[3] During World War II, Needham was a United States Army artillery officer in the Pacific theater and was awarded the Bronze Star.
He resumed his studies after the War and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1949.
[1][2] During the 1950s, he left the firm to serve as an assistant United States Attorney.
He was responsible for prosecuting tax evasion, fraud, and bank robbery cases.
[6] From 1984 to 1992, Needham represented the Middlesex and Suffolk district on the state Republican committee.