16209 Hon. Charles B. Rangel

July 15, 2005 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 16209 even more of a loner these days and reluc- The political wars are in back of White ‘‘Aw, don’t listen to him,’’ says White, tant to speak publicly. But he girds himself now, and the punch and counterpunch of pol- ‘‘honest to God.’’ and trails Crane into the back room, then itics have faded into lore. How does White spend his time these days? brightens to hear applause from the gaggle How much does he miss it? ‘‘Well, I don’t see many people.’’ of men, old and gray, who once had a say in ‘‘What?’’ Among those Crane lists who spend time running Boston a generation or two ago. Crane: ‘‘How much do you miss being [in] with White, lunching, golfing, or attending White shakes hands with former attorney office?’’ Red Sox games, are Robert Beal, the prop- general Robert Quinn and with Bernard White: ‘‘I loved every minute I was there erty owner; George Carney, owner of ‘‘Bunny’’ Solomon, aide to governor Foster but . .’’ He pauses. Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park; former Furculo in the 1950s and now a trustee at Crane: ‘‘The answer is . .’’ treasurer John Driscoll; publicist George Northeastern University, and then White White: ‘‘Are you speaking for me or for Regan; Jack Connors, chairman of the Hill, stands in back, alongside Crane. ‘‘There are us?’’ Holiday ad agency; and City Councilor Ste- a couple of people here I want to introduce,’’ Crane: ‘‘Us. We’re sophisticated enough to phen J. Murphy. says Bobby Hannan, a political reporter for know that our day is gone, and that we ‘‘People say I spend a lot of time with the Boston Herald 40 years ago. ‘‘It’s good to shouldn’t be around bothering people.’’ Kevin, but it’s time I love,’’ says Crane. ‘‘It’s Around Crane, White laughs heartily, but see Mr. Kevin White we’re pleased to see you time we love, because we’re perfectly com- in conversation, he often asks Crane and a and your smiling face.’’ patible. We disagree about nothing.’’ guest the same question three and four times Most of the men put down their salad forks White smiles. in an hour: How long have we known each to applaud again. ‘‘We really do get along, don’t we?’’ other? Where did you grow up? ‘‘And,’’ says Hannan, ‘‘former treasurer How does he feel on a scale of 1 to 10? f Bob Crane.’’ ‘‘How what?’’ ‘‘You may not realize it,’’ says Crane, How do you feel? HAITI—THE NEED FOR BALANCED never at a loss for blarney, ‘‘but this is the ‘‘About what?’’ ENGAGEMENT best luncheon you’ll ever have, and the rea- How is your health? son is that your guest is Francine Gannon,’’ ‘‘I’m in good shape. I could beat you at he says, pointing to one of Boston’s wilier anything,’’ he says to Crane. HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL politicians, who served as an aide to con- But your memory is not what it used to OF NEW YORK gressmen Thomas P. ‘‘Tip’’ O’Neill and Jo- be? IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES seph Moakley and now to Senate President ‘‘Well, that’s for sure.’’ Robert E. Travaglini. ‘‘You are forgetful,’’ says Crane. Thursday, July 14, 2005 ‘‘Mr. Mayor,’’ Hannan says deferentially, ‘‘Yeah, I am. But I don’t travel or do Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, events in Haiti ‘‘would you want to say a word of greeting?’’ things that would make that something to over the last few months have been quite dis- White winces. worry about.’’ couraging to those who seek stability and He’s unsure how to respond, uncertain You mean you spend more time with what to say. friends than with strangers. prosperity in that country. For an awkward instant, the room is quiet, ‘‘That’s a good line, yeah, much more.’’ A year has passed since the forced removal until Crane leans in to White and says softly, White brightens at a question about his of President Jean Bertrand Aristide, the Na- ‘‘Say you’re glad to be here.’’ daughter Patricia, who announced last week tion’s democratically elected leader. At the White brightens, takes a step forward, that she is a candidate for City Council. time, members of the Congressional Black smiles, and says in a strong voice, ‘‘I How much of a role will he play? ‘‘I don’t Caucus (CBC), as well as members of the couldn’t be more pleased to be here.’’ know. If she asked me . I take pride in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) regional watching her, and I don’t want to interfere.’’ More applause. Do they cheer because he block lamented and criticized Aristide’s re- survived so many challenges in politics or As mayor, White maintained a hideaway because he just survived a challenge of old office on Tremont Street. During a private moval. age? interview late in his final term, he was asked Not only was Aristide’s removal illegal, but it A moment later, smiling and waving, about his legacy. served to alienate those portions of the Haitian White follows Crane from the room, out of ‘‘The Prudential Center is [Mayor] Johnny population which supported him, and further the cafe, and into a car for the drive back to Hynes. Center Plaza and City Hall belong to wounded their faith in democracy. This disillu- his home on Beacon Hill, where the sur- [Mayor] John Collins. But Faneuil Hall?’’ he sionment and alienation is a cornerstone of roundings are familiar, where he feels safer, said, leaning forward and pointing his thumb to his chest. ‘‘Faneuil Hall is mine!’’ the current situation in the country. and where the struggle with Alzheimer’s is Without question, conditions in the Haiti are once again private. As he walks around Boston today, what White and Crane are the Romulus and gives him that level of satisfaction? worse since Aristide’s removal, and continue Remus of Boston politics. Their friendship ‘‘I don’t think of it much, but if I had to to deteriorate. Since last September, more dates to the 1960s, when they campaigned to- . if I thought . or if I were walking than 700 people have been killed. At the July gether in Western Massachusetts, Crane for with you I don’t think it’s because of any- General Meeting of CARICOM, Secretary treasurer and White for secretary of state, thing I’ve done. I’m not being coy, but I General, Dr. Edwin Carrington voiced the or- think it’s the town, because Boston has a an office he held from 1961 to 1967. The ganization’s concern over the deteriorating friendship grew through tennis holidays on certain . what’s the word?’’ ‘‘Pride?’’ says Crane. conditions in the country, as it made the suc- Cape Cod and golf weekends in Florida and ‘‘Pride’s a good word,’’ says White. cess of October elections unlikely. family vacations in Barbados and the Soviet ‘‘Spirit?’’ Indeed, the electoral picture continues to be Union, and who can say how many nights of ‘‘Spirit?’’ says White. ‘‘Yeah, Boston’s got counting votes and all the triumphs and discouraging. Out of a total of 4.5 million eligi- . is it charm?’’ ble voters only 150,000 have actually reg- losses and the laughter, too, that finally ‘‘Whatever it’s got, Kevin, people say you bring them together, as two old men, in a were the best thing that happened to Boston. istered, with supporters of Aristide’s Lavalas corner booth at Doyle’s on a chilly afternoon People walk right by me to get to you, which Party—a large portion of the electorate—refus- in June. doesn’t set too well with me.’’ ing to participate. There is also widespread Over White’s left shoulder is a snapshot of White is embarrassed by the description of criticism about the disbursement of promised the three who have served as mayor for near- himself as the best thing that’s happened to aid for Haiti from international donors. ly four decades: White, Raymond Flynn, and Boston. Thomas Menino, photographed under a Pick- A recent editorial in the publication ‘‘I’m not being a con merchant, but I don’t CaribNews argues that CARICOM, the CBC, wick Ale sign. Over White’s right shoulder is think that’s really true. A lot of people con- a copy of the Globe, Nov. 8, 1967, the first day tribute. Don’t you think the people of Bos- and the Bush Administration should all in- of what would become the New Boston. ton have a certain . .’’ crease their involvement in finding a solution ‘‘White Goes In as Mayor with 5 New He pauses, tapping the table in frustration. to the Haitian crisis. While CARICOM and the Councilors,’’ reads a headline about White’s ‘‘It has nothing to do with me, but Boston CBC still remain disturbed by the removal of victory over Louise Day Hicks. A photograph has and I can’t quite . it’s a certain . .’’ Haiti’s democratically elected government, of the party at the Sheraton Plaza shows His face lights up as the word comes to there is recognition that the situation in Haiti White, then 38, Hicks, Senator Edward M. mind. ‘‘Boston has a certain panache!’’ demands our increased engagement. Kennedy, governor John A. Volpe, and, in At times, White and Crane seem as the background, Crane. scripted as a Marx Brothers routine. The Bush Administration has continuously ‘‘I’m always in the background,’’ he grum- ‘‘I didn’t recognize you in this 1979 pic- argued that the interim government in Haiti be bles.

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