William M. "Boss" Tweed (April 3, 1823 – April 12, 1878) was an American politician and head of Tammany Hall, the name given to the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in the history of 19th century New York City politics. He was convicted and eventually imprisoned for stealing millions of dollars from the city through political corruption. He was of Scottish-Irish descent. Image File history File links WmMTweed. ... Type Bicameral Speaker of the House of Representatives House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Steny Hoyer, (D) since January 4, 2007 House Minority Leader John Boehner, (R) since January 4, 2007 Members 435 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party... This article is about the state. ... 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Tammany Hall was the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in controlling New York City politics from the 1790s to the 1960s. ... The History of the Democratic Party is an account of a continuously supported political party in the United States of America. ... In this 1899 cartoon from Puck, all of New York City politics revolves around boss Richard Croker A political machine is an unofficial system of a political organization based on patronage, the spoils system, behind-the-scenes control, and longstanding political ties within the structure of a representative democracy. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... For other uses, see Politics (disambiguation). ... World map of the Corruption Perceptions Index, which measures the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians. Blue colors indicate little corruption, red colors indicate much corruption In broad terms, political corruption is the misuse by government officials of their governmental powers for illegitimate... Ulster-Scots is a term mainly used in Ireland and Britain (Scotch-Irish or Scots-Irishis commonly used in North America) primarily to refer to Presbyterian Scots, or their descendents, who migrated from the Scottish Lowlands to Ulster (the northern province of Ireland), largely across the 17th century. ...

Name

Tweed's middle name does not appear on any surviving documents. Tweed invariably gave his name as "William M. Tweed" on the many government orders he signed. The M. probably stands for Magear, the middle name of his son William Magear Tweed Jr, since a son named Junior has the same name as his father. Magear was Tweed's mother's maiden name. The oft-used but incorrect middle name Marcy originated in a joking reference to New York Governor William L. Marcy (1833–1838), the man who said "to the victor belongs the spoils". ^[1] This is a list of the Governors of New York. ... William Learned Marcy ( December 12, 1786– July 4, 1857) was an American statesman. ...

Political career

Tweed had started his ascent as a volunteer fireman, which, in 1840s New York City, was often considered the first stepping stone into New York City politics. Tweed himself was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1852, the New York City Board of Advisors in 1856, and the New York State Senate in 1867. Type Bicameral Speaker of the House of Representatives House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Steny Hoyer, (D) since January 4, 2007 House Minority Leader John Boehner, (R) since January 4, 2007 Members 435 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. ... Year 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Financiers Jay Gould and Big Jim Fisk made Boss Tweed a director of the Erie Railroad, and Tweed in turn arranged favorable legislation for them. Tweed and Gould became the subjects of political cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1869. Jay Gould (1836-1892) Jason Gould (May 27, 1836 – December 2, 1892) was an American financier. ... James Big Jim Fisk (April 1, 1834 _ January 6, 1872), American financier, was born in Bennington, Vermont. ... The Erie Railroad (AAR reporting mark ERIE) was a railroad that operated in New York State, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, connecting New York City with Lake Erie, and extending west to Cleveland, Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois. ... Thomas Nast (September 27, 1840 – December 7, 1902) was a famous German-American caricaturist and editorial cartoonist in the 19th century and is considered to be the father of American political cartooning. ...

In April 1870 Tweed secured the passage of a city charter putting the control of the city into the hands of the mayor (A. Oakey Hall), the comptroller, and the commissioners of parks and public works. He then set about to plunder the city. The total amount of money stolen was never known, but has been estimated from $75 million to $200 million. Over a period of two years and eight months, New York City's debts increased from $36 million in 1868 to about $136 million by 1870, with little costs or expenditures to show for the debt. 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... A. Oakley Hall also A. Oakey Hall, (1826-1898), mayor of New York City from 1869-1872, was alleged to be part of the vilified Tweed Ring which started as a lunch group between some of Mayor Van Burens administration and immigrant political organizers. ... Look up comptroller in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Tweed was accused of defrauding the city by having contractors present excessive bills for work performed—typically ranging from 15 to 65 percent more than the project actually cost. The opposition was strengthening. This extra money was propagandized against Tweed and stated as having been divided among Tweed, his subordinates and his cronies. The most excessive overcharging came in the form of the famous Tweed Courthouse, which cost the city $13 million to construct (the actual cost for the courthouse was about $3 million), leaving about $10 million for the pockets of Tweed and his gang. The city was also billed $3 million for city printing and stationery over a two-year period. The old New York County Courthouse is known as the Tweed Courthouse, built in the American Victorian style with funds obtained by the infamous William M. Boss Tweed. The courthouse is located at 52 Chambers Street, constructed from 1861–1872 by the architect John Kellum and Thomas Little. ...

