His father, a linesman for the Metropolitan Transit Authority, was killed in 1929 and Droney worked two jobs to support his mother and sisters.

At the behest of United States Senator John F. Kennedy, Governor Foster Furcolo appointed Droney as O'Dea's interim replacement.

[9] After amyotrophic lateral sclerosis resulted in Droney needing to use a wheelchair and made it difficult for him to speak, Kerry served as his chief spokesman and surrogate.

[10] Droney's health was the main issue during the 1978 election, which saw him challenged by assistant attorney general Scott Harshbarger and former Metropolitan District Commissioner Guy Carbone in what was seen as his toughest re-election fight.

Subsequent investigation by former Metropolitan District Commission detective Stephen C. Delaney found that Boston Strangler Albert DeSalvo had been working 1.2 miles from the Goldberg home on the day of the murder.

Droney based his decision off information from George W. Harrison, an inmate who claimed to overhear another convict coaching Albert DeSalvo about details of the Boston Strangler murders.

[23] On January 6, 1982, Droney's office coordinated a 200-trooper raid of the Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Framingham in order to break up an alleged drug trafficking and gambling operation in the prison.

[24] The DA's office alleged that Con'Puter Systems Programming, a data processing business run by a group of prisoners was operating as a front for drug trafficking and gambling.

[25] On February 19, 1982 Susan Edith Saxe and four inmates were indicted for income tax violations related to the alleged criminal enterprise.

He ran on a law and order platform, attacking incumbent senator Edward Brooke for opposing Richard Nixon's conservative nominees to the United States Supreme Court.

[30] Droney was the candidate of the party regulars and had the support of state attorney general Robert H. Quinn, Boston Mayor Kevin White and legislative leadership.

Norfolk County district attorney George Burke dropped out of the race and backed Droney, but Boston City Councilor Gerald O'Leary and Hampden County Register of Deeds John Pierce Lynch chose to stay in the race and face Droney in the Democratic primary.

[36] He faced three 3 challengers – 1978 opponent Scott Harshbarger, Middlesex County register of probate Paul J. Cavanaugh, and former assistant DA Edward Gargiulo – for the Democratic nomination.