Burning Ambition

By John J. Riley

From his humble beginning in South
Phila politics to his election as Governor
of Penna Jim Devlins life is a story of
true love and driving political ambition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 31, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503554993

John J. Riley

John J. Riley is a retired piano restorer and merchant, having run his piano business in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for fifty-seven years. He is a widower, the father of six children and grandfather of seven. After his retirement, he has written and published four books. Two Lives is his fifth effort. Mr. Riley’s writings have an element of yesteryear, of glorious memories of times and places of a gentle world. His characters evoke our memories of people we have and can identify with, ever so human, doing their best to survive in a hard and rude world. One of the top literacy critics wrote of Mr. Riley’s work, His work leaves much to be desired to good writing construction etc. But I find myself absolutely fascinated by his stories and his characters. He does possess the gift of Irish story telling. I look forward to his writings in spite all of his literacy faults.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by John J. Riley.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 09/01/2015

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Contents

About the Author

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Burning Ambition

Chapter I

John Devlin

Humble Beginnings

John Meets Big Mike

John and Kathleen

Big Mike and John

Graduation Time

A Difference of Opinions

A Showdown

A Calm Before the Storm

Welcome to the Real World

Health Problems

A New Future

The Decision

A Career Change

The Campaign

A New Player

The Campaign Continues

Mike’s Birthday

The Home Stretch

On the Job in the City Hall

A New Way of Life

A Change in Real Estate

A Christmas Tradition

Rumors

A Visit to Aunt Mary

White Envelopes

The Church Needs Help

Going Back to School

A Death

A Scandal

Noreen’s New Ideas

Changes

A Visit with Aunt Mary

My Law Degree

A New Shopping Center

Christmas

Big Mike’s Birthday Party

Kathleen’s Aunt Mary Dies

I Meet James J. McCort

Kathleen’s Decision

James J. McCort

I Report to Big Mike

Times Are Changing

Mother Dies

Back to the Campaign

Noreen Wins

Wedding Preparations

Back to the Campaign

Noreen’s Surprise

A New Arrival

A Letter from Kathleen

Big Mike’s Heart Problems

The Mayor’s Race Continues

A Letter from Kathleen

The Home Stretch

I, John Devlin

The New Mayor

Noreen Wants to Move

A Blessed Event

City Hall Changes

A Letter from Kathleen

The Second Term

Another Victory

Down to Business

Taking Stock of our Lives

A Letter from Kathleen

Third Year as Mayor

A Letter from Kathleen

Our Home Life

A Sunday to Remember

The Attack

Mike Dies

The Funeral

Mike’s Estate

Winding Down My Job

The New Man

Changes

A New Way of Life

A Surprise

A Turn in the Road

A Run for Governor

A Letter from Kathleen

The Home Stretch

The Preparations

Inauguration Day

The Inaugural Ball

And Old Friend

Reminisces

What Does the Future Hold?

About the Author

John J. Riley is a retired piano restorer and merchant, having run his piano business in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for fifty-five years. He is a widower, the father of six children and grandfather of seven. Upon his retirement, he has written and published five books. Burning Ambition is his sixth effort. Mr. Riley’s writings have an element of yesteryear, of glorious memories of times and places of a kinder and gentle era. His characters evoke our memories of people we have known and can identify with, ever so human, doing their best to survive in a hard and rude world. One of the top literary critics wrote of Mr. Riley’s work, His work leaves much to be desired from a standpoint of good writing and construction, etc. But I find myself absolutely fascinated by his stories and his characters. He possesses the Irish gift of storytelling. I truly look forward to his future writings in spite of his literary faults.

Dedication

To my dear Mary

Acknowledgements

To my family

As always to the great staff at Xlibris, for their patience and professionalism.

Introduction

The American dream is often depicted by a poor boy from humble circumstances who rises above all odds to success. A fine example of the dream was John Devlin, who came from a poor section of South Phila. Raised by his mother and aunt, at age sixteen, he met and worked for the most powerful politician of Phila, Big Mike Flannery. Big Mike saw in John a great potential. He treated him as the son he never had. He also saw in John a drive and an ambition so necessary for success. The love of John’s life is Kathleen O’Sullivan. Kath is not happy with John’s relationship with Big Mike, seeing in him a corrupt man who eventually would corrupt her John. Kathleen gave John an ultimatum: either he severs his relationship with politics or their planned marriage is off. John, being the ambitious young man he is, chose the world of politics, thinking that in time Kathleen would change her mind. She did not. This story is one of ambition, success, love, heartbreak, and the ingredients that make up lives lived, mistakes made, human endeavors gone astray, and the culmination of a lifetime of political office. In the end is the great question: was it worth the price paid? You, dear reader, will ask that question. You be the judge.

Burning Ambition

Characters

1. John Devlin

2. Big Mike Flannery

3. Kathleen O’Sullivan

4. Mary Devlin, Mother

5. Aunt Bridget

6. Monsignor McCullough

7. Noreen Flannery

Local

Sacred Heart Parish - Moyamensing Avenue and Reed Street

Vic. of South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Chapter I

Some fifty to a hundred twenty years ago, in most large cities that had great Catholic populations of Irish Polish, Italian German, and others, the areas where these people lived and worked were divided into areas known as parishes by the name of the local church. People would ask, Where are you from? In place of saying South Phila, one might answer St. Paul’s Parish or St John’s Parish for center city, as the church and school were the focal points in their ethnic life. In this story, the parish is the Sacred Heart Church at Moyamensing and Reed Street in South Phila, also known as Southwark. In this area, the major means of a livelihood for men is to work on the docks as stevedores, loading and unloading the ships in the great port of Phila, a common term in South Phila when one is asked, What do you do for a living? The answer is, I work longshore, thus the term longshore man. The people from Sacred Heart are decent, honest, hardworking people. Most of them in the time frame of this story have only an eighth-grade education, some or less with one or two years of high school, usually leaving school at age sixteen to work. For newer generations, the dream of their parents is for them to graduate from high school. Back then, a high school education was equivalent to a college degree of today. This story is about a young man from a poor family, an unusual young man who, despite his most humble beginnings, climbs the ladder of political success and power. As with all things in life, it is a sad story, as he pays a high price for those who love him.

John Devlin

John Devlin was a sixteen-year-old Irishman, a handsome boy who attended Sacred Heart Grade School and Southeast Catholic High School (later known as Bishop Newman High School). John was a model student and an altar boy at church. The nuns in grade school singled him out as a candidate for priesthood as did Monsignor McCullough, the pastor. John was that type of young man who possessed a certain charm and grace about him. The older generation loved his courtesy and manner. He was loved by all, old and young. He was always pleasant, always with a smile for all. To all the young girls in the parish, John was the prize. However, John stayed true to his sterling character. John’s heart was with no one other than Kathleen O’Sullivan, the young substitute organist at the church. Kathleen was the same age as John. Both attended Sacred Heart School. Kathleen was much like John. She possessed the very same attributes as John. She was kind, sweet, religious, and pretty. Like John, the nuns in school thought of Kathleen as a future nun. The funny thing is there was no way the nuns or pastor could keep them apart, as they both worked for the church. No couple of young people could be better suited for each other. They were made for each other.

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Humble Beginnings

John was raised by his mother Mary and his aunt Bridget. They were poor people just making ends meet, as John’s father, Jack Devlin, was a hopeless alcoholic, dying when John was only ten years of age. Mary Devlin took in washing and did dressmaking work to support them. Aunt Bridget would pick up occasional housecleaning work. It was a hand-to-mouth subsistence. Kathleen O’Sullivan had a similar sad situation, having lost her mother and father at age nine in an automobile accident that killed both of them. Kathleen was raised by her aunt Mary, her father’s sister. Kathleen’s financial situation was much better than John’s, as Kathleen’s mother and father left an estate for her well-being through an insurance settlement.

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John Meets Big Mike

John Devlin was a young man having quite a persona about him, much wiser and older than his sixteen years of age. A perfect example was John’s family lived in a small trinity house on a small side street called Dufour Street. The rent was $35 per month. When John was in his second year of high school, Mrs. Devlin did not have the full month payment of $35, only $25. John went to the landlord and told him of their situation. He asked the landlord, Could I work for you to pay off the $10? The landlord was Big Mike Flannery, who was the top politician of Sacred Heart Parish, a member of the city council, a top democrat, and one of the most powerful politicians in Phila. Big Mike stood six feet, two inches, with a great head of white hair, a beer barrel belly, and was always impeccably dressed in a suit with French-cuffed shirts. Big Mike looked and acted the part of a powerful politician. Big Mike lost his wife about ten years ago. The pride and joy of his life was his only child, his daughter Noreen, the recipient of the finest education from one of the Catholic academies and now Immaculata University. No, nothing was too good for his princess. Getting back to John asking Big Mike for work, Big Mike said, Son, don’t worry about it, as I know your dear mother. I know she will pay it. I also know her situation.

No, John insisted, we owe you $10. I want to work it off. I know, with all your properties, you must have some work that needs to be done.

OK, I’ll tell you what you can do. You know my three apartment houses on Third Street? You can clean the hallways once a month for $10.

John said, That would be fine. If you will, Mr. Flannery, could you credit my mother’s rent with the $10 a month?

Then Big Mike said, You get nothing?

No, John said. My mother will be helped, to which I thank you, Mr. Flannery.

Big Mike smiled and said, I am very impressed with you. It is no wonder old Monsignor McCullough have you pegged to be one of them.

After a short period of working for Big Mike, John went to Big Mike and asked him, Could I put a pane of glass in old Mrs. McCarty’s window?

Big Mike said, rather annoyed, What are you doing, looking for trouble?

No, John said, I am not, sir, but old Mrs. McCarty is all alone. Mr. Flannery, do I have your permission to do this on my own?

Big Mike asked, And why would you want to do that?

John answered, She is old and all alone. I must, as a Christian, help her.

Big Mike looked at John and said, I’ll take care of the window, John. Big Mike looked square at John and said, You know, kid, if I had a son, I would want him to be just like you.

John said, Thank you, Mr. Flannery. God will do something good for you.

Big Mike, never at a loss for words, said, He already has put us together. By the way, John, from now on, I am Mike to you, not Mr. Flannery.

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John and Kathleen

John and Kathleen were spending a good bit of time together because they both loved fine music, opera, and classical music. As Kathleen studied music with the nuns, she was a fine musician, playing the organ for all services at the Sacred Heart Church and other churches for weddings and funerals. John and Kathleen were made for each other. They were kind, thoughtful, courteous, and polite. Their personas complimented each other. John and Kathleen did not discuss marriage, although it was sort of a given. They loved each other as few young people do.

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