Joseph V. McKee
Encyclopedia
Joseph V. McKee, Sr. was originally a teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School
in the Bronx, New York, but later became a politically active Democrat
and briefly served as the Mayor of New York City
.
man for the 7th Assembly District (Bronx County) from 1918 to 1923, and was a Municipal Judge
from 1924 to 1926. In 1926, he was tapped to serve as President of the New York City Board of Aldermen
with James J. Walker as Mayor.
McKee was appointed Acting Mayor of New York City
after the resignation of Mayor Walker on September 1, 1932. Walker, who resigned amid scandal and the threat of a criminal indictment, subsequently fled to Europe
until the danger of prosecution appeared remote. McKee, who was sometimes mockingly referred to as "Holy Joe", running as a write-in candidate, lost a special election to John P. O'Brien
in November 1932 to fill out the rest of Walker's unexpired term as Mayor. His three month term as Acting Mayor of New York City ended on December 31, 1932.
In November 1933, McKee ran for Mayor as the Recovery Party candidate against Democratic Mayor John P. O'Brien
and Republican-City Fusion Party candidate Fiorello H. La Guardia, but lost to La Guardia. He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
from New York
in 1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944.
McKee died in 1956, aged 66, due to a heart attack. He was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery
in Hawthorne, New York
.
DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the Bronx, New York City, New York.-History:Clinton opened in 1897 at 60 West 13th Street at the northern end of Greenwich Village under the name of Boys High School, although this Boys High School was not related to the one in Brooklyn...
in the Bronx, New York, but later became a politically active Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and briefly served as the Mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
.
Biography
McKee married Cornelia Kraft on November 27, 1918. He served as a New York State AssemblyNew York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
man for the 7th Assembly District (Bronx County) from 1918 to 1923, and was a Municipal Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
from 1924 to 1926. In 1926, he was tapped to serve as President of the New York City Board of Aldermen
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
with James J. Walker as Mayor.
McKee was appointed Acting Mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
after the resignation of Mayor Walker on September 1, 1932. Walker, who resigned amid scandal and the threat of a criminal indictment, subsequently fled to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
until the danger of prosecution appeared remote. McKee, who was sometimes mockingly referred to as "Holy Joe", running as a write-in candidate, lost a special election to John P. O'Brien
John P. O'Brien
John Patrick O'Brien was an Irish-American politician who served as the Mayor of New York City from January 1 to December 31, 1933.-Biography:He was born on February 1, 1873 to Mary and Patrick O'Brien....
in November 1932 to fill out the rest of Walker's unexpired term as Mayor. His three month term as Acting Mayor of New York City ended on December 31, 1932.
In November 1933, McKee ran for Mayor as the Recovery Party candidate against Democratic Mayor John P. O'Brien
John P. O'Brien
John Patrick O'Brien was an Irish-American politician who served as the Mayor of New York City from January 1 to December 31, 1933.-Biography:He was born on February 1, 1873 to Mary and Patrick O'Brien....
and Republican-City Fusion Party candidate Fiorello H. La Guardia, but lost to La Guardia. He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944.
McKee died in 1956, aged 66, due to a heart attack. He was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Gate of Heaven Cemetery
The Gate of Heaven Cemetery, approximately 25 miles north of New York City, was established in 1917 at 10 West Stevens Ave. in Hawthorne, Westchester County, New York, United States, as a Roman Catholic burial site...
in Hawthorne, New York
Hawthorne, New York
Hawthorne is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place located in the town of Mount Pleasant in Westchester County, New York. The population was 4,586 at the 2010 census.-History:...
.