Boss Tweed's New York

by Seymour J. Mandelbaum

Book Overview

Amidst the turbulent political and social conditions of a metropolis in the making, Boss Tweed was, according to Mr. Mandelbaum, the right man at the right time-"a master communicator" who "united the elements in a divided society." This is a cogent case study in the democratization of American society. With a new preface by the author.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0929587200
• ISBN13: 9780929587202
• Release Date: July 1990
• Publisher: Rlpg/Galleys
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Terrific Read and a Terrific Resource

Most people's concept of William Meagher "Boss" Tweed, if any, is that of a manipulative mastermind who understood how to best bilk New Yorkers out of tens of millions of dollars, only to be brought down by a resentful member of his "ring" and the brilliant political cartoons of Thomas Nast. Seymour Mandelbaum's study, BOSS TWEED'S NEW YORK, reveals that this is a gross minimalization of the facts.As the title suggests, it was New York's political and economic machinery of the times that made it easy for anyone to loot the public's coffers. Other politicians before Tweed took advantage of this vulnerability. In fact, many New Yorkers bitterly accepted that graft was a way of life. Mandelbaum goes to great pains to explain, however, that it was the degree to which Tweed took advantage of these weaknesses that set him apart from other thieves. But the more interesting aspect of BOSS TWEED'S NEW YORK is the discussion of Tweed's downfall. There was much more to it than Nast's wonderful cartoons or the informant's testimony. Again, as the title explains, it was New York itself--it's changing immigrant make-up, the proliferation of the press, and the compression of communication between political wards--that accelerated his decline. The point is that the real subject of this book is New York City during and just after the Civil War years. It is a provocative and surprising account of the metropolis under unprecedented changes and pressures. Changes and pressures that came so quickly that the mighty Tweed could not keep up with them.And this has been a gross minimalization of Mr. Mandelbaum's thesis. Read it for yourself. You will find it an invaluable addition to your collection of books on political or New York history.Rocco Dormarunno, author of The Five Points

Most exellent book

This is a most exellent book. I had a report due and it saved me from certain failure. *~Peace~*