Plunkitt on Tammany Hall Book Summary
William L. Riordon’s follows the political life of George Washington Plunkitt, I was able to understanding the political corruption of the twentieth century reading this book. Mr Plunkitt speaks freely about Tammany Hall, he tells the people the difference between honest and dishonest graft, the civil service reform, and how to be successful as a statesman. Riordon documents the political life and personal journey of George Washington Plunkitt
George Washington Plunkitt was an Irish man and became a political figure during the late 1800s until the early 1900s in New York City. At the age of twenty four, he ran for office and lost; two years later he ran again, with the help of his supporters, he ran once again at the age of twenty six and was elected New York State Assembly. This was the beginning of his forty-year span as a statesman. His winning of his votes for his party, is found to be the peak of political corruption.
The book start with Plunkitt discussing the difference between honest graft and dishonest graft. He claims that many men were questioned how they became wealthy once they became involved with Tammany Hall while in office, the question came about because they felt that Tammany men had been stealing from the city treasury. Plunkitt argues that, “There’s an honest graft, and I’m an example of how it works. I might sum the whole thing by sayin’: ‘I seen my opportunities and I took ‘em” (49). Plunkitt claims that he did not possess a dishonest dollar. He made his money by receiving tips about property, and taking advantage of the location by buying and selling the land at a higher price to gain profit. He made it clear that he did make dishonest graft by stealing from the treasury.
Plunkitt gives the rights and wrongs of how to become a statesman. His most important advice was not to portray a manner of aptitude. He stated that they should present themselves to the voters as one of their own, and not...