Tammany Hall Tells All: Insider Reveals How He Stole From the Government

Summary

Originally entitled Plunkitt of Tammany Hall (1905) is a classic of American political literature that records the candid, “plain talks” of George Washington Plunkitt, a powerful leader within New York City’s Tammany Hall political machine. Compiled by journalist William L. Riordon, the book is famous for its unapologetic defense of machine politics and its pragmatic “streetwise” philosophy.  It’s a guide for how to steal money by manipulating the political machinery. 

Plunkitt’s most enduring contribution to political discourse is his distinction between
"honest graft” and “dishonest graft".

• Honest Graft: Plunkitt defined this as using insider political information to make legal profits. His famous example was buying land he knew the city would soon need for a park or bridge, then selling it back at an inflated price—a practice he summed up with his (in)famous motto-

“I seen my opportunities and I took ‘em".

• Dishonest Graft: He strictly condemned illegal activities such as blackmailing saloonkeepers, working with gamblers, or robbing the city treasury directly.