As the Trial of Crime Boss James J. “Whitey” Bulger Continues in Boston, a Chat with His Biographer

Two years ago, in the summer of 2011, "Whitey" Bulger was arrested. Today, his criminal trial continues, not far from the South Boston neighborhood where he robbed banks as a young punk and then rose through the ranks to become the infamous gangster known and feared by so many; it now seems that Bulger, in his 80s and surely one of the most powerful and deadly crime bosses in American history, has finally seen his terrible past catch up with him. Our guest on this edition of ST is Dick Lehr, a professor of journalism at Boston University, a former reporter at The Boston Globe, and a certified Bulger expert. Lehr is also the co-author of "Whitey: The Life of America's Most Notorious Mob Boss," which the Boston-based crime novelist Dennis Lehane has called "the definitive word on the whole sordid saga of the Bulger mob. Expertly crafted, beautifully told." Lehr --- who speaks with us at length about Bulger's far-flung, murderous career in organized crime, including his highly corrupt and long-running associations with the FBI --- will be signing copies of his new book, and reading from it, tonight (Tuesday the 23rd) at 7pm at the Tulsa County Bar Association. This event is free to the public, and is sponsored by Book Smart Tulsa.