Jimmy Walker
James John Walker was born on the 19th of June 1881 in New York City. His father William H. Walker owned a lumberyard and served as a Democratic assemblyman from Greenwich Village. Jimmy did not excel in school but graduated from New York Law School in 1904. He chose to write songs instead of practicing law immediately. In 1906 he wrote lyrics for the hit song Will You Love Me in December as You Do in May with Ernest Ball. This musical career preceded his entry into politics by three years. He entered the political arena in 1909 after passing the bar exam in 1912. Walker served in the New York State Assembly from 1910 through 1914. He then moved to the State Senate where he sat from 1915 until 1925. During this time he held various leadership roles including Minority Leader from 1920 to 1922. He also served as Temporary President of the State Senate from 1923 to 1924.
Walker became mayor of New York City in 1926 after defeating John Francis Hylan in the primary election. His administration focused on public works projects during its first year. He created the Department of Sanitation and unified the city's public hospitals. The Board of Transportation contracted for an expanded subway system known as the Independent Subway System or IND. New highways and a dock for superliners were built under his watch. He maintained the five-cent subway fare despite worker strikes threatening disruption. Prohibition defined much of his tenure as mayor. Walker strongly opposed the Eighteenth Amendment throughout his career. He replaced the police commissioner with an inexperienced former state banking commissioner. This new official dissolved the Special Service Squad immediately. Walker discouraged police from enforcing Prohibition law unless violations were excessive. Speakeasies proliferated across the city while he tolerated their existence openly. His personal life included affairs with chorus girls that were widely known. He left his wife Janet for showgirl Betty Compton during this period.
Social unrest led to investigations into corruption within Walker's administration in the early 1930s. Judge Samuel Seabure headed the investigative committee known as the Seabury Commission. Walker caused his own downfall by accepting large sums of money from businessmen seeking municipal contracts. One surprise witness named Vivian Gordon testified before the investigators. She claimed women were falsely arrested and accused of prostitution by the New York City Police Department. Police officers received more money in their paychecks according to her testimony. Gordon was found strangled in a park in the Bronx shortly after her appearance. The incident demonstrated how corruption could lead to terrible consequences for witnesses. Walker eluded questions about his personal bank accounts during the hearings. He stated that amounts he received were beneficences rather than bribes. The investigation exposed bribery schemes that forced him to resign on the 1st of September 1932. This resignation marked the end of his political career in public office.
Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt knew he had to act against Walker and his administration. The state constitution allowed an elected mayor to be removed from office legally. Roosevelt felt compelled to remove Walker but risked losing Tammany Hall support for his presidential nomination. If Roosevelt did nothing national newspapers would consider him weak politically. Facing pressure from Roosevelt Walker delayed any personal appearances until after the governor's nomination was secured. Months from his national election Roosevelt decided that he must remove Walker from office. Walker agreed and resigned on the 1st of September 1932. His image was further solidified by quotes like A reformer is a guy who rides through a sewer in a glass-bottomed boat. Cardinal Archbishop Patrick Joseph Hayes denounced him implying immorality caused the economic downturn. It was one cause that led to Tammany Hall pulling its support for Walker. The relationship between Roosevelt and Walker ended with the mayor's departure from power.
Walker went on a grand tour of Europe with Betty Compton aboard the SS Conte Grande. He announced on the 12th of November 1932 that he had no desire or intention of ever holding public office again. He stayed in Europe until the danger of criminal prosecution appeared remote. There he married Compton while in Cannes France. After returning to the United States Walker acted as head of Majestic Records. This label included popular performing artists such as Louis Prima and Bud Freeman. He and Compton adopted two children named Mary Ann Walker and James J. Walker. In 1940 he had his own radio series on WHN called Jimmy Walker Opportunity Hour. Henry Gladstone served as announcer during this broadcast run. Compton began divorce action against Walker in the same year. The divorce became official on the 15th of March 1941. He died on the 18th of November 1946 at the age of 65 of a brain hemorrhage. He was interred in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne New York.
When Walker served in the State Senate he sponsored the Walker Law to legalize boxing in New York. He received honors from the boxing community over many years. Walker is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He was given the Edward J. Neil Trophy in 1945 for service to the sport. A 1985 survey conducted by Melvin G. Holli ranked Walker as the fourth-worst American big-city mayor since 1820. A 1993 edition of the same survey saw Walker similarly ranked as the third-worst. These assessments place him among the worst mayors in American history. His impact on boxing legislation remains a significant part of his legacy despite political failures. He spent summers in Atlantic Beach New York where he was friends with founder William Austin.
A romanticized version of Walker's tenure appeared in the 1957 film Beau James starring Bob Hope. This film presented a somewhat accurate depiction of Walker during his time as mayor. The movie became a symbol of jazz age romanticism. It was based on a biography also titled Beau James written by Gene Fowler. A song by Dean Martin similarly titled Beau James presented an idealized interpretation of his tenure. A book served as the basis for Jimmy a stage musical about Walker. The show had a brief Broadway run from October 1969 to January 1970. Frank Gorshin starred as Walker and Anita Gillette played Betty Compton. There is also a song about Walker in the stage musical Fiorello called Gentleman Jimmy. These cultural works have kept his memory alive decades after his death.
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Common questions
When was Jimmy Walker born and where did he die?
James John Walker was born on the 19th of June 1881 in New York City. He died on the 18th of November 1946 at the age of 65 from a brain hemorrhage.
What years did Jimmy Walker serve as mayor of New York City?
Jimmy Walker served as mayor of New York City from 1926 to 1932. He resigned from office on the 1st of September 1932 following an investigation into corruption by the Seabury Commission.
Why did Jimmy Walker resign from his position as mayor?
Walker resigned because the Seabury Commission exposed bribery schemes within his administration that forced him out of office. He accepted large sums of money from businessmen seeking municipal contracts which led to his downfall.
How is Jimmy Walker remembered regarding boxing legislation?
Jimmy Walker sponsored the Walker Law to legalize boxing in New York while serving in the State Senate. He received honors from the boxing community including induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the Edward J. Neil Trophy in 1945.
Who were the key figures involved in the scandal that ended Jimmy Walker's career?
Judge Samuel Seabure headed the investigative committee known as the Seabury Commission that investigated corruption in Walker's administration. Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt pressured Walker to resign after the state constitution allowed for legal removal from office.