[1] O'Connor received support from Democrats who were opposed to Furcolo's effort to enact a state sales tax.

[2] In a show of unity, Furcolo was nominated at the convention by Massachusetts Senate President and political foe John E. Powers.

[3] In the primary, O'Connor upset Furcolo 48% to 39% with Southern Middlesex County Register of Deeds Edmund C. Buckley received the remaining 13%.

[4] During the general election, O'Connor contrasted his youth to Saltonstall's age, calling him "yesterday's senator" and "The Late George Apley of Massachusetts politics".

[7] O'Connor also attacked the senator for "fail[ing] to act for the working man" and for helping "big business brigands" destroy the state's textile industry.