He served as the Lehigh Valley's Congressman between 1963 and 1979. My father, who hated everyone, adored Rooney. They were fellow Democrats, fellow Irish Catholics and both had a fondness for alcohol.
I met Mr. Rooney several times when he'd visit my Dad at our house, after which the two of them would disappear. He was quite kind to me.
My Dad loved Rooney's sense of humor. He said that once, Rooney walked into his south side Bethlehem office, but instead of talking to anyone, he brusquely walked by and slammed the door to his office.
After that, everyone heard a loud BANG!
His secretary thought he had finally shot himself, and threw open the door.
Rooney was standing there laughing. He had just set off a firecracker.
He attended my wedding, and I'll never forget that he handed me a crisp $100 bill.
He got me my first real job, too. While going to Georgetown, I worked as an intern for then Congressman Dan Rostenkowski. That was before Dan got into trouble. Someone from Rostenkowski's office worked for Rooney. This way no one could claim favoritism.
This was before he got into trouble.
When I was not writing speeches in honor of Polish heroes, I attended and took copious notes at the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. That's where I met Chair Wilbur Mills. He used a cigarette holder, just like FDR.
This was before he met Fanne Foxe.
Then he got into trouble, too.
Seems like everyone I met there eventually got into trouble.
Rooney was a mentor to several people who went into politics. Judge-in-Limbo John Morganelli and Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez are two of them.
They never got into trouble.
Rooney was the Chair or something of Northampton County Citizens for Home Rule, back before the County switched from a Commissioner form of government.
He even wrote an op-ed in support of it, except he didn't really write it.
One day he called one of his proteges into his office. "Am I for it or against it?" he asked.
"You're for it," the high school senior answered.
At a time when machine politics was still very real, this is what might have doomed him. At that time, Justin Jirolanio was the very powerful Chair of Northampton County's Democrats. Jirolanio was strongly opposed to home rule because it would end all the little fiefdoms in the row offices, along with the patronage jobs that followed. So Jirolanio was quite unhappy.
I am sorry about Rooney's death, but know my Dad has another buddy, wherever he is.
Updated 8:06 pm
I remember Fred Rooney losing his final election. At the time, he was pretty high up the seniority chain and becoming more and more influential. He surely would have deliver some big things for the Lehigh Valley had he gone on a little further. I thought it was a misguided decision to vote Rooney out and start all over. Felt sorry for him.
ReplyDeleteGirolanio was right on the county. At least you had choices. Home Rule was so the money boys only had to buy one politician in each county. The executives are like little emperors and the legislatures are part-time rubber stamps.
ReplyDeleteAt least with the row offices it belonged to the people. Now the special interests own the counties.
May Congressman Rooney R.I.P. Thank you for your service.
ReplyDelete"both had a fondness for alcohol"
ReplyDeleteWhen it came to Fred, you ain't kidding. a lot of great booze stories.
You may have said, they have not gotten into trouble, YET.
ReplyDeleteI was a youngster in the Democratic Party doing all the things you were supposed to do in order to rise in the ranks of the party faithful. I was a Committeeman, Vice-President under Jimmy Stocklas with the County Young Democrats, Demo Area Chairman running fund raisers and picnics for the Party, County Registration Chairman, and then the Big one.....Chairman for the Northampton County Democratic Fund Raiser to be held at The Northampton County Memorial Hall. I needed a speaker so I turned to our Congresssman Fred Rooney. He said "don't worry, I'll get you a speaker". Not only did he get me a speaker, He brought in the front runner for the Democratic Presidential Primary that year and non other than then Governor Jimmy Carter. That was almost as big as the time he brought in John F. Kennedy. Not only did I get to meet Carter and Kennedy, he brought in names like Moe Udahl, Joe Biden, and the list goes on. Thank you Fred. We'll always remember you for your service and dedication to the Lehigh Valley. My condolences to the Rooney family. Thank you for sharing him with us.
ReplyDeleteJerry Seyfried
It is pretty neat hearing stories of you in your younger days. You were rubbing elbows with the political elites and writing for them. My question is what the heck happened. You had an opportunity of a lifetime—— all wasted —-and now your a blogger. I’m confused!
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. Spooks Rooney.
ReplyDeleteRemember when he showed up with Ted Kennedy. Kennedy was cracking jokes about Fred drinking all his booze on the plane and being shit faced. Rooney sat there with a nose redder than Rudolph. Good times.
ReplyDelete3:32, True, I am just a bottom-feeding blogger, but know the difference between "your" and "you're."
ReplyDelete