US representative, born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. He studied at Boston College, then went into insurance, at the same time becoming actively involved in Democratic politics. He was elected to the Massachusetts House (193652), and became its youngest speaker (1947) before going to the US House of Representatives (19531987). He pushed liberal legislation while protecting his working-class constituents from budget cuts. In 1968 he supported Eugene McCarthy's anti-war candidacy, and as majority leader in 1973 voted to cut off funding of the air war in Vietnam. Elected speaker (197787), he failed to muster an uneasy Democratic alliance of aging Southern committee chairmen and impatient young liberals to resist President Reagan's Conservative agenda.
| "Tip" O'Neill | |
| 55th United States Speaker of the House | |
|---|---|
| In office | |
| January 4, 1977 – January 3, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Carl Albert |
| Succeeded by | Jim Wright |
|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 11th & 8th district |
|
|
Term of office: 1953 - 1987 |
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| Political party: |
Democratic |
| Preceded by: | John F. Kennedy |
| Succeeded by: | Joe Kennedy, II |
| Born: |
December 9, 1912 Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Died: |
January 5, 1994 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Spouse: | Millie 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.
Early life and political career
O'Neill was born to Thomas Phillip O'Neill, Sr., and Rose Ann (Tolan) O'Neill in what was known as 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. 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.
After graduating in 1936, O'Neill was elected as a Democrat to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Congressman O'Neill
Quick rise in the House leadership
O'Neill was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1952. In a meeting at the White House, O'Neill told the President: "In my heart and in my conscience I believe your policy is wrong." O'Neill won the trust and support of younger House members who also had the same stance on Vietnam, and they became important friends as O'Neill rose in power throughout the House.
House Majority Whip and Majority Leader
In 1971 O'Neill was appointed Majority Whip in the House, the number three position for the Democratic Party in the House. As the majority leader, O'Neill was the most prominent Democrat in the House to call in 1973 for an investigation and possible impeachment of President Richard Nixon because of the Watergate scandal.
O'Neill's association with Republican Leader Gerald Ford
O'Neill became friends with his counterpart on the Republican side, House Minority Leader Gerald Ford, and had a hand in his nomination as Vice President. However, O'Neill was also a loyal Democrat determined to take back the White House in 1976, and took many opportunities to criticize Ford's administration.
Speaker of the House
O'Neill replaces Carl Albert
As a result of the Tongsun Park scandal in 1975, House Speaker Carl Albert retired from Congress. O'Neill was elected Speaker in 1977, the same year Democrat Jimmy Carter became President.
O'Neill's work with President Jimmy Carter
With substantial majorities in each house of Congress and control of the White House, O'Neill had hoped that the Democrats would be able to implement many social programs, such as universal health care and more jobs programs.
Republicans target O'Neill in 1980
Republicans made O'Neill a target of their 1980 campaign, portraying a washed-up old politician with liberal ideas. Although the Republicans made significant gains in the House in 1980, coinciding with the election of Republican Ronald Reagan, similar efforts to target O'Neill in the 1982 elections backfired and the Democrats remained firmly in control of the House for more than a decade.
O'Neill at odds with President Ronald Reagan
O'Neill became a leading opponent of the Reagan administration's domestic and defense policies.
Working for peace in Northern Ireland
One of O'Neill's greatest accomplishments as Speaker involved Northern Ireland.
After Congress
O'Neill retired from his seat in 1987.
Later on in retirement, O'Neill, who had suffered from colon cancer, made public service advertisements about cancer in which he joined athletes and movie stars in talking candidly about having the disease.
In 1994, at the age of 81, Tip O'Neill died, survived by his widow, Mildred, and their children. Upon his passing, then-President Bill Clinton said: "Tip O'Neill was the nation's most prominent, powerful and loyal champion of working people", and continued "He loved politics and government because he saw politics and government could make a difference in people's lives.
Mr. O'Neill's wife, Millie, died on October 6, 2003.
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