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The Charles separates Boston from Cambridge, Mass, (and Harvard College). It was soon apparent that in Greater Boston, passionate feeling about an English King who had his head chopped off in 1649, James Michael Curley and history in general flowed as deep and murky as the Charles itself. "Unfortunate," snapped Benjamin R. Sears Jr. of Boston, replying to O'Halloran. "King Charles, while perhaps not one of England's great rulers, was King during much of the time Boston was being colonized," Sears noted. "What better way to remember part of our heritage?"
Another voter in favor of leaving the river's name as it is, David P. Matthews of Lexington, agreed, but for a more pointed reason: "Charles Ι was the first political leader to suffer the ultimate consequence of failure to address the problem of tax relief. Newly elected leaders on Beacon Hill would do well to let the River Charles serve as a constant reminder."
A wag named Philip C. Thibodeau of Dedham was all for the O'Halloran plan. "It's an extremely crooked river," said he. "The name Curley River would be most appropriate. We could settle for one of the more crooked sections of the Charles, preferably in a Democratic precinct, and christen that area 'The Curley Way.' You know, like Hell's Gate at the narrows near New York City."
These sentiments outraged Mary J. Sullivan of Roslindale. The Globe should stop printing "cheap-shot letters" about "a man who had an illustrious and compassionate history." Besides, Curley deserved more than a river named after him. Don't do it, was Mary J.'s vote. Mary Sullivan Shea, though, was all in favor of the idea: "James M. Curley was a great man, a good man." George Donelan, a former Boston College football star (center and team captain, 1945), agreed in rhyme: "A fine idea deserving the support of one and all/ To the grandest mayor to sit in city hall." From darkest Chicago, far from the hub of the solar system, former Harvard Running Back Edward Cronin chimed in, "I proudly wish to add my name to the growing rolls."
"Please, no more letters to honor that scoundrel and rogue who frequently exhorted Boston voters to 'Vote early and often,' " replied Jean Rogers, languishing in Provincetown. Curley was no "scoundrel and rogue," sniped George Morrissey from Newton. And furthermore, "The true exhortation was 'Vote often and early for James Michael Curley.' "
Both wrong, declared John McNeil of