While he was known primarily for the vast corrupt empire, Tweed was also responsible for building hospitals and orphanages, widening Broadway along the Upper West Side, and securing the land for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Upper West Side is a neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan in New York City that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River above West 59th Street. ... Metropolitan Museum of Art New York Elevation The Metropolitan Museum of Art, often referred to simply as the Met, is one of the worlds largest and most important art museums. ...

Tweed's arrest and subsequent flight

Tweed-le-dee and Tilden-dum
A Harper's Weekly cartoon depicts Tweed as a police officer saying to two boys, "If all the people want is to have somebody arrested, I'll have you plunderers convicted. You will be allowed to escape, nobody will be hurt, and then Tilden will go to the White House and I to Albany as Governor."

Tweed's demise came when one of the plunderers, dissatisfied with the amount he received, gave The New York Times evidence that conclusively proved that stealing was going on. The newspaper was reportedly offered $5 million to not publish the evidence. In a subsequent interview about the fraud, Tweed's only reply was, "Well, what are you going to do about it?" However, accounts in The New York Times and political cartoons drawn by Thomas Nast and published in Harper's Weekly resulted in the election of numerous opposition candidates in 1871. Tweed is attributed with exclaiming, "Stop them damned pictures. I don't care so much what the papers say about me. My constituents can't read, but,darn it, they can see pictures!" Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (530x608, 73 KB) http://hdl. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (530x608, 73 KB) http://hdl. ... Teresa Bagioli Sickles confession, 1859 Harpers Weekly (A Journal of Civilization) was an American political magazine based in New York City. ... Samuel Jones Tilden (February 9, 1814 - August 4, 1886) was the Democratic candidate for the US presidency in the disputed election of 1876, the most controversial American election of the 19th century. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Albany. ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... Teresa Bagioli Sickles confession, 1859 Harpers Weekly (A Journal of Civilization) was an American political magazine based in New York City. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

In October 1871, when Tweed was held on $8 million bail, Boss Tweed was the chief bondsman. The efforts of political reformers William H. Wickham (1875 New York City mayor) and Samuel J. Tilden (later the 1876 Democratic presidential nominee) resulted in Tweed's trial and conviction in 1873. He was given a 12-year prison sentence, which was reduced by a higher court and he served one year. He was then re-arrested on civil charges, sued by New York State for $6 million and held in debtor's prison until he could post $3 million as bail. On January 3, 1875, Tweed escaped and fled to Cuba. 1869 Tobacco label featuring Boss Tweed. ... William H. Wickham (July 30, 1832–January 13, 1893) was a New York City mayor and anti-Ring Democrat who helped to topple corrupt politician Boss Tweed. ... Samuel Jones Tilden (February 9, 1814 - August 4, 1886) was the Democratic candidate for the US presidency in the disputed election of 1876, the most controversial American election of the 19th century. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

His presence in Cuba was discovered by the U.S. government, and he was held by the Cuban government. Before the U.S. government could arrange for his extradition, Tweed bribed his way onto a ship to Spain. Before he arrived, the U.S. government discovered his eventual destination and arranged for his arrest as soon as he reached the Spanish coast. The Spanish authorities identified him, purportedly recognizing him from one of Nast's cartoons, and extradited him; he was delivered to authorities in New York City on November 23, 1876, where he died in the Ludlow Street Jail, just a few blocks from his childhood home, two years later on April 12, 1878, at the age of 55. He was buried in the Brooklyn Green-Wood Cemetery. New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1876 Pick up Sticks(MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Ludlow Street Jail was New York Citys federal prison, located on Ludlow Street and Broome Street in Manhattan. ... This article is about the borough of New York City. ... Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Kings County, New York, now in Brooklyn. ...

