T. Semmes Walmsley served as Acting Mayor of New Orleans from 1929-1930 and Mayor from 1930-1936, resigning two years into his second term. Born in New Orleans in 1889, he graduated from Tulane University, practiced law in the city, and entered politics under the "Old Regular" Democratic regime. From 1919 to 1924, he was Assistant Attorney General for Louisiana and from 1924 to 1928 served as City Attorney. He was elected Commissioner of Public Finance in 1926 and retained that post until he became acting mayor in 1929, succeeding Arthur J. O'Keefe, who resigned due to illness. Walmsley was elected mayor in1930 and again in 1934.
Walmsley's administration was marked by the Old Regulars' on-going power struggle with Huey P. Long, who as governor and (from 1932) as U.S. Senator, stripped the city of much of the power afforded it by the City Charter. In 1936, following Long's assassination in September 1935, Walmsley resigned from office, having been assured that legislation restoring home rule to New Orleans would be enacted.
From the description of Papers, 1929-1936. (New Orleans Public Library). WorldCat record id: 29486981
