Profile of George Washington Plunkitt, Politican

Profile of George Washington Plunkitt, Politican George Washington Plunkitt was a  Tammany Hall politician who wielded clout in New York City for decades. He amassed a fortune by engaging in various schemes which he always claimed had been honest graft. When collaborating  on an eccentric book about his career in 1905 he brazenly defended his long and complicated career in machine politics. And he suggested his own epitaph, which became famous:  He seen his opportunities and he took em.   During Plunkitts political career he held a variety of patronage jobs. He boasted of having held four government jobs in one year, which included a particularly prosperous stretch when he was paid for three jobs simultaneously. He also held elected office in the New York State assembly until his steady seat there was taken from him on a very violent primary election day in 1905. After Plunkitt died at the age of 82 on November 19,  1924, the New York Times published three substantial articles about him within four days. The newspaper essentially reminisced about the era when Plunkitt, generally seated on a bootblack stand in a courthouse lobby, dispensed political advice and handed out favors to loyal supporters. There have been skeptics who claimed that Plunkitt greatly exaggerated his own exploits and that his political career was not nearly as flamboyant as he later claimed. Yet theres no doubt he had extraordinary connections in the world of New York politics. And even Plunkitt exaggerated the details, the stories he told of political influence and how it worked was very close to the truth. Early Life The New York Times headline announcing Plunkitts death noted that he had been born on Nannys Goats Hill. That was a nostalgic reference to a hill that would eventually be within Central Park, near West 84th Street. When Plunkitt was born on November 17,  1842, the area was  essentially a shanty town. Irish immigrants lived in poverty, in ramshackle conditions in what was largely a wilderness far removed from the growing city farther south in Manhattan.   Growing up in a rapidly transforming city, Plunkitt  went to public school. In his teens, he worked as a butchers apprentice. His employer helped him start his own  business as a butcher at Washington Market in lower Manhattan (the sprawling market along the Hudson River was the future site of many office buildings including the World Trade Center). He later went into the construction business, and according to his obituary in the New York Times, Plunkitt built many of the docks on Manhattans Upper West Side. Political Career First elected to the New York State Assembly in 1868, he also served as an alderman in New York City. In 1883 he was elected to the New York State Senate. Plunkitt became a power broker within Tammany Hall, and for nearly 40 years was the undisputed boss of the 15th Assembly District, a heavily Irish bastion  on Manhattans West Side. His time in politics coincided with the era of Boss Tweed, and later Richard Croker. And even if Plunkitt  later exaggerated his own importance, theres no doubt  he had witnessed some remarkable times.   He was eventually defeated in a primary election in 1905 which was marked by violent eruptions at the polls. After that, he essentially retreated from day-to-day politics. Yet he still kept a public profile as a constant presence in government buildings in lower Manhattan, telling stories and regaling a circle of acquaintances. Even in retirement, Plunkitt would stay involved with Tammany Hall. Every four years he was appointed to make the travel arrangements as New York politicians traveled by train to the Democratic National Convention. Plunkitt was a fixture at the conventions and was deeply disappointed when ill health a few months before his death prevented him from attending the 1924 convention.   Plunkitts Fame In the late 1800s, Plunkitt became quite wealthy by habitually buying up land which he knew the city government would eventually need to buy for some purpose. He justified what he did as being honest graft. In Plunkitts view, knowing something was going to happen and capitalizing on it was not corrupt in any way. It was simply smart. And he openly bragged about it. Plunkitts openness about the tactics of machine politics became legendary. And in 1905 a newspaperman, William L. Riordon, published a book Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, which was essentially a series of monologues in which the old politician, often hilariously, expounded on his life and his theories of politics.  His lively accounts of how the Tammany machine operated may not have been well-documented, but they give a solid sense of what it must have been like it New York City politics in the late 1800s. He always steadfastly defended his own political style and the workings of Tammany Hall. As Plunkitt put it: So, you see, these fool critics don’t know what they’re talkin’ about when they criticize Tammany Hall, the most perfect political machine on earth. Sources George W. Plunkitt Dies At 82 Years, New York Times, 20 Nov. 1924, p 16. Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, New York Times, 20 Nov. 1924, p. 22. Plunkitt, Champion of Honest Graft, New York Times, 23 Nov. 1924, p. 177.

How to Write a PhD Personal Statement

How to Write a PhD Personal Statement How to Write a PhD Personal Statement A person might be required to write a personal statement when he or she is completing a PhD application. Professionals in this area have specific guides that need to be followed when completing the application process. The reader is supposed to understand what type of PhD program is being sought and the reasons behind the student’s preference to study in the proposed university. The reader must understand clearly what is of most interest to the customer in the specific field of study. A good PhD personal statement should have all of these details, and the writer should be able to provide a background of their earlier academic credentials and empirical experience which may highlight his or her interest in the specific area of study. When applying for a PhD, experience and prior knowledge is very important to help convince the board that one actually qualifies for the program. This is the highest level of study and hence professionalism and integrity applies at all times. As such, the skills and experience acquired by the applicant are vital in the process of transition from the undergraduate program to the postgraduate program. This also guarantees the level of success in the area of study. One may not want to apply the same statement to every application, and instead make each application unique based on the area of interest and the person who will be reading it. In addition, it is of great use to a writer if they conduct thorough research on the University that offers the program that they are applying to. Grammar and type of vocabulary used must be well thought out. Very long sentences with repetition should be avoided at all cost. The sentences should be short and precise and the tone of the statement should be positive and enthusiastic. The word limit should also be adhered to. The statement should be structured with an introduction, main body and a conclusion. The purpose of the introduction is to captivate the reader and make them interested in reading the statement to the end. The reasons for choosing that particular institute of learning must be explained and the individual’s strength and personal skills should also be highlighted. The ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team should be brought out by the writer. What’s more, the relevance of the undergraduate program to the PhD study should be described to demonstrate the foundation which was laid for further research and study. The career aim should be exemplified to demonstrate the intended c ontribution to society. One must try to make their statement unique; it must stand out among the rest. Professional personal statement help at is provided by academic experts. They can write a custom personal statement paper starting at $13/page. High quality and on-time delivery guarantee!