Tip O'Neill (Space Race Didn't End)

55th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office January 4, 1977 – January 3, 1987
President	Edward Brooke Jimmy Carter George Bush
Preceded by	Carl Albert
Succeeded by	Jim Wright
House Majority Leader
In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1977
Deputy	John J. McFall
Preceded by	Hale Boggs
Succeeded by	Jim Wright
House Majority Whip
In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1973
Leader	Hale Boggs
Preceded by	Hale Boggs
Succeeded by	John J. McFall
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives From Massachusetts's 8th district
In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1987
Preceded by	Torbert Macdonald
Succeeded by	Joseph P. Kennedy
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 11th district
In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1963
Preceded by	John F. Kennedy
Succeeded by	James A. Burke
Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office 1949–1953
Preceded by	Frederick Willis
Succeeded by	Charles Gibbons
Minority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office 1947–1949
Preceded by	John E. Flaherty
Succeeded by	Charles Gibbons
Personal details
Born	Thomas Phillip O'Neill (1912-12-09)December 9, 1912 Cambridge, Massachusetts
Died	January 5, 1994(1994-01-05) (aged 81) Boston, Massachusetts
Nationality	American, Irish
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mildred Anne Miller
Children	Thomas                      Christopher                          Susan                             Rosemary
Alma mater	Boston College
Religion	Roman Catholic

Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. (December 9, 1912 – January 5, 1994) was an American politician and Speaker of the United States House of Representative. O'Neill was an outspoken liberal Democrate and influential member of the House of Representatives, serving for 34 years and representing two congressional districts in Massachusetts. He served as Speaker of the House from 1977 until his retirement in 1981.

He was a strong supporter of the space program and worked closely with President Carter on moving funding for advance nuclear rockets and research into a possible mars colony.