Other editions of book Plunkitt of Tammany Hall

2010 Reprint of 1905 edition. "This brief classic of streetwise politics was published in 1905 after first appearing as a series of newspaper stories. George Washington Plunkitt was a sort of middle manager of one of the greatest political machines in U.S. history, Tammany Hall, which held power in New York City for much of the period between the Civil War and the 1930s. Most of its men died rich; a few spent their last years in jail. Plunkitt was one of the smarter and luckier ones. And he's remembered today by historians because he was the only one who talked, openly and on the record, to a reporter from the "New York Evening Post" named Riordan, about how to get and keep power. Riordan published Plunkitt's musings from his "office" (a shoeshine stand in the New York County Courthouse) straight, without comment or gloss, and preserving Plunkitt's speech rhythms and slang. The result is a little like hanging out with a Dickens character for an hour or so; the guy is colorful, unabashed when distinguishing between "honest graft and dishonest graft," and at times remarkably prescient: "The Democratic party of the nation ain't dead, though it's been givin' a lifelike imitation of a corpse for several years. . . . The trouble is that the party's been chasin' after theories and stayin' up nights readin' books instead of studyin' human nature and actin' accordin' . . . ." David Loftus.

As a reporter for the "New York Evening Post" during the time of New York's Tammany Hall Machine, William Riordan compiled and published this work in 1905 from a series of articles he wrote on George Washington Plunkitt, the millionaire ward boss of New York's 15th District. Plunkitt is best remembered as a streetwise politician who practiced what he called "honest graft," or what is otherwise known today as "machine politics." Of the Tammany Hall bosses, he alone spoke candidly and on the record about how to get and successfully retain political power and wealth. This collection of interviews is an honest and accurate account of Plunkitt's critical analysis of social reformers and the federal government, void of editorial gloss and comment, and preserving the original speech and slang which made Plunkitt notorious. "Plunkitt of Tammany Hall" has given generations of scholars insight into the controversy, animosity, corruption and sensationalism of the American political machine in its heyday.

As a reporter for the “New York Evening Post” during the time of New York’s Tammany Hall Machine, William L. Riordan compiled and published this work in 1905 from a series of articles he wrote on George Washington Plunkitt, the millionaire ward boss of New York’s 15th District. Plunkitt is best remembered as a streetwise politician who practiced what he called “honest graft”, or what is otherwise known today as “machine politics”. Of the Tammany Hall bosses, he alone spoke candidly and on the record about how to get and successfully retain political power and wealth. This collection of interviews is an honest and accurate account of Plunkitt’s critical analysis of social reformers and the federal government, void of editorial gloss and comment, and preserving the original speech and slang which made Plunkitt notorious. “Plunkitt of Tammany Hall” has given generations of scholars insight into the controversy, animosity, corruption, and sensationalism of the American political machine in its heyday. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

As a reporter for the “New York Evening Post” during the time of New York’s Tammany Hall Machine, William L. Riordan compiled and published this work in 1905 from a series of articles he wrote on George Washington Plunkitt, the millionaire ward boss of New York’s 15th District. Plunkitt is best remembered as a streetwise politician who practiced what he called “honest graft”, or what is otherwise known today as “machine politics”. Of the Tammany Hall bosses, he alone spoke candidly and on the record about how to get and successfully retain political power and wealth. This collection of interviews is an honest and accurate account of Plunkitt’s critical analysis of social reformers and the federal government, void of editorial gloss and comment, and preserving the original speech and slang which made Plunkitt notorious. “Plunkitt of Tammany Hall” has given generations of scholars insight into the controversy, animosity, corruption, and sensationalism of the American political machine in its heyday.

As a reporter for the "New York Evening Post" during the time of New York's Tammany Hall Machine, William Riordan compiled and published this work in 1905 from a series of articles he wrote on George Washington Plunkitt, the millionaire ward boss of New York's 15th District. Plunkitt is best remembered as a streetwise politician who practiced what he called "honest graft," or what is otherwise known today as "machine politics." Of the Tammany Hall bosses, he alone spoke candidly and on the record about how to get and successfully retain political power and wealth. This collection of interviews is an honest and accurate account of Plunkitt's critical analysis of social reformers and the federal government, void of editorial gloss and comment, and preserving the original speech and slang which made Plunkitt notorious. "Plunkitt of Tammany Hall" has given generations of scholars insight into the controversy, animosity, corruption and sensationalism of the American political machine in its heyday.

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall is a series of very plain talks on very practical politics, delivered by Ex-Senator George Washington Plunkitt, the Tammany Philosopher, from his rostrum-the New York County Court House Bootblack Stand. This is an important work for those interested in his stories, history of the American political system and for political historians and scholars.

Tammany Hall was one of the most colorful political machines in U S history and George Washington Plunkitt was in the thick of it. George Plunkitt was an early 20th century New York politician. Plunkitt was a powerful State Senator. He was a wealthy man earning his wealth from what he termed "honest graft." He was a member of Tammany Hall and believed in the patronage system and using power for personal gain. Plunkitt described honest graft as buying land that he knew would be needed someday for a pubic use and then selling it at an inflated price. Dishonest graft would be buying land and then using his influence to have a project built on it. This series of talks by an extremely interesting politician is a wonderful glimpse into the famous Tammany Hall.

The unabridged classic on MP3 audio, narrated by Anais 9000. Three playback speeds on one disk; etext edition included. Running time: 2.5 hours (slow), 2.3 hours (medium), 2.1 hours (fast). Interviews with George Washington Plunkitt (1842-1924), long-time State Senator from New York's Fifteenth Assembly District, who conducted much of his business from a seat on the bootblack stand at the New York County Court-House.

This little classic, which was once titled "Honest Graft and Dishonest Graft," was written by George Plunkitt. It provides an entertaining if somewhat discouraging description of why politics is driven by money and why reformers are merely a flash in the pan. Another topic covered in the book, "The difference between honest graft and dishonest graft" is equally alive and well among modern politicians. A modern politician accused of exactly the type of real estate speculation Plunkitt uses as his example of "honest" graft occurred just a few years ago. The politician sat on a committee that determined the site of government project and bought up the land before the project was revealed to the public. When confronted his response was, "I didn't break any laws." As Plunkitt would have said, he was only practicing honest graft. Plunkitt was a crony of the infamous William M. "Boss" Tweed, who created and presided over a Democrat, ward based patronage form of government in the City of New York in the mid to late 19th century referred to then as and now "Tammany Hall." Plunkitt was one of his side-kicks who participated in all of the perks of office and had the ability to discuss his "work" with justifications worthy of the best wit of Mark Twain. It is no coincidence that this little jewel of amateur literature has remained in print for over 100 years.