Abstract Lawrence F. O’Brien (LOB) had a long and illustrious career in national politics before being named Commissioner of the National Basketball Association in 1975. Born in Springfield, Mass. in 1917, he received a law degree from Northeastern University in 1942 and served in the Army during World War II. He ran the campaigns of Democratic Party nominees for U.S. president in 1960, 1964, 1968, and 1972 and was twice Chairman of the Democratic Party. Under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, LOB was...