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Senior Symposia programming is developed by our board of senior advisors, but is open to participants of all ages. We regret that we can not accept cash or check payment at the door at Senior Symposia events. Unless otherwise indicated, all workshops take place from 2-4 p.m..
What people are saying about Senior Sym...
"Thoughtful, articulate speaker with convincing data."— What Just Happened & Why: The 2024 Presidential ElectionSaints, Scoundrels & Statesmen: Tales of the Massachusetts Legislature
Price range: $0.00 through $10.00
For nearly four centuries, the Massachusetts General Court has stood at the center of the Commonwealth’s political life, shaping not only the laws of Massachusetts but often influencing the nation itself. Saints, Scoundrels, and Statesmen traces this remarkable journey from the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1629 through today’s Legislature.
Drawing upon his own thirty-eight years of service in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate, former Senator Richard T. Moore combines historical scholarship with personal experience to tell the story of the Commonwealth’s oldest continuously functioning legislative body in the Western Hemisphere.
The presentation explores the evolution of representative government, the enduring principles embodied in the Massachusetts Constitution, and the personalities who have left their mark on the General Court—from colonial leaders such as John Winthrop and Samuel Adams to modern legislative giants including Tip O’Neill, Kevin B. Harrington, and Thomas M. Finneran.
Beyond constitutional milestones and legislative accomplishments, the presentation highlights the human side of politics through memorable stories of colorful characters, spirited debates, moments of humor, political rivalries, and acts of statesmanship that have defined life beneath the Golden Dome. It examines how the Legislature has responded to wars, economic crises, public health emergencies, civil rights movements, and changing public expectations while preserving the traditions of representative democracy.
Presented By...
Richard T. Moore is a former Democratic member of the Massachusetts State Senate, representing the Worcester and Norfolk district from 1996 to 2015.
He has devoted more than four decades to public service at the local, state, and national levels, building a distinguished record of leadership in health policy, emergency management, and advocacy for vulnerable populations.
Mr. Moore began his public career in 1970 as a Selectman and member of the Hopedale Board of Health, grounding his work in community-based service. In 1975-1976, he was elected President of the Massachusetts Selectmen’s Association (now a division of the Massachusetts Municipal Association) where he championed the formation of the Local Government Advisory Commission. In 1976, he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 8th Worcester District, where he served until 1994 (chairing the committees on State Administration, Taxation, and Election Laws). That year, he was appointed by President Bill Clinton, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, to serve as Associate Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, leading the effort to forge a National Mitigation Strategy, to reduce loss of lives and property from natural disasters.
Returning to Massachusetts, Mr. Moore was elected to the State Senate in 1996, where he served until 2015. Over nearly two decades in the Senate, he became a central figure in health care policy. He served as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care (1999–2004) and the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing (2005–2013), and later as President Pro Tempore of the Senate (2013–2015).
Widely regarded as the Senate’s leading voice on health care, Mr. Moore played a pivotal role in shaping landmark legislation. He served as lead Senate negotiator on the 2004 Massachusetts Workplace Smoking Ban, the 2006 Massachusetts Health Reform Law—an influential model for national reform—and the 2012 Massachusetts Cost Containment Law, advancing efforts to expand access, improve quality, and control costs. Among other legislative accomplishments, Mr. Moore is credited with leading the creation of the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety, and the reorganization of the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA).
His leadership extended beyond Massachusetts. Mr. Moore served as President of the National Conference of State Legislatures from 2010 to 2011, representing state legislative interests nationwide. In that role, he continued leadership in health reform, civic education, and homeland security.
