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'''Thomas P. "Tio" O'Neill, Jr." (1912-1994 ) was the leader of the liberal Democrats in Congress in the days of [[Ronald Reagan]]. He served as Congressman from Cambridge and the Boston suburbs, 1953-86.

'''Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr.''' (1912-1994 ) was the leader of the liberal Democrats in Congress in the days of [[Ronald Reagan]]. He served as Congressman from Cambridge and the Boston suburbs, 1953-86.

After a long career in the state legislature, O'Neill was elected to replace [[John F. Kennedy]] in Congress when Kennedy moved to the Senate in 1952. O'Neill was an astute backstage politician who was famous for negotiating deals in general, with little interest in any specific programs. He moved up the ladder rapidly, with appointmewnt to the Rules Committee, election to the #3 position among House Democrats as Majority Whip (1971-73), and was elected Majority Leader (the #2 position), 1973-77. With the retirement of [[Carl Albert]] he became Speaker (the #1 job) in 1977, serving ten years until he retired in 1986.  

After a long career in the state legislature, O'Neill was elected to replace [[John F. Kennedy]] in Congress when Kennedy moved to the Senate in 1952. O'Neill was an astute backstage politician who was famous for negotiating deals in general, with little interest in any specific programs. He moved up the ladder rapidly, with appointment to the Rules Committee, election to the #3 position among House Democrats as Majority Whip (1971-73) in a coalition with [[Hale Boggs]]. When Boggs died in a plne crach O'Neill was elected Majority Leader (the #2 position), 1973-77. With the retirement of [[Carl Albert]] he became Speaker (the #1 job) in 1977, serving ten years until he retired in 1986. He was an effective party leader, holding tighter reins than the two previous Speakers, Albert and John W. McCormack.

He is best known for his confrontations with fellow Irishman Ronald Reagan. Although O'Neill had a nominal majority, Reagan kept his Republicans in line and added enough Democrats to defeat O'Neill and pass most of Reagan's programs, especially the tax cuts of 1981.

O'Neill is best known for his confrontations with fellow Irishman Ronald Reagan. Although O'Neill had a nominal majority, 242-192, Reagan kept his Republicans in line and added enough conservative Democrats to defeat O'Neill and pass most of Reagan's programs, especially the tax cuts of 1981.

 

O'Neill broke with President [[Lyndon Johnson]] in 1967 on the issue of the [[Vietnam War]],, which was highly unpopular at Harvard and MIT, two schools in his district.  O'Neill could not abide President [[Jimmy Carter]], a Democrat he considered incompetent, and carter got little of what he wanted from Congress.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Farrell, John A. ''Tip O'Neill and the Democratic Century.'' (2001), a scholarly biography

* Farrell, John A. ''Tip O'Neill and the Democratic Century.'' (2001), a scholarly biography