Walsh won election to the Senate in 1918 , lost his re-election bid in 1924 , and returned to the Senate with a victory in the 1926 special election to succeed Henry Cabot Lodge . Walsh became increasingly opposed to an activist government after 1924 . He supported Al Smith over Franklin D. Roosevelt at the 1932 Democratic National Convention and gave lukewarm support to President Roosevelt 's agenda . Walsh introduced and helped pass the Walsh – Healey Public Contracts Act of 1936 , which established labor standards for employees of government contractors . Prior to the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor , Walsh opposed American involvement in World War II and was a leading member of the America First Committee . He lost his 1946 re-election bid to Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. and died the following year
1932 Democratic National Convention
1932 Democratic National Convention
David I. Walsh