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.

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics, Delivered by Ex-Senator George Washington Plunkitt, the Tamma

Plunkitt, George Washington

Literature & Fiction

Amereon Limited

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall

Politics & Social Sciences

Politics & Government

Indypublish.Com

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.

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics

Business & Money

Economics

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

“'Plunkitt of Tammany Hall' contained the musings of George Washington Plunkitt (1842-1924), the powerful Irish-American politician. It would never be associated with works by Locke, Rousseau and Jefferson, but the book became a classic piece of American literature that explained the workings of the Irish-dominated urban political machine." -The Irish Echo "For more than forty years he has seen the political game played in New York city....His has been the peculiar distinction of holding four offices at one and the same time and drawing salaries for three of them....He is the old fashioned type of the professional politician, even in Tammany Hall, but he has a shrewd, homely sense that is not to be learned from books and that wold be invaluable in a man without the moral crookedness that afflicts this man." -Public Opinion "Discourses of a veteran Tammany district leader, in which he discusses political subjects with utter frankness and great picturesqueness of language. 'Practical politics' is portrayed from the inside by one of the most 'practical' of politicians, a man who has become a millionaire by knowing how to take advantage of his opportunities and how to make opportunities to take advantage of. A prefatory note by Mr. Charles Murphy, leader of Tammany Hall, indorsing Mr. Plunkitt, gives the book a semi-official character as an exposition of Tammany principles." -New Outlook "The reading public owes a debt of gratitude to Riordon, his discoverer. 'Plunkitt of Tammany Hall' is every bit as entertaining as 'Mr. Dooley.' A 'character' has been added to literature." -New York Globe "New York's most colorful Tammany boss." -New York Magazine "'Plunkitt of Tammany Hall' is not the only American who believes in 'honest graft.' Doers of evil have a practical sense of relativity in ethics as well as professors of ethics in our universities, who approach the subject theoretically. Though this expression comes from a Tammany heeler grown rich by 'graft,' it shows the profound need of restoration of the conception of the absolute in ethics, which a thousand and one things in our contemporary life demonstrate." -The Congregationalist and Christian World "Both witty and wise." -The Bookman Contents Preface A Tribute to Plunkitt by the Leader of Tammany Hall Chapter 1. Honest Graft and Dishonest Graft Chapter 2. How to Become a Statesman Chapter 3. The Curse of Civil Service Reform Chapter 4. Reformers Only Mornin' Glories Chapter 5. New York City Is Pie for the Hayseeds Chapter 6. To Hold Your District: Study Human Nature and Act Accordin' Chapter 7. On The Shame of the Cities Chapter 8. Ingratitude in Politics Chapter 9. Reciprocity in Patronage Chapter 10. Brooklynites Natural-Born Hayseeds Chapter 11. Tammany Leaders Not Bookworms Chapter 12. Dangers of the Dress Suit in Politics Chapter 13. On Municipal Ownership Chapter 14. Tammany the Only Lastin' Democracy Chapter 15. Concerning Gas in Politics Chapter 16. Plunkitt's Fondest Dream Chapter 17. Tammany's Patriotism Chapter 18. On the Use of Money in Politics Chapter 19. The Successful Politician Does Not Drink Chapter 20. Bosses Preserve the Nation Chapter 21. Concerning Excise Chapter 22. A Parting Word on the Future of the Democratic Party in Chapter 23. Strenuous Life of the Tammany District Leader

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics, Delivered by Ex-senator George Washington Plunkitt, the Tammany ... New York County Court House Bootblack Stand

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.

Biographies & Memoirs

Riordon, William L.

Leaders & Notable People

FQ Classics

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.

Filiquarian Publishing

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.

Contemporary

Book Jungle

This volume discloses the mental operations of perhaps the most thoroughly practical politician of the day-George Washington Plunkitt, Tammany leader of the Fifteenth Assembly District, Sachem of the Tammany Society and Chairman of the Elections Committee of Tammany Hall, who has held the offices of State Senator, Assemblyman', Police Magistrate, County Supervisor and Alderman, and who boasts of his record in filling four public offices in one year and drawing salaries from three of them at the same time. The discourses that follow were delivered by him from his rostrum, the bootblack stand in the County Court-house, at various times in the last half-dozen years. Their absolute frankness and vigorous unconventionality of thought and expression charmed me. Plunkitt said right out what all practical politicians think but are afraid to say.(...) No New Yorker needs to be informed who George Washington Plunkitt is. For the information of others, the following sketch of his career is given. He was born, as he proudly tells, in Central Park-that is, in the territory now included in the park. He began life as a driver of a cart, then became a butcher's boy, and later went into the butcher business for himself. How he entered politics he explains in one of his discourses. His advancement was rapid. He was in the Assembly soon after he cast his first vote and has held office most of the time for forty years. In 1870, through a strange combination of circumstances, he held the places of Assemblyman, Alderman, Police Magistrate and County Supervisor and drew three salaries at once-a record unexampled in New York politics. Plunkitt is now a millionaire. He owes his fortune mainly to his political pull, as he confesses in "Honest Graft and Dishonest Graft." He is in the contracting, transportation, real estate, and every other business out of which he can make money. He has no office. His headquarters is the County Courthouse bootblack stand. There he receives his constituents, transacts his general business and pours forth his philosophy. - Taken from "Plunkitt of Tammany Hall" written by George Washington Plunkitt

Independently published

George Washington Plunkitt was an American politician from New York State. He served in both houses of the New York State Legislature and was a member of the Tammany Hall machine in New York City. George Washington Plunkitt (November 17, 1842 - November 19, 1924) was an American politician from New York State. He served in both houses of the New York State Legislature and was a member of the Tammany Hall machine in New York City.

Essays & Correspondence

PLUNKITT OF TAMMANY HALL

History

Americas

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Books by Plunkitt, George Washington

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Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics, Delivered by Ex-Senator George Washington Plunkitt, the Tamma

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics, Delivered by Ex-senator George Washington Plunkitt, the Tammany ... New York County Court House Bootblack Stand

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall

PLUNKITT OF TAMMANY HALL