In his six previous books, William O'Shaughnessy, one of the nation's best known and most beloved community broadcasters, has told the tales of the power brokers and visionaries of politics, government, business and industry, the arts, fine living-world famous figures like Joe DiMaggio, Fred Astaire, Nelson Rockefeller, the Bushes, Kennedys, and so many others.
He elevated each encounter with his wisdom, wit, insight ... and compassion, and what emerged through words that carried the weight of authority as they danced with the delight of Nijinsky was nothing less than transformative for both subject and reader. In O'Shaughnessy, we have our modern day Plutarch, whose prose has run across the decades like a power strip illuminating the lives of the nation's most incandescent leaders from every arena.
Henry Kissinger, Rush Limbaugh, Mario Cuomo, Jacob K. Javits, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, John V. Lindsay, Dan Rather, President Richard Nixon, President Donald J. Trump, Jimmy Breslin, Pope Francis-his list of on-air guests and from-the-notebook subjects is the broadcasting world's premier who's who list.
A "vivid man about town" known for his blazers, Belgian loafers, and the Yankees World Series ring given to him in appreciation by George M. Steinbrenner, O'Shaughnessy shared the gift of vividness not only with the great and powerful but also with the local characters who made their mark "about town," the "Townies" of Westchester, a/k/a the "Golden Apple," and beyond.
Folks who may have been touched by fame, they were devoutly invested in the fortunes of their home heath, and O'Shaughnessy amplified their passions, priorities, quests, hurdles, and triumphs as a friend and champion who wielded the most respected and influential "megaphone" in the Eastern Establishment ... and far beyond. He shared the counsel and companionship of political influencers, and leading lights from the media, the arts, the sporting world, and the constellation of fine living ... who all were blessed with the heart and soul of a Townie.
The Townies derives its power to inform and captivate from the radiance of these good people, their good will, and their good deeds, which shine brighter than the lights of Broadway on a Saturday night. Enjoy!
Table of Contents:
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xix
The Political Power Brokers
Robert Abplanalp 3
Andy Albanese 11
Judge Richard Daronco 16
Bill Luddy 19
J. Raymond McGovern 22
Andrew P. O'Rourke 24
Bill Plunkett 27
Frederic B. Powers 35
Hugh Price 38
Bill Scollon (Help Me with This Kennedy Thing) 49
Kirby 51
Walter Nelson Thayer 53
Whitney Moore Young Jr. 58
Westchester Guiding Lights
Rocco Bellantoni 63
Remarks of William O'Shaughnessy
(Page Morton Black) 67
John Branca 70
John Brophy 72
William Butcher 74
The Townie Soapbox Orators
(Ines Candrea) 77
Joe Candrea 81
Hugh Doyle 83
Dr. Richard Fraser 86
Hon. Salvatore T. Generoso 94
Arthur Geoghegan 97
Theodore R. Greene 99
Napoleon Holmes 103
Edwin G. Michaelian 106
Peter Mustich 111
Nelson: A Child of the Neighborhood 113
The Last Townie (Dominic Procopio) 118
Remarks of William O'Shaughnessy
(The Robert Merrill Postal Station) 120
"Colonel" Marty Rochelle 124
Alvin R. Ruskin 127
"Joe Slick" 130
Masters of Media and the Arts
Vincent Bellew 135
Louis Boccardi 137
Ossie Davis 140
Ruby Dee 145
Jean Ensign 151
Music Man (Murray Grand) 152
The Herald Tribune: Death on the Ninth Floor 155
Nancy Q. Keefe 159
Nancy Q. Keefe (A Remembrance) 162
Charles Osgood 164
Hugh Shannon 167
Michael Scott Shannon 171
The Writer Talese (Gay Talese) 174
Legends of Arthur Avenue
(and a Publican)
Joseph Migliucci 179
Mama Rose Migliucci 182
Mario Pop Migliucci 187
Jimmy Neary 191
This Sporting Life
Ann T. Mara 197
Mr. Mara (Wellington Mara) 202
John Scully 205
Higher Powers
Father Terry Attridge (Interview) 211
The Priest 221
Monsignor Edward Connors 224
Monsignor Ed Connors (Interview) 227
Father John O'Brien 236
Litchfield Hills Luminaries
Charlie Kafferman 243
"Lacey" 247
Caryl Donnelly Plunkett 251
Philip Roth 255
Closing Thoughts
Another "Thoughts and Prayers" Day 261
Something to Believe In 264
WO Responds to a Facebook Query 269
Funeral Mass for William O'Shaughnessy 272
Index 283
