Page 42 - December 2018 | Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal

BarJournal FEATuRE

JULY/AUGUST 2015
exTrA Paul Walter

Founder, Counselor,

Peacemaker

BY DARRELL A. CLAY

n August 13, 1932, Just two years into his career, Walter played the privately-owned transit system by the
Western Reserve School a pivotal role in convincing Harold Burton to city of Cleveland.
of Law graduate Paul seek election as mayor of Cleveland in 1934. In 1938, Walter was once again tapped to
W. Walter, the son of Burton would serve three terms as mayor manage a high-profile campaign, this time
OGerman immigrants, before being elected to the U.S. Senate, and for Ohio Republican Robert A. Taft, who
joined several hundred recently graduated later appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. sought a seat in the U.S. Senate. Walter led
attorneys in Cleveland’s Engineers Building Walter’s relationship with the statesman led two successful re-election campaigns for
where they were to be sworn into the to his appointment as volunteer chairman the senator known as “Mr. Republican,”
Ohio Bar. It was before the start of this of the Work Projects Administration, which while also serving as floor manager for
momentous ceremony that Walter stood provided 280,000 jobs to economically- Taft’s unsuccessful attempts to secure the
up in the crowd and called out, “Is there a devastated Clevelanders and facilitated Republican presidential nomination in
Haverfield in the house?” construction of and improvements to various 1940, 1948, and 1952. Growing the firm’s
In the months prior, a mutual friend of Cleveland landmarks. These included expertise to include labor law, Walter joined
Walter and fellow attorney D. Rusk Haverfield, Hopkins Airport, Burke Airport, Cleveland’s Taft in forming the National Academy of
a Harvard Law School graduate, had Arbitrators. He also notably served
strongly suggested the two become as a key author of the Taft-Hartley
law partners. But they hadn’t yet met Act of 1947, which governs the
before that pleasant summer day activities of labor unions.
during the Great Depression. “Paul taught us As Walter’s outside interests drove
Within minutes of this very public the expansion of the firm’s practice
introduction, Walter announced to areas, so grew his influence in the
Haverfield, “We’re going to practice law to fight for nation’s corridors of power. Walter
together.” Haverfield’s response was was instrumental in persuading Taft
pragmatic: he declared he was married to endorse the successful presidential
and needed a job. In return, Walter our clients.” campaign of Dwight D. Eisenhower
reminded him, “It’s the Depression. in 1952, and by the 1960’s, he had
There are no jobs.” And thus was born been appointed national president
Walter & Haverfield, with Harvard’s of the United World Federation. In
Haverfield as “Mr. Inside” and Western this capacity, Walter worked with
Reserve’s Walter as “Mr. Outside.” Presidents John F. Kennedy and
The story of the firm’s genesis reflects lakefront, the Flats, and a number of public Lyndon B. Johnson to promote global peace
Walter’s extraordinary ability to mobilize parks and buildings. by successfully lobbying Senate Republicans to
others to take meaningful action. It became the In the years that followed, Walter’s support passage of the Limited Test Ban Treaty.
hallmark of his leadership style, and a quality commitment to ensuring city management Despite his extensive involvement in
his future colleagues admired. “When Paul got of public resources led the firm more deeply national politics, Walter remained dedicated
involved in a project, everyone got involved into municipal law. In an effort to reignite to serving the people of Cleveland. He served
full bore,” said Charles Riehl, of counsel in interest in Cleveland’s deteriorating public for 25 years on the board of the YMCA,
Walter | Haverfield’s Litigation and Public Law electric plant and prevent the formation of chaired the Western Reserve Historical
groups, who joined the firm in 1971. a monopoly by a privately-owned company, Society board, and was a trustee for the
The firm’s founding also marked the Walter formed the Cleveland Municipal Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. For more than
moment from which Walter would dedicate Light Plant Association in 1937. He 50 years, he was the head of Hiram House,
the next six decades of his life and career to successfully saved the plant and went on to Cleveland’s first settlement house. His legal
advancing policy locally and at the highest join then Cleveland Transit Commissioner work defending the business interests of the
levels of national government. Ed Schweid in orchestrating a takeover of Hough Area Development Corporation in
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