William Tweed
William Magear Tweed (1823-1878), more
commonly known in American
history as “Boss Tweed,” was an object of scathing criticism
by Thomas Nast.
Tweed was a New York City politician who led a group of corrupt politicians
who gained power in the Democratic party in 1863, when Tweed was elected
“Grand Sachem” of Tammany Hall. Originally a fraternal organization
formed in
1786, the Society of Tammany grew more political in the nineteenth century
and its building became the site where the Democratic party activists
often met.
Although he held minor elective offices, Tweed primarily exercised power
through his control of patronage, the ability to appoint supporters to
jobs in
New York City government. For instance, after he was appointed
commissioner of public works, Tweed enlarged the street maintenance crew
to
include twelve jobs as “manure inspectors.”
Not only did Tweed maintain and increase
his power by rewarding his
supporters, he also profited personally from business conducted by the
city of
New York. For a company to receive business contracts with the city, it
had to
inflate its prices and kick back a portion of its income to Tweed and
his closest
associates in local government. This coterie of corrupt politicians enriching
themselves at the public’s expense was known at the time as the Tweed
Ring.
The Tweed Ring was successful in part because
it was popular among many
voters, especially the Irish immigrants who had flooded the city in search
of a
better livelihood. Tweed and his friends ensured that Irish-American supporters
received jobs and other assistance from the city government and from
companies doing business with the city.
For Nast, Tweed personified two great evils
afflicting American society after
the Civil War: corruption and greed, on the one hand, and the influence
of Irish
immigrants on the other. Harper’s Weekly and the New York
Times crusaded
against corruption in city government in 1870 and 1871. Nast used his
talents in
a campaign to undermine Tweed and rally good government forces to
overthrow the boss. Cartoon after cartoon pictured Tweed as a thief. In
addition to his caricatures of Tweed, Nast created the Tammany Tiger as
a
symbol for the Ring, and sometimes he used it as a more general symbol
for the
Democratic Party.
Nast succeeded in creating a negative image
of Boss Tweed but was less
successful in turning him out of power. Eventually, rivals in the Democratic
Party,
who sought the spoils of office for themselves, turned on Tweed. They
provided
evidence of his corruption to local newspapers, which eventually gave
prosecutors the proof needed to convict Tweed. Businesses hoping to recover
money extorted by the Tweed Ring also sued the fallen boss. He eventually
fled
the country, but was captured and returned. Tweed died in prison.