[7] At that time, Rea was a conservative activist "...serving as national vice chairman of Young Americans for Freedom and opposing Richard Nixon’s re-election as president in 1972 on the grounds that he was too liberal.

[1] Rea spent four years trying to clear the name of Joe Salvati, a man who was wrongfully convicted of murder.

[10] For his work on the case, "the Massachusetts Bar Association honored Rea with the First Annual Excellence in Journalism Award.

The Massachusetts Criminal Defense Lawyers Association for his efforts in the Salvati case also honored Rea.

"[11] In June 1988 Rea was presented with Boston University Law School's "Silver Shingle" award for outstanding public service.