John Hynes (politician)

John Hynes
John Hynes
	Hynes circa 1965
Mayor of Boston
	In office; January 2, 1950 – January 4, 1960
Preceded by	James Michael Curley
Succeeded by	John F. Collins
	In office; June 26, 1947 – November 26, 1947; Acting
Preceded by	James Michael Curley
Succeeded by	James Michael Curley
13th President of the United States Conference of Mayors
	In office; 1955–1957
Preceded by	Elmer Robinson
Succeeded by	Robert F. Wagner Jr.
Personal details
Born	September 22, 1897; Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	January 6, 1970 (aged 72); Carney Hospital; Boston, Massachusetts
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Suffolk University Law School

John Bernard Hynes (September 22, 1897 – January 6, 1970), was an American politician who served as the mayor of Boston from 1950 to 1960.^[3]

Career

Hynes began his career at city hall in 1920 as a clerk in the health department. He later transferred to the auditing department and was chief clerk in the Mayor's office during James Michael Curley's 1922 to 1926 term. On January 4, 1926, Hynes became the city's assistant budget commissioner. He earned his high school and college diplomas through evening classes, graduating from Suffolk University Law School in 1927. On June 18, 1929, he was appointed assistant city clerk.^[4] In August 1943, Hynes was commissioned a Major in the United States Army.^[5] He was discharged that December due to a reoccurrence of a chronic ear issue and returned to the city clerk's office.^[6] On September 1, 1945, he became Boston's city clerk.^[7]

On June 26, 1947, Mayor James Michael Curley was sentenced to six to eighteen months in prison for mail fraud. The city charter allowed the president of the city council to serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence, but his powers were limited unless the mayor was deceased. The Massachusetts General Court passed emergency legislation to bypass council president John B. Kelly, who had recently been acquitted on bribery charges and was in ill health, and to grant full mayoral powers to Hynes (who as city clerk was second in the line of succession) until Curley's release from prison.^[8]^[9]

Curley, upon his return from prison, commented to the press, "I have accomplished more in one day than has been done in the five months of my absence."^[10] Stung by this off-hand but disparaging comment about his performance as acting mayor, Hynes decided to challenge Curley in the November 1949 election, and defeated him.

Because of a change to the mayoral election system, the next election was held in November 1951, when Hynes again defeated Curley. Hynes faced Curley a third time in the 1955 mayoral race; Curley was eliminated in the preliminary election, and Hynes defeated John E. Powers in the general election. Overall, Hynes served as mayor from January 2, 1950, until January 4, 1960.

Hynes served as president of the United States Conference of Mayors from 1955 through 1957.^[11]

Hynes died on January 6, 1970, at Carney Hospital in Dorchester, Boston.^[3]

Legacy

During his tenure as mayor, he oversaw the opening of the Central Artery elevated highway through the city's waterfront district, as well as the opening of the Freedom Trail, which traces many of Boston's Revolutionary War era landmarks. He was responsible for founding the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), which laid the foundation for developments in Boston in the 1950s and beyond including the controversial razing of the West End. Hynes and his successors, John Collins and Kevin White, are most responsible for the modernization of the city of Boston. The Hynes Convention Center, located in the Back Bay section of Boston, is named for him. One son, Jack Hynes, was a longtime Boston news anchor.^[12] His second child, Marie "Darby" Hynes Gallagher, was a special education teacher in the Boston city school system. Another son, Richard Hynes, taught at Boston University.^[13] A third son, Barry T. Hynes, served on the Boston City Council and was Boston's city clerk. His daughter, Nancy, passed in her forties due to illness.

References

^ Lewis, William (January 2, 1950). "Hynes Becomes Boston Mayor Today". The Boston Globe. p. 1. Retrieved March 16, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
^ "Collins Will Take Oath Today". The Boston Globe. January 4, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved March 17, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
^ ^a ^b "John Hynes Dies. Boston Ex-mayor". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 7, 1970.
^ "Hynes Assistant Boston City Clerk". The Boston Daily Globe. June 19, 1929.
^ "Testimonial Dinner Given John B. Hynes, Now Major in Army". The Boston Daily Globe. August 27, 1943.
^ "Asst. City Clerk Hynes Back on Job Monday". The Boston Daily Globe. December 25, 1943.
^ "Thumbnail Sketch of John B. Hynes". The Boston Daily Globe. June 22, 1947.
^ "Hynes Is Temporary Mayor: Curley Starts Prison Term in Danbury, Conn. City Clerk Sworn In as Legislature Enacts Law By-Passing Kelly". The Boston Daily Globe. June 27, 1947. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
^ "Kelly Collapses in Office". The Boston Daily Globe. June 11, 1947.
^ Colleran, William (October 2, 2014). "Providence can learn from Boston's Mayor James Michael Curley". The Providence Journal. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
^ "Leadership". The United States Conference of Mayors. November 23, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
^ "JOHN B. "JACK" HYNES Jr". Legacy.com. February 16, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
^ "RICHARD W. HYNES". legacy.com. February 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.