Political Career
Along with Joe Clark and others, he was at the forefront of a post-World War II reform movement in Philadelphia that led to the adoption of a modern city charter that consolidated city and county offices and introduced civil service examinations on a broad scale to replace much of the existing patronage system.
Dilworth initially ran for mayor in 1947 against incumbent Republican Barney Samuel. Samuel was seeking his second full term in office, after assuming office following the death of Robert Lamberton in 1941. Dilworth was ultimately defeated by over 90,000 votes; however, the election marked the last time, to date, that a Republican was elected Mayor of Philadelphia. In 1949, he was elected City Treasurer, while Clark was elected City Controller. He ran for Governor, losing a close election in 1950 to John Fine. In 1951, he was elected Philadelphia District Attorney, while Clark was elected Mayor. Clark and Dilworth's inaugurations ended a 67-year period of uninterrupted Republican control of the city (and instituted a period of uninterrupted Democratic control which has persisted past the year 2010). In 1955, Dilworth was elected Mayor, defeating City Councilman Thacher Longstreth.
During their tenures as mayor, Clark and Dilworth introduced a variety of reforms and innovations. Among these was extensive high-rise public housing which would, a generation later, be condemned by many as a breeding ground for poverty and crime. However, they also greatly strengthened the city planning function of Philadelphia city government. Both retained Edmund Bacon as Executive Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, and the Clark-Dilworth era is recognized as a high water mark for planning, during which the decline of Center City Philadelphia as a commercial and residential center was reversed and priority was given (particularly during Dilworth's administration) to saving the city's historic and irreplaceable Society Hill district. Dilworth resigned as Mayor on February 12, 1962 to launch a second bid for governor. He went on to lose the fall general election to Republican Congressman Bill Scranton.
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