Neal began his political career as co-chairman of Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern 's 1972 election campaign in Western Massachusetts . In 1973 he became an assistant to Springfield Mayor William C. Sullivan . Neal was elected to the Springfield City Council in 1978 and was named President of the City Council in 1979 . The following year he was named as a delegate for presidential candidate Edward M. Kennedy at the 1980 Democratic National Convention . While a city councilor , Neal taught history at Cathedral High School , and gave lectures at Springfield College , American International College , Springfield Technical Community College and Western New England College
1980 Democratic National Convention
1980 Democratic National Convention
Richard Neal