Plunkitt of Tammany Hall

George Washington Plunkitt

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall is a political classic that offers readers a candid, humorous, and brutally honest glimpse into the inner workings of machine politics in early 20th-century New York City. Narrated by George Washington Plunkitt, a longtime Tammany Hall politician and self-described "practical statesman," this book is a collection of real-life talks delivered from his unconventional platform—the bootblack stand at the New York County Courthouse. Recorded faithfully by journalist William L. Riordon, Plunkitt's insights reveal the strategies, philosophies, and moral code behind Tammany Hall, the most powerful political machine in American history. From the famed concept of "honest graft" (profiting legally from insider political knowledge) to blunt assessments of civil service reform, urban voter psychology, and the importance of local loyalty, Plunkitt's speeches cut through pretense with shrewd wisdom and street-smart candor. Chapters such as "The Curse of Civil Service Reform", "Ingratitude in Politics", "Tammany Leaders Not Bookworms", and "The Successful Politician Does Not Drink" highlight Plunkitt's unapologetic views on power, patronage, and political survival. He denounces reformers as "morning glories" and mocks the urban elite while emphasizing the need to "study human nature and act accordin'." This book is more than a record of one man's political philosophy—it is a historical document of urban governance, patronage networks, and practical politics in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. A staple in American political science, history, and urban studies curricula, Plunkitt of Tammany Hall remains relevant for understanding the intersection of democracy, corruption, and political pragmatism.

Table of 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