Boss Tweed Busts Out

After more than a decade of power and graft, New York's Tammany Hall "Boss" William Tweed was finally sent to jail for embezzlement. On December 4, 1875, the 280 pound Boss managed a jailbreak.

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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

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Script by THG

#history #thehistoryguy #New York

[MichaelLeBlanc-pf]

In 1907, 'Mark Twain' wrote . . .
" The political and commercial morals of the United States are not merely food for laughter, they are an entire banquet."

[Schmuddel]

I'm working on my doctorate in history right now, and I can tell you that the only reason people believe "machine politics" ended is because it's nice to think so.

[archaicanarch]

In a lovely little synchronicity, I reached Gangs Of New York last night.
"The appearance of Law must be upheld, especially when it's being broken."

-BossTweed

[robertjensen]

A prisoner escaped by putting a paper towel over his face and walking out of jail.
There’s a Bounty on his head.

[leonardtreadway]

Thanks! All I keep thinking about is "Boss Hog" and Roscoe Coltrane 🤔😅👍👍✌️

[Paladin]

I imagine many people must have gone after him in civil court. After all, who didn't want a Tweed suit back then?

[danstotland]

The story of Boss Tweed plus cartoonist Thomas Nast is another tale and a half.

[ThreeDogsTraining]

The Tammany Hall building still stands in New York City. It's on the northeast corner of Union Square and still bears the name Tammany Hall.

[nautifella]

When I was working under a state funded, locally supervised grant program in SoCal, I used to call the county school HQ offices _Tammany Hall_ because the similarities were to obscene to ignore. But that operation was just a small part of a much larger, state wide operation. _Boss Tweed_ would be very proud of how his traditions are still being used.

[cpnscarlet]

Lance - The "Santa Fe Ring" in New Mexico deserves to be remembered.

[mikenixon]

Great piece, Lance. As I've often said, I always appreciate the story behind the story (re. Paul Harvey "The Rest of the Story"). Thank you for carrying on that tradition.

[KevinLuby-si]

The more things change the more they remain the same.

[Prfdt]

I have driven a truck into New York city, the traffic was hell but the history was all around, I could feel it

[theequalizer]

Nothing much has changed in New York. The corruption remains the same.

[desmcharris]

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes". Your shows as always, are masterpieces! Thank you.

[Chadswonderfulwalkingtours]

Watching from Mackinac Island Michigan

[christianfritz]

I remember boss tweed from my high school history book, though his inclusion was down to the picture of him with the money bag as a head, and a few simple sentences it always stuck with me. Nice to now know the whole story.

[lisapop]

Back then, 280lbs would have stuck out like a sore thumb

[jimmyf]

It is ironic that the Tweed Courthouse is no longer a used to hold court. Its furnishings are too opulent for the public. It is used for offices of city officials.

[jason]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.