[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 14 (Thursday, February 6, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E187-E188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JOHN J. BUCKLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 6, 1997

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, thousands of residents of 
Lawrence, MA, will pay a final tribute to the man who was known there 
as ``Mr. Mayor'' until the day he died--Mayor John J. Buckley. John J. 
Buckley served as mayor for 22 years, spanning three decades from the 
1950's to the 1980's. During that time, he won the respect and 
friendship of President John F. Kennedy and countless other public 
figures who came in contact with this man who called himself ``a mayor 
for all the people.''

[[Page E188]]

  When he first took office at age 35 in 1951, the city had just 
suffered the devastating exodus south of the textile industry which 
resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs. He started Operation 
Bootstrap to revitalize the city at a time when Federal and State 
programs were unavailable. Thus began a 14-year term as mayor in which 
he brought 70 new businesses and 12,000 jobs into the city.
  After a one-term hiatus, Mayor Buckley regained the office in 1971 to 
serve his eighth term. He urged the citizens of Lawrence, the 
``Immigrant City'' to embrace the influx of Hispanic immigrants just as 
their parents and grandparents had been welcomed in the early part of 
the century. During his time in office, the city built a new post 
office, public library, police station and boys club. Mayor Buckley 
came roaring back in 1983 after two defeats for his 17th and final run 
for mayor. This last hurrah and victory capped off his 22-year career 
as chief executive of the city of Lawrence. But even during the periods 
when he was out of elected office, he devoted himself to the public 
through service organizations and appointed positions.
  In later years it was not uncommon to see John Buckley strolling 
Lawrence's main street as citizen after citizen greeted him with ``Good 
morning, Mr. Mayor.'' He loved the city of Lawrence and it indeed loved 
him. This weekend, I will join with my friends in Lawrence to pay a 
final tribute to John J. Buckley, who died last Monday at the age of 
eighty, leaving the city he loved with a legacy of accomplishments.

                          ____________________