John L. Saltonstall Jr.

John L. Saltonstall Jr. (1916 – April 25, 2007) was an American attorney and politician who served as a member of the Boston City Council from 1968 to 1972.

Early life

Saltonstall was born Beverly, Massachusetts in 1916 to a family of prominent Massachusetts Republicans. He graduated from Harvard College in 1938 and Yale Law School in 1941. During World War II, he volunteered for military service three times, but was rejected each time for failing the physical exam. He instead served as a member of the National War Labor Board.[1]

After the war, Saltonstall worked in New York City as an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union. He later returned to Boston to work for the firm Hill and Barlow.[1] From 1954 to 1956, he represented Harvard professor Leon Kamin, who was charged with contempt of Congress after he refused to identify fellow Communist party members during the Army–McCarthy hearings.[2]

In 1964, he left his corporate practice for several weeks to represent several black civil rights workers who were being sued for libel in northern Mississippi. He later said: "I probably did work that was more intellectually challenging later on, but I probably never did any work that was more exciting."[3]

In addition to his work with Hill and Barlow, Saltonstall also maintained a law office in Edgartown, Massachusetts. He also served as town counsel for Gay Head, Massachusetts.[1]

Previously married and divorced, in 1976 he married Adriana Gianturco.[4]

After retiring from Hill & Barlow, Saltonstall taught at the McGeorge School of Law.[1]

Politics

In 1958, Saltonstall was the Democratic Party candidate for United States Representative from Massachusetts's 10th congressional district. He lost to incumbent Laurence Curtis 52% to 48%.[5]

In 1960, he was one of a group of former supporters of presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson who urged their "fellow liberals" to support John F. Kennedy for the Democratic Party's nomination, citing Kennedy's assurance of support for desegregation.[6]

Saltonstall served on the Boston City Council from 1968 to 1972. In the 1971 election, he ran for Mayor of Boston. He finished in fifth place in the preliminary election with 4.86% of the vote.[7]

He died in Fall River, Massachusetts, on April 25, 2007.

References
  1. "John L. Saltonstall Jr., 91, Represented Gay Head; Defended Freedom of Speech". Vineyard Gazette. April 27, 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  2. "Psychology Instructor Returns To Canadian College Post". The Harvard Crimson. January 9, 1956. Retrieved 27 June 2011.; New York Times: "4 Counts Dropped in Contempt Case," November 3, 1955, accessed June 28, 2011
  3. New York Times: Steven A. Holmes, "Reliving Volunteer Work in the South," June 16, 1995, accessed June 28, 2011
  4. New York Times: "Adriana Gianturco Is Boston Bride," January 18, 1976, accessed June 28, 2011
  5. Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1958 (PDF). Washington D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1959. p. 14.; New York Times: "Kennedy, Furloco in Van of Sweep," November 5, 1958, accessed June 28, 2011
  6. New York Times: "Stevenson Group Backing Kennedy," June 17, 1960, accessed June 28, 2011
  7. Annual Report of the Election Department. 1972. p. 44.; New York Times: Bill Kovach, "Mayor Runs First in Boston Voting," September 15, 1971, accessed June 28, 2011
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