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Loading... Plunkitt of Tammany Hallby William L. Riordan
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. This isn't really the kind of book you "like," or "dislike," it just Is. Towards the end it did get a little tiresome, mostly because it was so disheartening to realize that Plunkitt was, in some ways, better than most modern politicians. With all his disturbing ideas of "honest" graft, at did at least make some effort to take care of the folks who put him in office. These days, politicians just sell them out to the highest bidder, and the Civil Service "reform" that he railed against has been corrupted in its own way. Reading this wasn't enjoyable, but it was enlightening and thought-provoking. George Washington Plunkitt was a Democratic Senator from New York in the late 1800s to early 1900s. He was a part of the political machine known as Tammany Hall which had a huge influence on New York City's politics during this same period. These politicians were famous for lending aid to many of the newly arriving immigrants during this period, as well as their questionable tactics. Plunkitt, who became a millionaire was famous for his "plain talks on very practical politics." In these talks he explains the difference between 'honest graft' and 'dishonest graft.' He favored the idea of 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.' Many of the immigrants would vote for a candidate such as Plunkitt in exchange for the opportunity of receiving government jobs. This was very important during a time when there were so many immigrants and so few jobs to come by. He also felt that it was OK to use insider information to grow his wealth. This book is a great little snapshot of the history of New York politics during this era. no reviews | add a review
Plunkitt of Tammany Hall A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics William L. Riordan "Nobody thinks of drawin' the distinction between honest graft and dishonest graft." This classic work offers the unblushing, unvarnished wit and wisdom of one of the most fascinating figures ever to play the American political game and win. George Washington Plunkitt rose from impoverished beginnings to become ward boss of the Fifteenth Assembly District in New York, a key player in the powerhouse political team of Tammany Hall, and, not incidentally, a millionaire. In a series of utterly frank talks given at his headquarters (Graziano's bootblack stand outside the New York County Court House), he revealed to a sharp-eared and sympathetic reporter named William L. Riordan the secrets of political success as practiced and perfected by him and fellow Tammany Hall titans. The result is not only a volume that reveals more about our political system than does a shelfful of civics textbooks, but also an irresistible portrait of a man who would feel happily at home playing ball with today's lobbyists and king makers, trading votes for political and financial favors. Doing for twentieth-century America what Machiavelli did for Renaissance Italy, and as entertaining as it is instructive, Plunkitt of Tammany Hallis essential reading for those who prefer twenty-twenty vision to rose-colored glasses in viewing how our government works and why. With an Introduction by Peter Quinn and a New Afterword No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)329.3Social sciences Political Science [Previously "Political Parties; Party Conventions"; No longer used] DemocraticLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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Reading this wasn't enjoyable, but it was enlightening and thought-provoking. ( )