He was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Boston and later in Clinton, Ma.

From 1921 through 1940, he served as the secretary, campaign manager, and personal representative at intervals for Senator David I. Walsh and from 1934 though 1936, served as special counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Education and Labor.

He was a referee in the United States Department of Labor in 1936 and 1937, a member of the advisory board of the Massachusetts Unemployment Compensation Commission between 1937 and 1940, and in 1935 became chairman of the town of Clinton Finance Committee.

In his reelection campaign of 1970, he was unsuccessful in his primary, losing to the anti-war candidate, Father Robert Drinan, SJ.

At the very end of the 91st United States Congress, he served as chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, due to the death of L. Mendel Rivers on December 28, 1970.