Al Vellucci

Al Vellucci does not hate Harvard. In fact, the out-spoken City Councilor from East Cambridge thinks it's a pretty good thing. Like those Cubans who would like to befriend the Norteamericanos, but strongly dislike the policies of the "Yankee government," Vellucci respects the University, but not the Massachusetts Hall approach to Cambridge problems: "I don't think there is anything wrong with Harvard University. It is something we like we talk about when we are out of state, or when we drive through with out-of-staters. There is a fine student body--the best in the world--I look forward to their being the brains that will run the country. The kids there are the same as mine. But, there is a lot of administrative deadwood."

The University, through Vellucci's eyes, is in the proverbial tower, if not ivory, then old brick. "Harvard plays no part in the activities of Cambridge. All it's interested in is building its own apartments and dormitories--it is only interested in Harvard." Because of this entrenched isolationism, five years ago Vellucci proposed to make Harvard a separate city in itself, "like the Vatican." To him, this would only have legitimized the status quo. He even suggested an exchange of ambassadors between city and university. And, "That's how Whitlock and Steele (Assistants to the President for Civic Affairs) came," he proudly asserts.

Of course, as in his effort to convert the Yard into the John Harvard Memorial parking lot, he was only halfsqrious: "It was a psychological suggestion to get Harvard to wake up to the fact that they were bringing cars into Cambridge and not providing them with parking spaces. Once they (the students) hit the city, they were stranded, at the mercy of the police." Although neither University nor city set up sentry posts on the borders, both Harvard and M.I.T. "changed all their plans to provide parking for the student body."

The fault, the reason for isolationism, lies with "the Fellows at Harvard. They know nothing of what's going on down here in East Cambridge. They talk about juveaile delinquency, and all the Harvard psychiatrists and professors want to do something by sitting down at round tables with the facts."

When he was 21, Vellucci decided that he himself would take action. His subsequent political career reads like a do-it-yourself handbook for nascent, but hard-bitten local politicians. That first year he was eligible to vote, 1936, when a strong machine of the classic type controlled Cambridge, Vellucci ran as an independent candidate for the Democratic City Committee. Not only did be defeat hand-picked machine candidates like "imbedded" old pro, Reggis Murphy--he topped the ticket. But, he was "still a novice, just learning."

It took him three tries to scale the next height--the school committee. At his first attempt, just before the war, he had five kids and was driving a truck for the Watertown Arsenal. He polled 1,000 votes. Netting 2,000 in his second attempt, he finally triumphed in 1952 with 3,000 votes, to become "a thorn in the side of the entire CCA (Cambridge Civic Association). Everything I said or did, I was opposed by the CCA bloc. Then, in the campaign for re-election, I ran way ahead of all competitors--Harvard professors, M.I.T. professors, and veteran politicians" Immediately after his first election, he "raised the cry for better schools" and "demanded that they take out of hiding plans for the huge gymnasium for Cambridge High and Latin School." The gym $3 million worth) went up as did several new schools including the Peabody School on Linnaean St.: "We didn't want to leave out the silk stocking groups and Harvard professors."

In 1955, Vellucci decided to take a shot at the City Council. "People said a member of the school committee couldn't get elected to the Council. I was elected when the odds were that two Italians couldn't make it. I fooled everybody and beat seasoned officeholders."

Vellucci is still holding his own. He was born in Somerville, but moved early across the line into Cambridge, where he attended grammar and high schools.... Now, at age 45 with eight kids, he is principal income tax examiner for the Commonwealth, has studied parliamentary law and taxation and is "self-educated."

This autumn he attended the Inaugural exercises and Ball for President Kennedy, "a close friend. He himself will definitely run for re-election in the fall: "In the name of good government, I am asking the support of all Harvard students registered in Cambridge."