Walker, James John (1881-1946), served as Democratic mayor of New York City from 1926 to 1932. Handsome and fun-loving, he came to symbolize the Roaring Twenties. In 1932, Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Walker to explain corruption in the city’s affairs. Investigation showed that Walker had been more careless than crooked, but his reputation was injured, and he resigned. Walker, who was known as Jimmy, was born in New York City.