William L. Riordon

About the Author

William L. Riordon was a pioneering journalist and political chronicler whose work captured the raw essence of American urban politics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in New York, Riordon immersed himself in the bustling world of Tammany Hall, the infamous Democratic machine that dominated city governance. As secretary to the colorful ward boss George Washington Plunkitt, he meticulously recorded Plunkitt's candid philosophies on graft, patronage, and practical politics, transforming them into a revealing memoir that exposed the inner workings of machine politics. Riordon's writing bridged journalism and history, offering an unvarnished look at the democratic process through the eyes of its most pragmatic practitioners. His legacy endures as a vital primary source for understanding the complexities of American political life during a transformative era.