Walter was the Democrat member of the U.S. House of Representative from Pennsylvania from 1928 to his death in 1963. He was born in Easton, PA, attended Lehigh University, George Washington University and Georgetown University. He served in the U.S. Navy air service in both World War I and II. He served as a solicitor of Northampton County, Pennsylvania 1928-33. Elected as a Democrat to the 73rd Congress in 1928 and served in Congress until his death. His political career began as an elected delegate to the 1928 Democratic National Convention. During his time in Congress he was a prominent member of the House Un-American Activities Committee 1951-1963, chair of the Committee for the last nine years he served. As a Democrat he wanted to minimize immigration largely responsible for the McCarran-Walter Act of 1952 which kept the old quotas but also opened many opportunities for legal immigration to the United States. His views were regarded by some as "reactionary and racist" as a staunch anti-communist. To honor him the Francis E. Walter Dam was built in 1961 near White Haven, Luzerne County across the Lehigh River.