O'Mahoney, Joseph C. (Joseph Christopher), 1884-1962

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Senator.

From the description of Reminiscences of Joseph Christopher O'Mahoney : oral history, 1958. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 309739372

Lawyer and U.S. senator from Wyoming.

From the description of Correspondence to Maxwell Struthers Burt, 1949-1950. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 122583179

U.S. senator from Wyoming, 1934-1953 and 1954-1961.

From the description of Papers, 1936-1943 (bulk 1940-1943). (Wyoming State Archives). WorldCat record id: 70944023

Joseph C. O'Mahoney (1884-1962) was a United States Senator from Wyoming for 25 years between 1933-1960. He was born in Massachusetts and moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming as city editor of the Cheyenne "State Leader." He became involved with Democratic Party politics, and first went to Washington as secretary to Wyoming Senator John B. Kendrick. He opened a law practice in Cheyenne in 1920, and was Franklin Roosevelt's Western campaign director in 1932. He served as first assistant postmaster general in 1933 and in December 1933 was appointed to fill the Senate vacancy created by the death of Senator Kendrick. He was elected to three full terms before being defeated in the 1952 election. In 1954, he returned to the Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Lester C. Hunt and was reelected in 1954 to another full term.

Senate committees on which O'Mahoney served included Appropriations and its Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Indian Affairs, Interior and Insular Affairs (chair, 1949-1953,) Public Lands, Irrigation and Reclamation, Judiciary, Joint Economic, and Temporary National Economic Committee (chair.) He was a supporter of Western water and mineral development, a New Deal Democrat who split with Franklin Roosevelt over the Supreme Court packing issue, and a foe of monopolies.

From the description of Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, 1866-1963 (bulk 1920-1960) (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 28372411

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Birth 1884-11-05

Death 1962-12-01

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