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Wikipedia

Political boss

February 21, 2023

In politics, a boss is a person who controls a faction or local branch of a political party. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves; most historical bosses did not, at least during the times of their greatest influence. Numerous officeholders in that unit are subordinate to the single boss in party affairs. Bosses may base their power on the support of numerous voters, usually organized voting blocs, and manage a coalition of these blocs and various other stakeholders. When the party wins, they typically control appointments in their unit, and have a voice at the higher levels. Reformers typically allege that political bosses are corrupt. This corruption is usually tied to patronage; the exchange of jobs, lucrative contracts and other political favors for votes, campaign contributions and sometimes outright bribes.

1869 tobacco label featuring Boss Tweed

History

The appearance of bosses has been common since the Roman Republic, and remains fairly common or maybe widespread today. In Spanish America, Brazil, Spain, and Portugal political bosses called caciques hold power in many places;[1] while in Italy they are often referred to as ras.[2] Bosses were a major part of the political landscape during the 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States, such as the political machine of Tammany Hall, which controlled financing of campaigns and influence via owing of favors to arrange patronage public appointments.

In the Southern United States, charismatic populist politicians like Huey Long commanded large networks of supporters. Similar practices existed in the northern cities, particularly New York City, where Boss Tweed (arguably the most infamous political boss) wielded control over the powerful Democratic political machine. In Denver, Colorado, during the 1890s Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith operated as the Republican party boss and political fixer.

Charles Brayton exercised great influence over the politics of turn of the 20th century Rhode Island.[3] He exemplified rural bossism within the Republican Party. Chicago had numerous colorful bosses, such as Democrats Hinky Dink and Bathhouse John.[4][page needed] Chicago's Republican counterparts included Big Bill Thompson, who became mayor in the 1920s.[5][page needed] One of Chicago's most iconic figures was longtime mayor and chairman of the Cook County Democratic Committee Richard J. Daley,[6][page needed] who had a major voice in state and national Democratic politics. With a few exceptions in the Southwest, such as Phoenix, most large cities of 100,000 or more in the early 20th century had machine organizations, and usually claimed one or more local bosses, most of which were Democrats. Some had a major impact and hold on state politics, such as E. H. Crump in Memphis, Tennessee.[7][page needed] A few bosses had reputations as reformers, such as Frank Hague of Jersey City.[8]

An October 2020 article in The Bulwark argued that Donald Trump's appeal to white working-class voters in the 2016 United States presidential election was driven by the same kind of paternalistic and localist mentality that was exploited by the Democratic political bosses of the early 20th century.[9] An April 2022 The New York Times article portrayed him as a modern party boss during his post-presidency.[10]

In popular culture

Boss Jim W. Gettys, portrayed by Ray Collins, is a secondary character in Citizen Kane and Charles Foster Kane's political rival for the post of Governor of New York.

The television series The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985) featured a character named Boss Hogg, played by Sorrell Booke.

Boss Tweed was portrayed by Philip Bosco in the 1986 TV movie Liberty, and by Jim Broadbent as a major supporting character in the 2002 film Gangs of New York.[11] Tweed is portrayed as a defender of the rights of minorities and helper of those in need in Pete Hamill's 2003 novel Forever.

The HBO television series Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014) focuses on Enoch "Nucky" Thompson (based on the historical Enoch L. Johnson), a Republican Party boss and gangster who controls Atlantic City, New Jersey during the Prohibition period (1920-1933).

