Synopsis
""Plunkitt of Tammany Hall"" is a non-fiction book written by William L. Riordon, originally published in 1905. The book is a collection of speeches and interviews with George Washington Plunkitt, a politician from New York City's Tammany Hall political machine. Plunkitt was a colorful figure known for his ability to ""honestly"" make money through political corruption and his ability to connect with the working-class voters of his district. The book is divided into several sections, each focusing on a different aspect of Plunkitt's life and political career. The first section, ""Honest Graft and Dishonest Graft"", explores Plunkitt's philosophy of politics and the distinction he drew between ""honest graft"" (using insider knowledge to make money legally) and ""dishonest graft"" (stealing or accepting bribes). The second section, ""On the New York State Senate"", describes Plunkitt's experiences as a state senator and his views on the legislative process. Other sections of the book cover Plunkitt's views on the role of political bosses, his relationship with the press, and his thoughts on the changing political landscape of New York City. Throughout the book, Plunkitt's colorful language and anecdotes provide a unique window into the world of Tammany Hall politics at the turn of the 20th century.""Plunkitt of Tammany Hall"" is considered an important primary source for historians and political scientists studying the history of American political corruption and machine politics. It has also been praised for its engaging style and its ability to humanize a figure who is often caricatured as a corrupt politician.EVERYBODY is talkin' these days about Tammany men growin' rich on graft, but nobody thinks of drawin' the distinction between honest graft and dishonest graft. There's all the difference in the world between the two. Yes, many of our men have grown rich in politics. I have myself.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
About the Author
Terrence J. McDonald is professor of history at the University of Michigan. His book, The Parameters of Urban Fiscal Policy: Socioeconomic Change and Political Culture in San Francisco, 1860 to 1906, won the 1987 Allan M. Sharlin Memorial Award of the Social Science History Association and the 1988 J. S. Holliday Award from the California Historical Society. He is a member of the board of editors of the Journal of Urban History and Studies in American Political development, and he has published essays in those journals as well as in Social History, Historical Methods, the History Teacher, and Reviews in American History. His research on George Washington Plunkitt is part of an ongoing project on the image of the urban political machine and American liberalism entitled "Inventing Urban Politics: The City and the State in American Political Development, 1880-1980."
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