Vintage Posters

Active in New York City politics, O'Dwyer ran for political office several times. In 1948, he narrowly lost an election for the U.S. House of Representatives to incumbent Jacob K. Javits. He was elected to the city council from a seat representing all of Manhattan for a term from 1963-65. He also gained election to the position of New York City Council President, which was then one of three citywide elected positions. He served in that capacity from 1974 to 1977. In ten other races he was unsuccessful.