
Frank Bellotti died this week at the age of 101. Tributes from political allies and successors have described his admirable record of public service. His beloved family has spoken of his lifetime of dedication to them.
Bellotti’s most compelling legacy, however, is best demonstrated by the remarks he delivered when he chose to not seek a fourth term as attorney general in 1986.
At the time, Globe columnist Robert Turner wrote a column about his tenure, “Bellotti Brought Pride to the AG’s Office.” Turner’s column began:
“It doesn’t happen often in this world of politics, which frequently deserves the charge that it is mostly illusion — blue smoke and mirrors…but once in a while something very real happens right in front of you… Frank Bellotti, with his voice halting, his eyes red and watering, announced he would not seek a fourth term” as attorney general.
Turner then quoted Bellotti’s words about the staff that had worked for him:
“What they have helped me do here and what they have become when they have left is, for me, the most important accomplishment. Their enduring commitment … to the public interest will follow them through whatever they do. This is my greatest source of pride… My only motivation was to try to change things — to try to make things a little better. To help people, many of whom found life so very difficult; poor people, older people, people who had lost faith in their government – to give them hope.”
Frank Bellotti’s record easily establishes that he achieved his goals and instilled the same ethos in those who worked for him.
Frank Bellotti’s own words in 1986 define his career — to not just care about injustices — but how best to engage the system to correct them. That is the real legacy he leaves behind him — one that will hopefully continue even though now he is gone.
Steven E. Kramer
Mashpee
The writer served as the assistant attorney general for the consumer protection division in Massachusetts from 1980-1987.