[3] In 1927 he defeated incumbent Thomas C. O'Brien to become District Attorney of Suffolk County.

He finished a close third behind Frederick W. Mansfield and Malcolm Nichols.

[4] He ran again in 1937 and finished fourth behind Maurice J. Tobin, James Michael Curley, and Nichols.

He was survived by his wife and two children, one of whom, William J. Foley Jr., was an assistant district attorney and a Boston City Councilor.

[1] Foley's first assistant, Garrett H. Byrne, was chosen by Governor Paul A. Dever, to succeed him despite pressure to give the job to the younger Foley or another well known political figure.