James A. Burke (Massachusetts politician)

For other people named James Burke, see James Burke (disambiguation).

James A. Burke
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 11th district
In office January 3, 1963 - January 3, 1979
Preceded by	Tip O'Neill
Succeeded by	Brian Donnelly
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 13th district
In office January 3, 1959 - January 3, 1963
Preceded by	Richard B. Wigglesworth
Succeeded by	District eliminated
Personal details
Born	(1910-03-30)March 30, 1910 Boston, Massachusetts
Died	Boston, Massachusetts

James Anthony Burke (March 30, 1910 – October 13, 1983) was a United States Representative from Massachusetts from 1959 to 1979.

He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was educated in the Boston public schools and Lincoln Preparatory School and attended Suffolk University.

Burke was a real state salesman, and served in appointive positions including registrar of vital statistics for the city of Boston.

He was a Democrat, and served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1937 to 1943.

During World War II Burke was a was special agent in Counter-intelligence, attached to the 77th Infantry Division in the South Pacific.

After the war he was again elected to the Massachusetts House, serving four terms, 1947 to 1955, and attaining the position of assistant majority leader.

He served as vice chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee for four years. He was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1954, and ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination in 1956.

In 1958 Burke was elected to the Eighty-sixth Congress. He was reelected to the nine succeeding Congresses, and served from January 3, 1959 to January 3, 1979. He rose through seniority to become the second-ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, and was considered an expert on the Social Security system. Burke was not a candidate for reelection in 1978 to the Ninety-sixth Congress.

He was a resident of Milton, Massachusetts until his death in Boston, Massachusetts on October 13, 1983 and his interment was at Milton Cemetery in Milton, Massachusetts.

External links

• James A. Burke at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• James A. Burke at Find a Grave

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Richard B. Wigglesworth	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 13th congressional district January 3, 1959 - January 3, 1963	Succeeded by District eliminated
Preceded by Tip O'Neill	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 11th congressional district January 3, 1963 - January 3, 1979	Succeeded by Brian J. Donnelly

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