William N. McNair
William N. McNair | |
---|---|
Mayor of Pittsburgh | |
In office 1934–1936 | |
Preceded by | John S. Herron |
Succeeded by | Cornelius D. Scully |
Personal details | |
Born | November 7, 1880 |
Died | September 13, 1948 | (aged 67)
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater | University of Michigan Law School |
William N. McNair (November 7, 1880 – September 13, 1948), served as the 49th
Early life
Originally from
losing successive elections before finally winning office.Pittsburgh politics
At the city's highest office in 1934, it was soon apparent though why McNair had never won a public office before. McNair almost from the beginning had a confrontational relationship with City Council. At first much of his antics were viewed as the actions of a man that cared about the "little guy"; soon though much of his actions just ground the city's ability to govern to a halt in heated, endless and dramatic debate over the most nuanced issues.[citation needed] During his fractious leadership McNair even set up his office in the ornate lobby of the City-County Building to display his "independence" from council and the city bureaucracy.[2]
He continued to be a lightning rod during his administration, being arrested at one point for refusing to return what a judge found to be an unlawful fine he had assessed a citizen. On November 27, 1935 Governor
The most fateful event for his political career took the city by force on
He resigned on a whim on October 6, 1936,
Later life
McNair became a sort of political sideshow after he left office, continuing to run for offices unsuccessfully and giving political speeches and rallies for various causes. He died in
![A grey stone headstone marked McNair, William Nissey 1880-1948 Husband.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/McNair_Grave.jpg/220px-McNair_Grave.jpg)
References
- ^ "McNair Candidate for Governorship". The Star and Sentinel. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. February 24, 1934. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
William N. McNair, formerly of Middletown, Dauphin county...
- ^ a b c Murphy, Michael (January 2, 2014). "The Mayors of Pittsburgh". Brookline Connection. Clint Burton. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ "Graduate in Race for Mayoralty Post". Gettysburg Times. November 8, 1933. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
McNair was graduated from Gettysburg college in the class of 1900.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Loses All Cash Relief; Governor Earle Halts Such Aid After McNair Refuses to Help WPA Work Program". New York Times. November 29, 1935. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ^ "Mayor M'Nair fails to get radio gong", The New York Times. April 20, 1936. Page 4.
- ^ Barcousky, Len (April 18, 2010). "Eyewitness 1936: Unprecedented -- a Pittsburgh mayor resigns without being indicted!". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
External links
- "McNair 'Fires' Playboy, Asks Prayers for Him". The Pittsburgh Press. January 11, 1934. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- "Attack Story Holds Florig, Police Judge; McNair Plays Role of Attorney as Pair Face Squire". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 16, 1936. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- Post-Gazette article
- Reading Eagle article
- Works by or about William N. McNair at Internet Archive