The Cool Moose

Robert J. Healey, Jr—Beyond the Beard

De: Lawrence Verria

Narrado por: Britney Verria

The Cool Moose: Robert J. Healey, Jr.—Beyond the Beard chronicles Robert Healey’s life, focusing on his humorous, sometimes disruptive, and often misunderstood third party candidacies. Over a 30-year span, with the possible exception of Mayor Vincent Cianci, no political figure garnered more consistent attention throughout Rhode Island (and beyond) than Robert J. Healey, Jr., widely known as “The Cool Moose.”

From 1982 to 2016, Healey’s unconventional appearance, head-turning campaigns, and candid informative commentary drew inquiring looks, incited spontaneous laughter, and ultimately caused political and personal reflection. Though he lost almost every political contest he entered, he drew wide attention and conveyed a core message that resonated with parties across the political spectrum. Robert Healey made people think, and challenged them to act.

Author Lawrence W. Verria traces Robert Healey’s ascendance to the forefront of Rhode Island politics. From his earliest days as an elementary school-yard loner to his years as a celebrated statewide individualist, the work revisits Healey’s shock value antics, deep reasoning, and life’s purpose. The manuscript offers an in-depth account of his entertaining campaigns, but ultimately focuses on his private struggles, professional record, and political reckoning. The product of extensive research, the work reveals the essence of this complex, controversial, and compelling political third-party candidate.

©2022 Lawrence Verria (P)2023 Lawrence Verria

Great story, well presented, about a great man!

Verria presents Bob Healy in a way that makes him approachable and real. Healy was a person who was larger than life, passionate about the truth, and generous in spirit. Verria captures all that and accurately depicts him in RI’s social structure and politics. Reading the book was like being home in RI again. I equally enjoyed Verria’s daughter’s reading of the Cool Moose. I enjoyed every word of it.

Interesting read about an interesting man

The author conveys a complex man and his various sides while remaining objective and avoiding too much speculation. Many of the ideas drawn together here help reflect on the larger story of Rhode Island government and how many problems and solutions played out because of and in-spite of Robert Healey. definitely worth a listen if you have any interest in this local legend