Here is a summary of some background info concerning the book "A Civil Action" by jonathan harr and made into a Disney film....... 1) Early 1960s: a) Woburn in serious running for NASA site, later the Houston Space Center; Michigan, Pennsylvania,Connecticut, NY,NJ all fighting fiercely for center also b) Avco In Wilmington, MA works on Voyager spacecraft c) RCA in Bedford works on Apollo missions d) Carl Roessler, President of Trans-Sonic in Burlington, also chairman of "Save our Shipyard" committee for Boston Navy Yard- resides in Woburn and serves on Woburn Redevelopment Authority following collapse of NASA deal e) Gilgun family ties to Kennedy family, particularly JFK f) Early water problems late 1950s, early 60s g) Slichter Act in place to protect general public~water pollution union strikes h) Wells not closed until MAY,1979 i) Lawsuits on water quality in 1960s j) local public works~water union problems -Slichter Act not used k) August,1963 USS thresher sinks off portsmouth,nh; 20% of backpressure relief valves and possible welding flaws cited: at a time when military bases are being considered for closure l) Congressman F. Bradford Morse serves on Council on Foreign relations, Nato, and NASA committees 2) factors: a) mystery radioactive object found in abandoned garage in north woburn b) Slichter act not implemented for water pollution c)Colonel Ribbs in charge of state Public Works d) Early signs of leukemia cases in Woburn e) Families go on welfare to afford leukemia treatments; children treated at Mass General, NE Med Ctr, Children's Hospital~ Boston Protocol f) Welfare medical costs rise while welfare budget later not auditable under Mayor Gill~ question about city budget allocations g) Mayor Gill supports Boston Navy Yard and heavy ties to construction industry~ Limbach Co. g) Navy yard vs. Nasa for funds??? h) JFK shot= space budget down, NASA site for Mass. lost i) Boston Edison approves 1,000 acre site for NASA use j) JFK does not include NASA Woburn in NASA bill k) JFK killed l) NASA deal falls through m) later , agent John Connelly of FBI becomes head of security for Boston Edison n) John Connelly becomes handler for Whitey Bulger o) whitey bulger becomes new head of organized crime for Boston area
