The Relationship of the Press to the Boston Mayoralty Elections of 1967

Abstract

On June 6, 1967 Mayor John Collins of Boston announced his intention to refrain from seeking re-election by refusing to have his name entered in Boston's unique non-partisan preliminary election. This surprise announcement sparked the entry of twenty-six candidates, ten of whom actively sought the nomination throughout the almost four months which remained before the September 26 primary. The factor which made this election a focal point of national attention during the entire period of the campaign was the candidacy of school committeewoman Louise Day Hicks of South Boston. As I shall attempt to illustrate, her candidacy, her platform and perhaps more significantly her personality endeared her to many and alienated her from more. Central to these processes of endearment and alienation were the attitudes of the national as well as of the local press media. My purpose in exploring the Hicks phehomenon was, therefore, to examine the possibility of a relationship between the written press and the original victory and the eventual defeat of Mrs. Hicks. Consequently, I shall not devote space to remarks about those candidates who were obviously "losers" from the start. My research, and therefore this exposition has been more concerned with the five most prominent candidates for the office of Mayor of Boston, and with the articles written for and about these candidates. Most important, it has been my attempt to place my research and findings within the context of a theoretical framework as outlined in the concluding pages of the study.

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