irish immigrants in exchange for votes. He centralized the powers of patronage in his own hands and distributed public works jobs so as to retain the loyalty and support of his working-class electoral base. As mayor, he brought the city close to bankruptcy by spending enormous sums on parks and hospitals to satisfy his various constituencies. Unable to win a seat in the Massachusetts delegation to the 1932 Democratic convention, Curley contrived by means he never explained to be elected a delegate from Puerto Rico. As governor of Massachusetts (1935–37), he spent New Deal funds lavishly on roads, bridges, and other public works programs. He won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1942 and was reelected two years later. His last mayoral term included five months in prison following a conviction for mail fraud; Pres. Harry Truman secured his release and later granted him a full pardon. His colourful career inspired Edwin O'Connor's novel The Last Hurrah (1956). His autobiography, I'd Do It Again, was published in 1957.

Curley, James Michael (1874–1958) mayor, U.S. representative; born in Boston, Mass. Selling newspapers to survive as a poor Irish-Catholic in Boston, he left high school, continuing his education in the public library. A powerful and colorful orator, he campaigned against Democratic political bosses, serving in the Boston common council (1900–01), then becoming an alderman (1904–09). Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (Dem., Mass.; 1911–14), he left to run for mayor of Boston, defeating Rose Kennedy's father, “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald. As mayor (1914–18, 1922–26, 1930–34), he funded massive public works projects, draining the city's treasury to employ the poor. As governor of Massachusetts (1935–39) he championed social welfare legislation while bribery charges against him were investigated. Convicted in 1937, he received contributions from Bostonians to pay his fine. Indicted for influence peddling while back in the U.S. House of Representatives (1943–45), he left to become mayor of Boston again (1945–49), serving five months in jail midterm, until pardoned by President Truman. His political career finished, he wrote I'd Do It Again (1957), defending himself, and he inspired Edwin O'Connor's novel, The Last Hurrah (1956).