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Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics (Signet Classics) Mass Market Paperback – June 2, 2015

by William L. Riordon (Author), Peter Quinn (Introduction), Philip Freeman (Afterword)
4.3 out of 5 stars 148 ratings
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Plunkitt of Tammany Hall
A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics
William L. Riordan
 
“Nobody thinks of drawin’ the distinction between honest graft and dishonest graft.”
 
This classic work offers the unblushing, unvarnished wit and wisdom of one of the most fascinating figures ever to play the American political game and win. George Washington Plunkitt rose from impoverished beginnings to become ward boss of the Fifteenth Assembly District in New York, a key player in the powerhouse political team of Tammany Hall, and, not incidentally, a millionaire. In a series of utterly frank talks given at his headquarters (Graziano’s bootblack stand outside the New York County Court House), he revealed to a sharp-eared and sympathetic reporter named William L. Riordan the secrets of political success as practiced and perfected by him and fellow Tammany Hall titans. The result is not only a volume that reveals more about our political system than does a shelfful of civics textbooks, but also an irresistible portrait of a man who would feel happily at home playing ball with today’s lobbyists and king makers, trading votes for political and financial favors.
 
Doing for twentieth-century America what Machiavelli did for Renaissance Italy, and as entertaining as it is instructive, Plunkitt of Tammany Hall is essential reading for those who prefer twenty-twenty vision to rose-colored glasses in viewing how our government works and why.
 
With an Introduction by Peter Quinn
and a New Afterword
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  1. Print length
    128 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Signet
  4. Publication date
    June 2, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    4.19 x 0.39 x 6.67 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0451474139
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0451474131
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George Washington Plunkitt was born into poverty in New York in 1842. He had only three years of formal schooling, but this lack did not hinder him from becoming one of the most powerful men in New York City politics. He died in 1924, a renowned civic leader and a millionaire.
 
William L. Riordan, a newspaperman for the New York Evening Post, interviewed George Washington Plunkitt and preserved his philosophy for posterity. He recognized in Plunkitt an exceptional frankness that set him apart from his fellow political bosses. In Plunkitt of Tammany Hall Riordan admits readers into an area of life that mystified middle-class Americans at the turn of the twentieth century.
 
Peter Quinn is a former speechwriter for Mario Cuomo and the author of Banished Children of Eve: A Novel of Civil War New York.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Signet (June 2, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0451474139
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0451474131
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.13 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 0.39 x 6.67 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 148 ratings

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George Washington Plunkitt

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4.3 out of 5 stars
148 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides interesting insights into Tammany Hall politics. They appreciate its humor. The pacing receives mixed reviews, with one customer noting it reads like a series of how-to essays.

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17 customers mention "Political history"14 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's political history, particularly its insights into Tammany Hall and machine politics.

"...ample food for thought on these issues and others in this engaging historical account." Read more

"...This is the real world of politics as explained by a New York City ward boss as presented by a skilled newspaper reporter--an amiable NYC version of..." Read more

"...humor and cleverness that make this book entertaining as well as informative." Read more

"Plunkitt of Tammany Hall is a humorous and insightful classic...." Read more

4 customers mention "Humor"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous.

"...shenanigans and brouhahas of Tammany Hall is a great read and provides an amusing, albeit counterfactual, response to Nast and other do-good..." Read more

"...His words also have a subtle humor and cleverness that make this book entertaining as well as informative." Read more

"Plunkitt of Tammany Hall is a humorous and insightful classic...." Read more

"Honest, trenchant and simply hilarious. One of my all time favorite reads. Worth it just for his stories alone." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding the writing candid and amusing, while others point out issues with typesetting errors and numerous typos.

"A very good writer in his introduction before the series of speeches herein culls the best of the colorful Plunkitt's political observations and..." Read more

"...It has (very) numerous typos and stylistic errors (e.g. four instances where a line or two was continued unnecessarily on to a new page)...." Read more

"...It reads like a series of how-to essays that let you know what it takes to be a political boss...." Read more

"...Politics today come from politics of yesterday. The writing is candid and amusing." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kiwiwriter
    5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive book on American politics in 1885 and 2013
    Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    If you want to understand the absolute basics of American urban politics at any time in our nation's history, you MUST read this book.

    George Washington Plunkitt was a Tammany wheelhorse -- district leader, State Senator, and organization man. In a series of speeches from his favorite rostrum, the New York County Courthouse Bootblack Stand, he explained how an urban politician operates and becomes both politically and personally successful.

