Cavanagh, Robert, 2006 February 27

Robert Cavanagh was born and raised in Framingham, Massachusetts. He attended Yale College, then Yale Law School, graduating in 1959. Although he considered work in New York, Cavanagh accepted a job at Wiggin and Dana, a New Haven firm, after receiving his degree. Cavanagh's arrival coincided with the era of redevelopment in New Haven, spear-headed by Mayor Richard Lee and administrator Edward Logue. Cavanagh denies that redevelopment played much of a role in his decision to practice in New Haven, but brokering deals between the city and landowners formed much of his work. Cavanagh recognizes that the redevelopment effort failed in a number of important ways, but refuses to condemn Lee and Logue for their efforts. They were, he says, trying to do a good thing for the city of New Haven. Cavanagh also talks about his years practicing law, some of his favoite cases, and the relative advantages and disadvantages of a law career in a smaller city such as New Haven.

Interviewer: Ruben, Gregory