New Tom Menino Book A Walk Down Memory Lane
BOSTON (CBS) – Tom Menino's new book, "Mayor For A New America" covers the events of the last 20 years in the city of Boston, like a walk down memory lane alongside the former mayor.
The memoir covers a multitude of events: from the fight over an appointed school committee, the National Democratic Convention in Boston, and the Boston Marathon bombings.
"It's about the history of the city, which hasn't been written for many years. I just wanted to make sure that my 20 years was recorded someplace; that's the essence of this book," Menino told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
He also includes some interesting anecdotes, like the time he froze and could not speak at his first campaign event, the time he told Ray Flynn to take the Vatican ambassador job, or when he angrily hung up on John Kerry.
There is some speculation that Menino was too candid in talking about the power of the office, specifically when he wrote, "In Boston, the mayor is stronger than the regulations," and "Fear is power. I owed it to the city to keep fear alive."
Menino clarified, "The definition of fear to me is making sure there's a strong leader at the helm. You have to make sure there's somebody making decisions; you have to have somebody in charge."
If it weren't for the countless medical challenges Menino encountered, he'd probably still be in charge.
But, as it says on page 224: "The spirit was willing, but the flesh is weak."
Menino acknowledged that he misses his place in office, specifically working with kids and schools.
"I'm so proud with what we did over 20 years with schools. And we're continuing to progress," he said.
This progress was built on the strong foundation that was created over two decades by an unlikely politician, a sometimes tongue-tied urban mechanic, who recognized the power of his office, and used that power to help mold one of the nation's great cities.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
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