Burke was born in Toledo, Ohio where he attended St. Patrick's grade school and St. John's College.
After his formal education, he served in the United States Navy as a pharmacist's mate from 1923 to 1927 and in the Naval Fleet Reserve from 1927 to 1939.
After leaving Congress, he was a labor and manpower adviser in the National Production Authority in 1951.
He moved to Alexandria, Virginia and worked as a legislative representative for the United Automobile Workers' Union.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress