| Author |
Plunkitt, George Washington, 1842-1924 |
| Editor |
Riordon, William L., 1861-1909 |
| Title |
Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: 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; Recorded by William L. Riordon
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 78.9 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
|
| Credits |
Produced by David Reed, and David Widger
|
| Summary |
"Plunkitt of Tammany Hall" by George Washington Plunkitt is a political commentary written during the late 19th century. The text features the frank and unapologetic insights of Plunkitt, a Tammany Hall politician, who discusses the workings of New York City's political landscape and the nature of graft in municipal politics. The book's focus on the dichotomy of "honest graft" versus "dishonest graft" provides readers an illuminating and often humorous look into how corruption was rationalized among politicians in that era. The opening portion of the book introduces Plunkitt's outspoken nature as he describes his years in politics and the revenue he has generated through what he categorizes as "honest graft." He asserts that many politicians, including himself, have not resorted to stealing from the treasury but rather have thrived by seizing opportunities provided by their insider knowledge of government activities, such as public improvement projects. Plunkitt's stories illustrate his rise from humble beginnings to wealth and power, as he positions himself as a savvy operator in a system he believes inherently rewards those who can capitalize on the information available to them. This sets the stage for a unique blend of self-reflection, critique of reform efforts, and a celebration of the political machine he represents. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
|
| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
JK: Political science: Political inst. and pub. Admin.: United States
|
| Subject |
Plunkitt, George Washington, 1842-1924
|
| Subject |
Tammany Hall
|
| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
2810 |
| Release Date |
Sep 1, 2001 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Feb 7, 2013 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
622 downloads in the last 30 days. |
|
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!
|
