Francis Xavier Bellotti (born May 3, 1923) is an American lawyer and politician who served as both the 39th attorney general and the 61st lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.
Francis Bellotti | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bellotti in the 1960s | |
| 39th Attorney General of Massachusetts | |
| In office January 2, 1975 – January 3, 1987 | |
| Governor | Michael Dukakis Edward J. King |
| Preceded by | Robert H. Quinn |
| Succeeded by | James Shannon |
| 61st Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office January 3, 1963 – January 7, 1965 | |
| Governor | Endicott Peabody |
| Preceded by | Edward F. McLaughlin Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Elliot Richardson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Francis Xavier Bellotti May 3, 1923 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Margarita E. Wang
(m. 1949; died 2022) |
| Children | 12, including Michael G. |
| Education | Tufts University (BA) Boston College (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Rank | Lieutenant (junior grade) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Early life
editBellotti was born in Boston, Massachusetts.[2][3] He graduated from Tufts University in 1947 and received his J.D. degree from Boston College in 1952. He served in the United States Navy during World War II reaching the rank of Lieutenant (junior grade).[4]
Political career
editIn his first campaign for public office, Bellotti was the Democratic nominee for district attorney of Norfolk County in 1958, but was defeated in the general election.[5] In 1962, Bellotti was elected as Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1963 to 1965.
In 1964, he had challenged the sitting governor of his own party, Endicott Peabody, and defeated Peabody in the Democratic primary. However, he went on to lose the general election to John A. Volpe, with Volpe regaining the seat that he had lost two years earlier. In 1966, Bellotti was the Democratic nominee for Massachusetts attorney general, but was defeated by Republican Elliot Richardson.[6] Being subsequently elected to that position in 1974, from 1975 until 1987 Bellotti served three terms as attorney general. In that capacity, he instilled professionalism among his staff, was a leader for civil rights and served as President of the National Association of Attorneys General. He sought the nomination of the Democratic party for governor in 1970 and in 1990, but was defeated in the Democratic primary election in both elections losing to Kevin White and John Silber respectively.
In his official capacity for the state, he was the named party in the commercial speech case: First National Bank of Boston v. Bellotti, 435 U.S. 765 (1978), which established that corporations have some free speech rights under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.[7]
Later life and career
editAfter leaving office, Bellotti has practiced law in Boston with the firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo.[citation needed]
In 2012, the district courthouse in Quincy, Massachusetts, was named in his honor.[8]
He is currently the Vice Chairman of Arbella Insurance Group.[9]
He turned 100 on May 3, 2023.[10][11]
Personal life
editHe is the father of twelve children, including Norfolk County Sheriff Michael G. Bellotti.[citation needed]
Gallery
edit-
Belotti shakes hands with Boston Mayor John F. Collins in Collins's office at the Old Boston City Hall (circa 1962) -
Bellotti listens as Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell speaks in recognition of his 100th birthday on May 3, 2023
.jpg)
References
edit- ^ "Margarita Bellotti Obituary (1924 - 2022) - Hingham, MA - Boston Herald". Legacy.com. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ RM-612. Council of State Governments. 1977. p. 1956.
- ^ "Bellotti, Francis X." Our Campaigns.
- ^ Man in the News; Massachusetts Victor; Francis Xavier Bellotti (New York Times, September 12, 1964)
- ^ "Frank Bellotti, former MA politician, reflects on his legal/political career". Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. April 3, 2006. Archived from the original on December 10, 2009.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MA Attorney General Race - Nov 08, 1966".
- ^ "First National Bank v. Bellotti". FindLaw.
- ^ Byrne, Matt (September 24, 2012). "Quincy courthouse renamed for Francis Bellotti: Ex-attorney general honored for service". The Boston Globe.
- ^ "Francis X. Bellotti : Executive Profile & Biography". Bloomberg News. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
- ^ "A Good Age: Quincy court namesake Frank Bellotti 'keeps a tight schedule' at 100". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Happy birthday Frank Bellotti!". Boston Herald. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
External links
edit
- Vitale, Peter (June 24, 2011). "Francis X. Bellotti, Three-Term Massachusetts Attorney General: A Political Machine Rebel". Post-Gazette. pp. 10–11.
- Mintz, Levin biography
- Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory profile
- Getty Images