The Big Dig The Big Dig | 3. All Politics is Local
Oct 4, 2023
The political showdown between Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan takes center stage as funding for a vital infrastructure project hangs in the balance. O'Neill's 'All politics is local' mantra clashes with Reagan's cuts, highlighting the intensity of 1980s political rivalry. Listeners learn about cost-benefit analyses that challenge funding justifications, the clever lobbying tactics involving Roger Moore, and the nail-biting moments of Senate negotiations. Ultimately, the Big Dig emerges as a symbol of political maneuvering in an era of changing transportation policies.
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Power Of The Congressional Speaker
- Tip O'Neill wielded institutional power differently than a typical legislator and used it to shape outcomes over a decade.
- His long tenure made him able to block or enable major projects like the Central Artery through committee leverage.
East Boston's Political Leverage
- Chip DeWitt insisted on an absolute guarantee that East Boston be treated fairly before he would support the project.
- He warned Fred Salvucci bluntly that one angry phone call from East Boston and the project was dead.
How The Interstate Era Was Funded
- The Interstate system was funded by a dedicated gas tax and a federal trust fund created in 1956.
- That long-running funding mechanism created the political and financial consensus enabling massive national projects.