While the Music Lasts: My Life in Politics

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 328 pages
• Published by: Faber & Faber October 1997
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0571199275
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0571199273
• Book Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 1.1 pounds

Product Review
William M. Bulger has been a formidable force in the Massachusetts Democratic party since the 1960s. He's not quite an authentic South Boston Irish (his family, it must be admitted, moved from neighboring Dorchester when he was 4), but he's become nationally recognized for representing that community, first as a state representative and later as the president of the state Senate. While the Music Lasts is a passionate memoir, alternately hilarious and saddening, about a lifetime spent standing up for the little guy. South Boston is one of the most politically active communities in the state and, as Bulger tells the tale, one of the most misunderstood. He is particularly compelling when addressing the Boston busing crisis of the 1970s, arguing that his district's opposition to forced desegregation was not primarily racially motivated, but rooted instead in the intense desire to raise their children as they saw fit without government interference (even when well intentioned). Political junkies from far outside Boston's city limits will enjoy Bulger's firsthand account of life in the political trenches.

From Publishers Weekly
Bulger was born in South Boston in 1934, the son of Irish-Catholic working-class parents. While working his way through Law school, he was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1960. He found the leadership of the house inadequate and fought it so he could get his bills, most prominently his child-abuse legislation, passed. He tells wonderful stories about the famous 1962 U.S. senate race between Ted Kennedy and Eddie McCormack (he was for McCormack); his brother's prison record for bank robbery; and the legendary (at least in Massachusetts) stinginess of JFK. Bulger goes on to explain his role in the Boston busing controversies "over alleged segregation in our schools"; his election to the state senate in 1970; and his selection as senate president of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He recently was appointed to the Presidency of the University of Massachusetts. Bulger's superb storytelling ability makes this memoir not only entertaining but a primer on how local politics works. photographs not seen by PW. Author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Reader Reviews
This review is from: While the Music Lasts: My Life in Politics (Hardcover) The Bulger book was also very good, but somehow less profound. If books by governors are rare, books by state legislators are all but unknown. This is too bad. Bulger has some great stories. He's at his best when he's telling them about some of the characters of South Boston with names like "Knocko McCormack" and "The Good Robb," as well as less interestingly named Massachusetts politicians. Bulger's stories about campaigns and legislative battles are great, as are his accounts of a few vacations he took and clients he took on as a lawyer. The book has added punch because Bulger holds nothing back in describing various political opponents from four decades in politics. He seems to go to great length to name as many names as possible, and explain in as much detail about the shortcomings of the people with those names. If I knew who some of these characters were, the book would be more interesting still, but Bulger is descriptive enough to make his characters come to life. He's at his worst when describing a few longer accounts about incidents towards which he is still very bitter including his fight against bussing in Boston and his defense against allegations of corruption. Here Bulger indulges in a level of thoroughness that seems more designed to construct an irrefutable argument than an interesting story. His sense humor, which is the book's strength elsewhere, is often absent here. Another weakness is that Bulger basically only tells the story of one battle to pass a bill. While his stories about campaigns and scandals are interesting, they are not especially unique - but this is one of the only memoirs ever written by a state legislator, I would have liked to have read more about legislating. I read the book very swiftly. I liked Bulger, though I get the sense that I would have frequently been at odds with him if I was active in Massachusetts politics during his time. On the whole, the book was very enjoyable and instructive on state politics. Comment | Permalink | (Report this)