O’Mahoney, Joseph C. (Joseph Christopher), 1884-1962

Joseph C. O'Mahoney was born on November 5, 1884 in Chelsea, Massachusetts. After graduating from Columbia University in New York City, he moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1908 and worked as a reporter at the “Boulder Herald”. In 1916 he moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming and was the city editor of the Cheyenne "State Leader." He became involved with Democratic Party politics, and first went to Washington as secretary to Wyoming Senator John B. Kendrick. He graduated from Georgetown University Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1920 and began practicing law in Cheyenne, Wyoming and Washington, D.C. He was Franklin Roosevelt's Western campaign director in 1932. He served as First Assistant Postmaster General in 1933 and in December 1933 was appointed to fill the Senate vacancy created by the death of Senator Kendrick. He was elected to three full terms before being defeated in the 1952 election. In 1954, he returned to the Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Lester C. Hunt and was re-elected in 1954 to another full term.

During his Senate career O'Mahoney served on several Senate committees including Appropriations and its Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Indian Affairs, Interior and Insular Affairs (chair, 1949-1953), Public Lands, Irrigation and Reclamation, Judiciary, Joint Economic, and Temporary National Economic Committee (chair). He was a supporter of western water and mineral development, a New Deal Democrat who split with Franklin Roosevelt over the Supreme Court packing issue, and a foe of monopolies.

Joseph O’Mahoney served as Senator of Wyoming for 25 years between 1933-1960. He did not run for re-election in 1960, but resumed practicing law in Cheyenne, Wyoming and Washington, D.C. He died on December 1, 1962 in the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.

From the guide to the Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, 1866-1963 (bulk 1920-1960), (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)