William O'Dwyer
| The Honorable William O'Dwyer |
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|---|---|
 |
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| 100th Mayor of New York City[1] | |
| In office January 1, 1946 – August 31, 1950 |
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| Preceded by | Fiorello H. La Guardia |
| Succeeded by | Vincent R. Impellitteri |
| United States Ambassador to Mexico | |
| In office November 23, 1950 – December 6, 1952 |
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| Appointed by | Harry Truman |
| Preceded by | Walter C. Thurston |
| Succeeded by | Francis White |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 11, 1890 Bohola, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Fordham University Law School |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
William O'Dwyer (July 11, 1890 – November 24, 1964) was the 100th Mayor of New York City, holding that office from 1946 to 1950.
Life and career
O'Dwyer was born in Bohola, County Mayo, Ireland and studied at St. Nathys College, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon. He emigrated to the United States in 1910, after abandoning studies for the priesthood. He worked as a laborer, then as a New York City police officer, while studying law at night at Fordham University Law School. He received his degree in 1923 and then built up a successful practice before serving as a Kings County (Brooklyn) Court judge. He won election as the Kings County District Attorney in 1939 and his prosecution of the organized crime syndicate known as Murder, Inc. made him a national celebrity.
After losing the mayoral election to Fiorello La Guardia in 1941, O'Dwyer joined the United States Army for World War II, achieving the rank of brigadier general as a member of the Allied Commission for Italy and executive director of the War Refugee Board, for which he received the Legion of Merit.[2]
In 1945, O'Dwyer received the support of Tammany Hall Leader Edward V. Loughlin, won the Democratic nomination, and then easily won the mayoral election. At his inauguration, O'Dwyer celebrated to the song, "It's a Great Day for the Irish," and addressed the 700 people gathered in Council Chambers at City Hall: "It is our high purpose to devote our whole time, our whole energy to do good work..." He established the Office of City Construction Coordinator, appointing Park Commissioner Robert Moses to the post, worked to have the permanent home of the United Nations located in Manhattan, presided over the first billion-dollar New York City budget, created a traffic department and raised the subway fare from five cents to ten cents. In 1948, O'Dwyer received The Hundred Year Association of New York's Gold Medal Award "in recognition of outstanding contributions to the City of New York."
Shortly after his re-election to the mayoralty in 1949, O'Dwyer was confronted with a police corruption scandal uncovered by the Kings County District Attorney, Miles McDonald. O'Dwyer resigned from office on August 31, 1950. Upon his resignation, he was given a ticker tape parade up Broadway's Canyon of Heroes in the borough of Manhattan. President Harry Truman appointed him U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. He returned to New York City in 1951 to answer questions concerning his association with organized crime figures and the accusations followed him for the rest of his life. He resigned as Ambassador on December 6, 1952, but remained in Mexico until 1960.[3]
He visited Israel for 34 days in 1951 on behalf of his Jewish constituents.[4] He helped organize the first Israel Day Parade,[5] along with New York's Jewish community.
Other
His youngest sibling, his brother Paul (1907-1998), was also a New York politician, serving as the then-city-wide elected position of City Council President (1974–77).
Death
William O'Dwyer died in New York City on November 24, 1964, in Beth Israel Hospital, aged 74, from heart failure[6][7] and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
See also
References
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| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic Nominee for Mayor of New York City 1941 |
Succeeded by William O'Dwyer |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Mayor of New York City 1946—1950 |
Succeeded by Vincent R. Impellitteri |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Mexico 1950—1952 |
Succeeded by Francis White |
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- ↑ "The Green Book: Mayors of the City of New York" on the official NYC website
- ↑ Ralph J. Caliendo, New York City Mayors: Part II: the Mayors of Greater New York From 1898, 2010, page 90
- ↑ City of New York, William O'Dwyer, 100th Mayor, 1946—1950 (1890 - 1964), retrieved November 23, 2013
- ↑ Life Magazine, November 12, 1951
- ↑ Jewish Telegraphic Agency, "150,000 Cheer Jewish State at New York Celebration of Israeli Independence Day", republished on Jewish News Archive, original story May 5, 1949
- ↑ The remarkable History of the O'Dwyer Family
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Pages with reference errors
- Age error
- 1890 births
- 1964 deaths
- Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
- County district attorneys in New York
- Irish diaspora politicians
- Mayors of New York City
- Ambassadors of the United States to Mexico
- New York lawyers
- People from County Mayo
- United States Army generals
- Irish emigrants to the United States (before 1923)
- American military personnel of World War II
- Disease-related deaths in New York
- New York Democrats