    Everything he says in his speeches is as deadly accurate today as it was more than 100 years ago -- build up a following. Know human nature and act accordingly. Do not violate the penal code. See your opportunities and take advantage of them. Do not wear a dress suit to meet with the people. Do not drink to excess. Support the organization. Make friends across the aisle to push through policy. Reward your supporters. Do not hesitate to make deals that advance yourself and the organization. Maintain the party organization. Be there for your constituents in their times of trouble. Empower your constituents and reward their loyalty. Show patriotism.

    Every one of those points is absolutely applicable to any political race today. And he said all that back in the 1880s and 1890s. All of these concepts are still being done in modern politics.

    Every time a new intern comes on board my shop in the City of Newark (I do the city's press releases), I lend my copy to that intern, and tell them to read it. Sometimes they ask me to purchase it for them, which I do. A few weeks ago, I got a copy for an intern working for a big wheel in the government, and the big wheel got a look at it ahead of the intern. A few days later, the big wheel asked me to get her a copy, too...she'd never read it. She said it was absolutely accurate about what she was dealing with.

    If you want to be in government and politics in the United States, you MUST read this book. I don't say that about too many books -- I'm more of a Hegelian, but "Plunkitt of Tammany Hall" is an absolute necessity for the young person who wants to enter politics. Buy it. Read it. Keep it on your desk. Re-read it. Memorize it. Then act upon it.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Joseph B.D.
    5.0 out of 5 stars True politics from a political giant.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Modern politics seem impenetrable; the two party system a sham but one cannot get to the bottom of it.

    Politics has lost any forward motion and honor, descending into endless shouts of insults and accusations.

    Want some real American politics? Here's a good start.

    - JBD
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  • J. Rodeck
    4.0 out of 5 stars I recommend this to anyone with political ambitions.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    A very good writer in his introduction before the series of speeches herein culls the best of the colorful Plunkitt's political observations and opinions.

    Don't expect much history of the infamous Tammany Hall. It's undoing is not covered in this volume.

    The speeches are front-loaded; that is, after the best and brightest ones they become less exciting and more redundant.

    I'd certainly recommend this to anyone with political ambitions for its bounty of worthwhile advice from the master; that is, if you can stomach the attitude that you'll rarely find one who's not going to receive personal profit on the side.
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  • mousebelt
    3.0 out of 5 stars This Edition Of Plunkitt Is Strange
    Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This is not to review the work "Plunkitt Of Tammany Hall" by William L. Riordon, but this particular edition.

    First of all, this work has no editor or publisher listed, which is very strange. It has (very) numerous typos and stylistic errors (e.g. four instances where a line or two was continued unnecessarily on to a new page). But most disturbing of all (besides the fact that an "author/editor" - not Riordon - is listed above in the Amazon listing, but nowhere in the book) is that at the very end of the book, on the last page facing the inside cover, is a barcode, and the following: "Made In The USA; Lexington, KY; 13 April 2012." Mind you: I *ORDERED* this book late on 12 April 2012. You may imagine my total confusion at this point.

    Did they receive my order and print this book the next day?

    I was dubious at first, but I'm beginning to think they did!

    For $5.99, next time I'll order ten! They should just READ the text before they print it, for goodness sake. Periods and commas are easy things to get right!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Francis O Walker
    5.0 out of 5 stars An unapologetic political realist
    Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This insider's view of the shenanigans and brouhahas of Tammany Hall is a great read and provides an amusing, albeit counterfactual, response to Nast and other do-good reformers. But the party machine had its positives. One of its descendants, Edward Flynn, a party boss of the Plunkitt style, was instrumental in helping Truman get the vice presidential nomination with FDR. Plunkitt's aversion to civil service examinations and his wish to create a separate state for New York City have parallels today in attitudes toward standardized testing and for Washington DC. statehood. The intelligent reader will find ample food for thought on these issues and others in this engaging historical account.
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  • TH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Learn more about real politics than in years of political science journals
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book has been in print more or less continuously since it was published over a century ago and deserves to be. This is the real world of politics as explained by a New York City ward boss as presented by a skilled newspaper reporter--an amiable NYC version of The Prince. Like that great work, Plunkitt is applicable to many if not most political arenas.
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  • P. Turner
    5.0 out of 5 stars He saw his opportunities and took them, and didn't lie about it
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A Tammeny Hall ward boss of a bygone era speaks with a bluntness that people crave in politicians today. He is open about his involvement in what he calls "honest graft," in contrast to the high-sounding but even more corrupt politicians of today. His words also have a subtle humor and cleverness that make this book entertaining as well as informative.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Curt Duffy
    1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid CreateSpace Edition
    Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Plunkitt of Tammany Hall is a humorous and insightful classic. Unfortunately, the CreateSpace edition contains numerous typesetting errors, including random, unexplained periods and "1"s where "I"s should be. It's poor treatment for a classic text and CreateSpace comes across looking unprofessional.
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