Background
Walker, Frank Comerford was born on May 30, 1886 in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of David and Ellen (Comerford) Walker.
Walker, Frank Comerford was born on May 30, 1886 in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of David and Ellen (Comerford) Walker.
Student Gonzaga University, 1903-1906, Doctor of Laws, 1937. Bachelor of Laws, University Notre Dame, 1909, Doctor of Laws, 1934. Doctor of Laws, Montana School of Mines (Butte), 1934, Georgetown University, 1942, Manhattan College, 1943.
Doctor of Letters, Saint Francis College (Loretto, Pennsylvania) 1944.
He served as the United States Postmaster General between 1940 and 1945. He also served as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1943 until 1944. In 1913, he was elected to a term as a Montana state representative.
During World War I, Walker volunteered for the United States. Army.
He became a first lieutenant and saw action on the Western Front. After the war, he returned to his law practice.
In 1925, he moved to New York City, where he become manager and general counsel of Comerford Theatres, a chain of movie theaters owned by his relative Michael Comerford. In New York, Walker expanded his political activities, and became an early supporter of Franklin Doctorate. Roosevelt.
In 1931, he co-founded the Roosevelt for President Society.
In 1932, he became Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Until Roosevelt"s death, Walker was one of his closest advisers. When Roosevelt became President in 1933, he appointed Walker executive secretary of the National Emergency Council, a New Deal agency related to the National Rifle Association. In 1940, Walker became Postmaster General (succeeding James Farley, who had also been DNC Chairman and Roosevelt"s campaign manager).
As Postmaster General, Walker continued his role as political adviser, often taking part in matters far removed from the Post Office.
Foreign instance, during the negotiations which preceded the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, he was in regular contact with Japanese Ambassador Nomura. In 1943, Walker also became Chairman of the DNC, serving until 1944.
In 1944, he stepped down from the DNC, and was succeeded by Robert Hannegan. In May 1945, Walker announced his retirement as Postmaster General, to allow President Harry Truman to appoint his own candidate to the office.
Truman selected Hannegan to succeed Walker in this office too, effective 1 July.
He died in New York City, New York on September 13, 1959, at the age of 73.
Member Democratic National Committee (treasurer 1932, chairman 1943-1944). Served as First lieutenant, United States Army, 1918, American Expeditionary Force. Member of the board of lay trustees, U. Notre Dame.
Member American, Montana State and New York state bar associations Appointed alternat representative United States to 1st part of 1st session, General Assembly, United Nations, London, January 1946.
Married Hallie Boucher, November 11, 1914. Children: Thomas Joseph, Laura Hallie (Mistress James South. Jenkins).