Charles Haughey: Encyclopedia II - Charles Haughey

Haughey has become one of the most controversial of all Irish politicians. He started his political career as a councillor before an embarrassing defeat in a by-election to the national parliament. Undaunted he tried again and again and on the fourth attempt, in the 1957 General Election he was elected to Dáil Éireann for the first time as a Fianna Fáil TD. Haughey was offered his first government position, that of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice, in 1960 by his father-in-law and Taoiseach, Seán Lemass. As his father-in-law he told him not to accept the offer, however as Taoiseach he fully encouraged him. Haughey accepted, ultimately replacing Oscar Traynor as Minister for Justice later in 1961.

Haughey came to epitomise the new style of politician - the "men in the mohair suits". He regularly socialised with other pioneering Cabinet colleagues such as Donagh O'Malley and Brian Lenihan. Haughey excelled in his post as Minister for Justice, initiating a scale of legislative reform that was unparallelled, before or since. He introduced important new legislation such as the Succession Act, which protected the inheritance rights of wives, and the Extradition Act. Haughey also reactivated the Special Criminal Court and helped to defeat the Irish Republican Army's Border Campaign.

His next portfolio, that of Irish Minister for Agriculture proved to be more difficult and less successful. He became embroiled in a series of controversies with the powerful farmers association, however, he still received much publicity and was still a very active minister. In 1966 Haughey served as President Eamon de Valera's director of elections in the 1966 Presidential Election. He successfully convinced the national broadcaster, Radio Telefís Éireann, not to cover the campaign of the rival candidate, Fine Gael's Tom O'Higgins, on the basis that as the then 83-year old Eamon de Valera wasn't campaigning personally, to cover O'Higgins would be unfair. This was a masterstroke on Haughey's behalf because de Valera received a very high public profile as President of Ireland, and as the last survivor of the senior leaders of the Easter Rising during the 50th Anniversary commemoration in 1966. However his campaign went badly wrong, with de Valera only scraping re-election by ten thousand votes out of a total of nearly one million. De Valera developed a negative view of Haughey, whom he distrusted and whom he told another minister some years later would destroy Fianna Fáil.

In 1966 the Taoiseach, Seán F. Lemass, retired as such and as leader of Fianna Fáil. Haughey immediately threw his hat into the ring in a bid to succeed his father-in-law in the upcoming leadership election. George Colley and Neil Blaney did likewise. In spite of these very able candidates the party in general wasn't satisfied with the choice they were being offered. Some party elders, including Lemass himself, encouraged his Irish Minister for Finance, Jack Lynch, to contest the party leadership. Lemass also encouraged Haughey and Blaney to withdraw in favour of Lynch, however Colley remained in the race. He was easily defeated by Lynch and a Cabinet reshuffle took place. Haughey was bitter about withdrawing from the leadership contest, however he was appointed Minister for Finance, the second most important position in the government. With his accountancy background, his interest in economic affairs and his driving vision the job suited him ideally. Again, Haughey showed a radical, reforming streak. Small scale initiatives caught the public imagination. He presided over an economic boom which saw him increase public spending in his four budgets (1967-69) and introduce free travel on CIE transport for pensioners, subsidise electricity for old age pensioners, special tax concessions for the disabled and tax exemptions for artists.