William Michael Bulger (born February 2, 1934) is a retired American Democratic politician, lawyer, and educator from South Boston, Massachusetts.
His eighteen-year tenure as President of the Massachusetts Senate is the longest in history.
He then became president of the University of Massachusetts.
His brother was convicted mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, who led the Winter Hill Gang.
In 2003 he refused to testify in a congressional hearing about communications he had with his then-fugitive brother.
For that he was forced to resign from the presidency of the University of Massachusetts.
Bulger was a political ally of Massachusetts Senator and United States Secretary of State (2013 – 2017) John Kerry, with their long overlap by state and by party.