Paul O'Dwyer
Encyclopedia
Paul O'Dwyer was an American politician and lawyer, brother of Mayor William O'Dwyer
and father to New York City
lawyer Brian O'Dwyer
.
, County Mayo
, Ireland
, and emigrated to Brooklyn
, New York
.
During World War II
he was a staunchly vehement opponent of American involvement in the war and traveled the United States (until Pearl Harbor
) to speak with and rally like-minded pro-neutrality (particularly Irish-American) groups.
As a lawyer — he was a founder of the firm O'Dwyer and Bernstien in Lower Manhattan — he made a reputation for himself as a defender of progressive causes, from striking workers to African Americans struggling for civil rights. Some of his more renowned cases were those involving people accused of Communist activities. Active in the National Lawyers Guild
, he became its president in 1947 and served on its national board from 1948 to 1951.
O'Dwyer also took a passionate interest in his home country and supported both constitutionalist and physical force Irish nationalist initiatives. His influence protected several Irish Republican Army gunmen from deportation, including "The Fort Worth Five" and Vincent Conlon.
In addition, O'Dwyer was an ardent supporter of Zionism
, undertaking missions on behalf of the Irgun
to smuggle arms to Zionist fighters against British colonialism in Palestine. As an attorney, O'Dwyer was also prominent in securing acquittals for a number of Jewish Americans prosecuted for helping to smuggle arms to Jewish fighters for the Zionist cause.
Active in New York City
politics, O'Dwyer ran for political office several times. In 1948, he narrowly lost an election for the U.S. House of Representatives to incumbent Jacob K. Javits
. He gained election to the position of New York City Council
President, which was then one of three city-wide elected positions. He served in that capacity from 1974 to 1977.
In 1968
, running in opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War
, he won the Democratic
primary for U.S. Senator from New York, but lost in the general election to the Republican
incumbent Jacob K. Javits
. In 1970, he ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senator against Ted Sorensen
, Richard Ottinger
and Max McCarthy
, but was defeated by Ottinger.
O'Dwyer was the youngest sibling (of 11), and sometime law partner, of his eldest brother, New York City Mayor William O'Dwyer
, who was 17 years his senior. The O'Dwyers were maternal uncles of Frank Durkan
.
Paul O'Dwyer died several days before his 91st birthday in 1998. His son, Brian O'Dwyer
, is also a noted New York City
lawyer and former national President of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
William O'Dwyer
William O'Dwyer was the 100th Mayor of New York City, holding that office from 1946 to 1950.-Biography:O'Dwyer was born in County Mayo, Ireland and migrated to the United States in 1910, after abandoning studies for the priesthood...
and father to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
lawyer Brian O'Dwyer
Brian O'Dwyer
Brian O'Dwyer is currently an American lobbyist and lawyer, son of Paul O'Dwyer and nephew of Mayor William O'Dwyer. He is married to the former Marianna MacWilliam, Associate Vice Chancellor of the State University of New York...
.
Life
O'Dwyer was born in BoholaBohola
Bohola is a fictional village which is in many irish legend stories Gallen, County Mayo, Ireland located along the N5 national primary road. It consists of 2 pubs, a post office and a Catholic Church. The village is located near Lough Conn.-People:...
, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and emigrated to Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, 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...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was a staunchly vehement opponent of American involvement in the war and traveled the United States (until Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
) to speak with and rally like-minded pro-neutrality (particularly Irish-American) groups.
As a lawyer — he was a founder of the firm O'Dwyer and Bernstien in Lower Manhattan — he made a reputation for himself as a defender of progressive causes, from striking workers to African Americans struggling for civil rights. Some of his more renowned cases were those involving people accused of Communist activities. Active in the National Lawyers Guild
National Lawyers Guild
The National Lawyers Guild is an advocacy group in the United States "dedicated to the need for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system . ....
, he became its president in 1947 and served on its national board from 1948 to 1951.
O'Dwyer also took a passionate interest in his home country and supported both constitutionalist and physical force Irish nationalist initiatives. His influence protected several Irish Republican Army gunmen from deportation, including "The Fort Worth Five" and Vincent Conlon.
In addition, O'Dwyer was an ardent supporter of Zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
, undertaking missions on behalf of the Irgun
Irgun
The Irgun , or Irgun Zevai Leumi to give it its full title , was a Zionist paramilitary group that operated in Mandate Palestine between 1931 and 1948. It was an offshoot of the earlier and larger Jewish paramilitary organization haHaganah...
to smuggle arms to Zionist fighters against British colonialism in Palestine. As an attorney, O'Dwyer was also prominent in securing acquittals for a number of Jewish Americans prosecuted for helping to smuggle arms to Jewish fighters for the Zionist cause.
Active in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
politics, O'Dwyer ran for political office several times. In 1948, he narrowly lost an election for the U.S. House of Representatives to incumbent Jacob K. Javits
Jacob K. Javits
Jacob Koppel "Jack" Javits was a politician who served as United States Senator from New York from 1957 to 1981. A liberal Republican, he was originally allied with Governor Nelson Rockefeller, fellow U.S...
. He gained election to the position of New York City Council
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...
President, which was then one of three city-wide elected positions. He served in that capacity from 1974 to 1977.
In 1968
New York state election, 1968
The 1968 New York state election was held on November 5, 1968, to elect a judge of the New York Court of Appeals and a U.S. Senator, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.-Background:Judge Adrian P...
, running in opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, he won the Democratic
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...
primary for U.S. Senator from New York, but lost in the general election to the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent Jacob K. Javits
Jacob K. Javits
Jacob Koppel "Jack" Javits was a politician who served as United States Senator from New York from 1957 to 1981. A liberal Republican, he was originally allied with Governor Nelson Rockefeller, fellow U.S...
. In 1970, he ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senator against Ted Sorensen
Ted Sorensen
Theodore Chaikin "Ted" Sorensen was an American presidential advisor, lawyer and writer, best known as President John F. Kennedy’s special counsel, adviser and legendary speechwriter. President Kennedy once called him his “intellectual blood bank.”-Early life:Sorensen was born in Nebraska, the son...
, Richard Ottinger
Richard Ottinger
Richard Ottinger is an American politician of the Democratic Party, a former member of the United States House of Representatives, and a legal educator.-Early years:...
and Max McCarthy
Richard D. McCarthy
Richard Dean McCarthy was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York, also known as Richard Max McCarthy or Max McCarthy.-Life:He served in the United States Navy from November 1945 until August 1946, and in the United States Army from November...
, but was defeated by Ottinger.
O'Dwyer was the youngest sibling (of 11), and sometime law partner, of his eldest brother, New York City Mayor William O'Dwyer
William O'Dwyer
William O'Dwyer was the 100th Mayor of New York City, holding that office from 1946 to 1950.-Biography:O'Dwyer was born in County Mayo, Ireland and migrated to the United States in 1910, after abandoning studies for the priesthood...
, who was 17 years his senior. The O'Dwyers were maternal uncles of Frank Durkan
Frank Durkan
Frank Durkan was an Irish-American attorney best known for having represented numerous members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army , including avowed gun-runner and pivotal North American member of the IRA George Harrison, who stood trial, and was acquitted, in 1982.In another prominent case,...
.
Paul O'Dwyer died several days before his 91st birthday in 1998. His son, Brian O'Dwyer
Brian O'Dwyer
Brian O'Dwyer is currently an American lobbyist and lawyer, son of Paul O'Dwyer and nephew of Mayor William O'Dwyer. He is married to the former Marianna MacWilliam, Associate Vice Chancellor of the State University of New York...
, is also a noted New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
lawyer and former national President of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.