Notable individuals

In the United States

See also: Category:American political bosses by state

In the United Kingdom

See also

References

  1. ^ Robert Kern, The caciques: oligarchical politics and the system of caciquismo in the Luso-Hispanic world. Albuquerque, University of New Mexico Press [1973]
  2. ^ I ras del voto "personale" che ondeggiano tra gli schieramenti
  3. ^ John D. Buenker, "The Politics of Resistance: The Rural-Based Yankee Republican Machines of Connecticut and Rhode Island". New England Quarterly (1974): 212–237.
  4. ^ Lloyd Wendt, and Herman Kogan, Lords of the Levee: The story of Bathhouse John and Hinky Dink (1944).
  5. ^ Douglas Bukowski, Big Bill Thompson, Chicago, and the politics of image (1998).
  6. ^ Mike Royko, Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago (1971)
  7. ^ G. Wayne Dowdy, Mayor Crump Don't Like It: Machine Politics in Memphis (Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2006)
  8. ^ Mark S. Foster, "Frank Hague of Jersey City: 'The boss' as reformer." New Jersey History 86#2 (1968): 106–117.
  9. ^ Stephanie Muravchik and Jon A. Shields, The Other Democratic Party, The Bulwark, October 4, 2020
  10. ^ Goldmacher, Shane (April 17, 2022). "Mar-a-Lago Machine: Trump as a Modern-Day Party Boss". The New York Times.
  11. ^ Ebert, Roger (2002-12-20). "Gangs of New York". suntimes.com. Retrieved 2009-05-17.

Further reading

  • H. F. Gosnell, Machine Politics (1937, repr. 1968);
  • S. Lubell, The Future of American Politics (3d ed. 1965);
  • E. C. Banfield and J. Q. Wilson, City Politics (1963, repr. 1966)

