he was a lovable guy who helped transform the industrialial city of providence to a city that was ratede of america's most liveable by a number of publications, and he also presided over a beth -- breathtaking arrayed much corruption over three decades that landed anymore federal president. he's a very colorful character. i called him america's -- he would be -- so police officer by the side. he would have a cup of vodka in one hand and a cigarette in the other hand. and, you know, the key to the city and mayor on there in the trunk of the car. en-- when i set out to write a book about him. he was to be the embodiment of american politics the good and the bad. he reflected providence, which as one of america's oldest cities to me really, embodies the american political story. he grew up in a privileged background eye tannial-american. he grew up in the silter -- silver lake neighborhood of providence. he went to moses brown, a was he became a lawyer and a prosecutor. prosecuted mobster. he became a republican and democratic irish city. and then he ran for mayor in the 19 70s. 1974 and b