William N. McNair
Encyclopedia
William N. McNair served as the 48th Mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
from 1934 to 1936.
, McNair moved to Pittsburgh
early in his life and became an attorney. He graduated from Gettysburg College
in 1900. He tried his hand at politics several times, losing successive elections before finally winning office.
to display his "independence" from council and the city bureaucracy.
He continued to be a lighting rod during his administration, being arrested at one point for refusing to return what a judge found to be an unlawful fine he had assessed a citizen. Later when he received word that the governor was considering impeachment proceedings against him he installed a bed in the mayor's office and conducted press conferences from it. In 1936, he traveled to Washington, D.C.
, and took part in congressional hearings on taxes. His position of repealing all federal taxes at the time was voiced so zealously that a New York Times report recounts a Capitol Police
Officer was called before McNair voluntarily left the hearing.
The most fateful event for his political career took the city by force on St. Patrick's day 1936 when it suffered from the worst flooding in its history
. The event and the chaotic nature that McNair had plunged the city into sealed his fate. Political opponents accused him of impropriety in various dealings, and he was jailed for three days in April on charges of operating a numbers game
.
He resigned on a whim on October 6, 1936http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10108/1051052-426.stm, promptly rescinded his resignation then demanded to once again be sworn in as mayor, but by that time the city council and the rest of the city had grown tired of his controversial leadership, choosing instead to validate his earlier resignation and let Cornelius Scully assume the mayor's office.
in 1948 during a political rally and is buried in Allegheny Cemetery
in Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from 1934 to 1936.
Early life
Originally from Middletown, PennsylvaniaMiddletown, Pennsylvania
Middletown is the name of more than one location in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania:*Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania: 17057, of the Harrisburg metropolitan area*Middletown, Northampton County, Pennsylvania: 18017...
, McNair moved to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
early in his life and became an attorney. He graduated from Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
in 1900. He tried his hand at politics several times, losing successive elections before finally winning office.
Pittsburgh politics
At the city's highest office in 1934, it was soon apparent though why McNair had never won a public office before. McNair almost from the beginning began a confrontational relationship with City Council. At first much of his antics were viewed as the actions of a man that cared about the "little guy"; soon though much of his actions just ground the city's ability to govern to a halt in heated, endless and dramatic debate over the most nuanced issues. During his fractious leadership McNair even set up his office in the ornate lobby of the City-County BuildingPittsburgh City-County Building
The Pittsburgh City-County Building is the seat of government for the City of Pittsburgh and houses both Pittsburgh and Allegheny County offices. It is located in Downtown Pittsburgh at 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Design:...
to display his "independence" from council and the city bureaucracy.
He continued to be a lighting rod during his administration, being arrested at one point for refusing to return what a judge found to be an unlawful fine he had assessed a citizen. Later when he received word that the governor was considering impeachment proceedings against him he installed a bed in the mayor's office and conducted press conferences from it. In 1936, he traveled to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and took part in congressional hearings on taxes. His position of repealing all federal taxes at the time was voiced so zealously that a New York Times report recounts a Capitol Police
Capitol police
Capitol police in the United States are agencies charged with the provision of security police services for various state agencies, but especially State Legislatures. Capitol police may function as part of the state police or may be an independent agency...
Officer was called before McNair voluntarily left the hearing.
The most fateful event for his political career took the city by force on St. Patrick's day 1936 when it suffered from the worst flooding in its history
Pittsburgh Flood 1936
On March 17 and 18, 1936, the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania witnessed the worst flood in its history when flood levels peaked at . This flood became known as "The Great St...
. The event and the chaotic nature that McNair had plunged the city into sealed his fate. Political opponents accused him of impropriety in various dealings, and he was jailed for three days in April on charges of operating a numbers game
Numbers game
Numbers game, also known as a numbers racket, policy racket or Italian lottery, is an illegal lottery played mostly in poor neighborhoods in the United States, wherein a bettor attempts to pick three digits to match those that will be randomly drawn the following day...
.
He resigned on a whim on October 6, 1936http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10108/1051052-426.stm, promptly rescinded his resignation then demanded to once again be sworn in as mayor, but by that time the city council and the rest of the city had grown tired of his controversial leadership, choosing instead to validate his earlier resignation and let Cornelius Scully assume the mayor's office.
Later life
McNair became a sort of political sideshow after he left office, continuing to run for offices unsuccessfully and giving political speeches and rallies for various causes. He died in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in 1948 during a political rally and is buried in Allegheny Cemetery
Allegheny Cemetery
Allegheny Cemetery is one of the largest and oldest burial grounds in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.It is a nonsectarian, wooded hillside park located at 4734 Butler Street in the Lawrenceville neighborhood and bounded by Bloomfield, Garfield, and Stanton Heights...
in Pittsburgh.