Editing Jimmy Walker (section)

==Early life and political career==
Walker was the son of Irish-born [[William H. Walker (New York City politician)|William H. Walker]] (1842–1916), a carpenter and lumberyard owner who was very active in local politics as a Democratic assemblyman and alderman from [[Greenwich Village]], belying certain accounts of Walker's childhood that stated he grew up in poverty. Walker was not the best student and dropped out of college, eventually graduating from [[New York Law School]] in 1904. Walker's father wanted him to become a lawyer and politician, but he decided that he would rather write songs and be involved in the music industry. He wrote the lyrics for a 1906 hit, "Will You Love Me in December as You Do in May?" with songwriter [[Ernest Ball]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Tyler|first=Don|title=Hit Songs, 1900-1955: American Popular Music of the Pre-Rock Era|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|year=2007|isbn=9780786429462|location=Jefferson, NC|pages=33–34}}</ref> Walker entered politics in 1909 and subsequently passed the [[bar exam]] in 1912.<ref name=Connolly>Connolly, James. "Walker, James J.", ''[[American National Biography]]'', Oxford University Press, February 1, 2000.</ref>

Walker was a member of the [[New York State Assembly]] (New York Co., 5th D.) in [[133rd New York State Legislature|1910]], [[134th New York State Legislature|1911]], [[135th New York State Legislature|1912]], [[136th New York State Legislature|1913]] and [[137th New York State Legislature|1914]]. He was a member of the [[New York State Senate]] from 1915 to 1925, sitting in the [[138th New York State Legislature|138th]], [[139th New York State Legislature|139th]], [[140th New York State Legislature|140th]], [[141st New York State Legislature|141st]] (all four 13th D.), [[142nd New York State Legislature|142nd]], [[143rd New York State Legislature|143rd]], [[144th New York State Legislature|144th]], [[145th New York State Legislature|145th]], [[146th New York State Legislature|146th]], [[147th New York State Legislature|147th]] and [[148th New York State Legislature]]s (all seven 12th D.); and was Minority Leader from 1920 to 1922; Temporary President of the State Senate from 1923 to 1924; and Minority Leader again in 1925. In the Senate he strongly opposed [[Prohibition in the United States|Prohibition]].

[[File:Jimmy Walker, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1924 Democratic National Convention (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Walker and future President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] supported [[Al Smith]] at the [[1924 Democratic National Convention]], but later split politically.]]
During his tenure as Temporary President of the State Senate, Walker was often seen on the floor accompanied by reformist activist, future urban planner, and key [[Al Smith]] ally [[Robert Moses]]. Moses, without an official position and therefore forced to kneel beside Walker's desk rather than sit in a chair, acted sort of as an advisor for Walker. He provided Walker with arguments and facts to be used against Republican adversaries on issues that, according to author [[Robert Caro]], "Walker had no patience to master." Moses also delivered messages to Walker on Governor Smith's behalf.<ref>Caro, Robert (1974. ''The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York''. New York City, NY: Penguin Random House. pp. 136-37. ISBN 9780394720241.</ref>

Walker was elegant and witty, but he was also willing to take down his opponents with no mercy. [[Ellwood M. Rabenold|Ellwood Rabenold]] was a reformist elected to the State Senate as a Democrat. He was independent-minded and put the party's one-vote majority in 1923 in jeopardy. When Rabenold refused to support a bill that Democrats considered vital and then attacked Walker's character, Walker pledged he would "ruin" Rabenold and dedicated the rest of the term to forcing Rabenold out of politics. Walker would eventually succeed, showing no remorse for destroying his career.<ref>Caro, Robert (1974. ''The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York''. New York City, NY: Penguin Random House. pp. 139. ISBN 9780394720241.</ref>