Tweed's Legacy

In studies of Tweed and the Tammany Hall machine, almost all histories and textbooks have condemned the corruption, graft, and conspiratorial nature of "Boss Tweed". History books in American schools have often also pointed out how he was exposed by cartoonist Thomas Nast and ended his days in Ludlow Street Jail. Exposers of machine corruption, like the Muckraker Lincoln Steffens, may speak of supporters of a machine as innocent or ignorant victims, but those voters expected and demanded rewards for their votes such as help in dealing with employers or landlords, finding jobs, or surviving periods of illness or unemployment. Thus, it was the rise of the social welfare concept of government that did most to weaken the machine politics.

Tweed's organization was neither the first nor the last instance of a political machine, but it may have been one of the most stupid. Tweed's over-reaching doomed him; with better judgment he might have remained in power much longer. Many big cities were governed by machines well into the 20th Century and machine-like political organizations persist to this day -- for example, in Chicago. In this 1899 cartoon from Puck, all of New York City politics revolves around boss Richard Croker A political machine is an unofficial system of a political organization based on patronage, the spoils system, behind-the-scenes control, and longstanding political ties within the structure of a representative democracy. ...

Legacy

• Boss Tweed was portrayed by Jim Broadbent in the 2002 film Gangs of New York.
• Tweed, portrayed as villainous and vindictive, was mentioned in chapter 14 of Neal Shusterman's young adult novel Downsiders.
• In the Elseworlds miniseries Green Lantern: Evil's Might, Tweed and Tammany Hall are featured as two of the main villains. This depiction of Tweed even goes as far as to mention Thomas Nast's political cartoons.
• In the 1977 science-fiction novel "The Ophiuchi Hotline" by John Varley, a crooked politician in the human-settled Moon of the 27th century takes up the name "Boss Tweed" in deliberate emulation of the 19th Century politician, and even names his Lunar headquarters "Tammany Hall".
• The role of Boss Tweed was originated by Noah Beery, Sr. in the 1945 original Broadway production of "Up In Central Park".
• Tweed has a cameo appearance of sorts in the novel Inferno by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. In Bolgia 5 of the Malebolge, demons are seen pulling Tweed out of the lake of boiling pitch and torturing him.

James Broadbent (born May 24, 1949) is an Academy Award-winning English theatre, film and television actor. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Gangs of New York is a 2002 film set in the middle 19th century in the Five Points district of New York City. ... Neal Shusterman (born 1962), is an American author of books for young adults, and a screenwriter. ... Downsiders is an award-winning 1999 novel by Neal Shusterman. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Ophiuchi Hotline is a science-fiction novel by John Varley. ... John Varley John Herbert Varley (born August 9, 1947 in Austin, Texas) is a Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Seiun Award and Prometheus Award Winning science fiction author. ... Inferno is a science fiction novel written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, published in 1976. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Jerry Eugene Pournelle, Ph. ... In Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, Malebolge is the eighth circle of Hell. ...

References

• 1. ^ Hershkowitz, Leo. Tweed's New York: Another Look, 1977.
• "Boss Tweed", Gotham Gazette, New York, 4 July 2005.
• Sante, Luc. Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York. Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2003.

Further reading

• Lynch, Denis T. Boss Tweed The story of a grim generation. Blue Ribbon Books NY first print 1927 copyright Boni & Liveright Inc.
• Mandelbaum, Seymour J. Boss Tweed's New York, 1965. ISBN 0471566527
• Ackerman, Kenneth D. Boss Tweed: The Rise and Fall of the Corrupt Politician Who Conceived the Soul of New York, 2006.
• Hershkowitz, Leo. Tweed's New York: Another Look, 1977.

Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

William M. Tweed

• William M. Tweed at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Tammany Hall Links
• Thomas Nast Caricatures of Boss Tweed & Tammany Hall