Thomas J. Walsh

This article is about the American politician. For the Canadian politician, see Thomas J. Walsh (Alberta politician).

Thomas James Walsh
United States Senator from Montana
In office March 4, 1913 – March 2, 1933
Preceded by	Joseph M. Dixon
Succeeded by	John E. Erickson
Personal details
Born	June 12, 1859(1859-06-12) Two Rivers, Wisconsin
Died	March 2, 1933(1933-03-02) (aged 73) near Wilson, North Carolina
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Law

Thomas James Walsh (June 12, 1859 – March 2, 1933) was a schoolteacher, lawyer, and Democratic Party politician from Helena, Montana who represented Montana in the United States Senate from 1913 to 1933.

Background

An Irish Catholic, Walsh was born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, where his father was an active Democrat and a member of the school board. He spent some time teaching in the public schools of that region before becoming a lawyer. Moving to Helena, Montana in 1890 Walsh worked on injury cases involving railroad accidents and on copper litigation.

Career

Walsh became a leader in Democratic Party politics in Helena, Montana. He was defeated in the 1906 election for Congress. He served in the United States Senate from 1913 until his death. Walsh gained fame for his legal ability in the Judiciary Committee and on the floor. He emerged as a spokesman for President Woodrow Wilson in the Senate and supported the graduated income tax, farm loans, and women's suffrage. He managed President Wilson's western campaign against Charles Evans Hughes, which resulted in Wilson's very narrow reelection victory. Walsh, unlike many Irish Catholics, supported Wilson's foreign policy. He voted for war against Germany in 1917 and in 1919 supported Wilson's peace plans, including the League of Nations.

In the 1920s, Walsh took the lead in exposing the Teapot Dome Scandal that involved top officials of the administration of President Warren G. Harding. He was chairman of the Democratic National Convention in New York in 1924, and of Chicago in 1932. Walsh opposed child labor, and supported women's suffrage and Prohibition.

Walsh was nominated for the post of Attorney General by incoming President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, but died while traveling to Washington for Roosevelt's inauguration.

Further reading

• J. Leonard Bates. "Walsh, Thomas James"; American National Biography Online Feb. 2000
• J. Leonard Bates, ed. Tom Walsh in Dakota Territory: Personal Correspondence of Senator Thomas J. Walsh and Elinor C. McClements (1966).

External links

• Thomas J. Walsh at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Review of Biography
• Thomas J. Walsh at Find a Grave