February 21, 2023
political, boss, politics, boss, person, controls, faction, local, branch, political, party, they, necessarily, hold, public, office, themselves, most, historical, bosses, least, during, times, their, greatest, influence, numerous, officeholders, that, unit, s. In politics a boss is a person who controls a faction or local branch of a political party They do not necessarily hold public office themselves most historical bosses did not at least during the times of their greatest influence Numerous officeholders in that unit are subordinate to the single boss in party affairs Bosses may base their power on the support of numerous voters usually organized voting blocs and manage a coalition of these blocs and various other stakeholders When the party wins they typically control appointments in their unit and have a voice at the higher levels Reformers typically allege that political bosses are corrupt This corruption is usually tied to patronage the exchange of jobs lucrative contracts and other political favors for votes campaign contributions and sometimes outright bribes 1869 tobacco label featuring Boss Tweed Contents 1 History 2 In popular culture 3 Notable individuals 3 1 In the United States 3 2 In the United Kingdom 4 See also 5 References 6 Further readingHistory EditThe appearance of bosses has been common since the Roman Republic and remains fairly common or maybe widespread today In Spanish America Brazil Spain and Portugal political bosses called caciques hold power in many places 1 while in Italy they are often referred to as ras 2 Bosses were a major part of the political landscape during the 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States such as the political machine of Tammany Hall which controlled financing of campaigns and influence via owing of favors to arrange patronage public appointments In the Southern United States charismatic populist politicians like Huey Long commanded large networks of supporters Similar practices existed in the northern cities particularly New York City where Boss Tweed arguably the most infamous political boss wielded control over the powerful Democratic political machine In Denver Colorado during the 1890s Jefferson Randolph Soapy Smith operated as the Republican party boss and political fixer Charles Brayton exercised great influence over the politics of turn of the 20th century Rhode Island 3 He exemplified rural bossism within the Republican Party Chicago had numerous colorful bosses such as Democrats Hinky Dink and Bathhouse John 4 page needed Chicago s Republican counterparts included Big Bill Thompson who became mayor in the 1920s 5 page needed One of Chicago s most iconic figures was longtime mayor and chairman of the Cook County Democratic Committee Richard J Daley 6 page needed who had a major voice in state and national Democratic politics With a few exceptions in the Southwest such as Phoenix most large cities of 100 000 or more in the early 20th century had machine organizations and usually claimed one or more local bosses most of which were Democrats Some had a major impact and hold on state politics such as E H Crump in Memphis Tennessee 7 page needed A few bosses had reputations as reformers such as Frank Hague of Jersey City 8 An October 2020 article in The Bulwark argued that Donald Trump s appeal to white working class voters in the 2016 United States presidential election was driven by the same kind of paternalistic and localist mentality that was exploited by the Democratic political bosses of the early 20th century 9 An April 2022 The New York Times article portrayed him as a modern party boss during his post presidency 10 In popular culture EditBoss Jim W Gettys portrayed by Ray Collins is a secondary character in Citizen Kane and Charles Foster Kane s political rival for the post of Governor of New York The television series The Dukes of Hazzard 1979 1985 featured a character named Boss Hogg played by Sorrell Booke Boss Tweed was portrayed by Philip Bosco in the 1986 TV movie Liberty and by Jim Broadbent as a major supporting character in the 2002 film Gangs of New York 11 Tweed is portrayed as a defender of the rights of minorities and helper of those in need in Pete Hamill s 2003 novel Forever The HBO television series Boardwalk Empire 2010 2014 focuses on Enoch Nucky Thompson based on the historical Enoch L Johnson a Republican Party boss and gangster who controls Atlantic City New Jersey during the Prohibition period 1920 1933 Notable individuals EditIn the United States Edit See also Category American political bosses by state Marion Barry 1936 2014 Bob Brady b 1945 Boss Cox 1853 1916 Richard Croker 1843 1922 Richard J Daley 1902 1976 Tom Dennison 1858 1934 Carmine DeSapio 1908 2004 Johnny Dougherty b 1960 Meade Esposito 1907 1993 M Harvey Taylor 1876 1982 James A Farley 1888 1976 Frank Hague 1876 1956 Boss Hesing 1823 1895 William J Jefferson b 1947 Enoch L Johnson 1883 1968 Huey Long 1893 1935 Joseph M Margiotta 1927 2008 John J McClure 1886 1965 Michael Cassius McDonald 1839 1907 Alexander McKenzie politician 1851 1922 Hugh McLaughlin 1827 1904 George Norcross b 1956 Daniel P O Connell 1885 1977 Frank Rizzo 1920 1991 Alexander Robey Shepherd 1835 1902 John F Street b 1943 Tom Pendergast 1873 1945 John S Williams 1835 1887 Boss Tweed 1823 1878 Donald J Trump b 1946 William Scott Vare 1867 1934 In the United Kingdom Edit Archibald Salvidge 1863 1928 See also Edit Politics portal United States portal United Kingdom portal Ancient Rome portalCorporatocracy Political corruption Za im systemReferences Edit Robert Kern The caciques oligarchical politics and the system of caciquismo in the Luso Hispanic world Albuquerque University of New Mexico Press 1973 I ras del voto personale che ondeggiano tra gli schieramenti John D Buenker The Politics of Resistance The Rural Based Yankee Republican Machines of Connecticut and Rhode Island New England Quarterly 1974 212 237 Lloyd Wendt and Herman Kogan Lords of the Levee The story of Bathhouse John and Hinky Dink 1944 Douglas Bukowski Big Bill Thompson Chicago and the politics of image 1998 Mike Royko Boss Richard J Daley of Chicago 1971 G Wayne Dowdy Mayor Crump Don t Like It Machine Politics in Memphis Univ Press of Mississippi 2006 Mark S Foster Frank Hague of Jersey City The boss as reformer New Jersey History 86 2 1968 106 117 Stephanie Muravchik and Jon A Shields The Other Democratic Party The Bulwark October 4 2020 Goldmacher Shane April 17 2022 Mar a Lago Machine Trump as a Modern Day Party Boss The New York Times Ebert Roger 2002 12 20 Gangs of New York suntimes com Retrieved 2009 05 17 Further reading EditH F Gosnell Machine Politics 1937 repr 1968 S Lubell The Future of American Politics 3d ed 1965 E C Banfield and J Q Wilson City Politics 1963 repr 1966 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Political boss amp oldid 1134243488, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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