James J. Walker (1881- 1946)

A New York politician whose name is synonymous with the Jazz Age. Born to Irish parents he soon entered politics for the Democrats and got elected Mayor of New York City in 1926. Jimmy Walker, as he was known, held the office for 6 years: he used to spend as much time at night clubs, boxing matches and horse races as at his office but also supported the progressive ideas; after a prosperous time for New York City More and the States - the Roaring Twenties - a scandal and the Wall Street crash brought him down.