The Boss and the Machine: A Chronicle of the Politicians and Party Organization

"The Boss and the Machine: A Chronicle of the Politicians and Party Organization" by Samuel P. Orth is a story about the rise of political parties and organizations in the United States during the early days. It focuses on how politicians and party systems became connected throughout history, using Tammany Hall as an example of machine politics and corruption. The book describes how political parties helped create democracy in America, starting from the conflicts between the Tories and Whigs in the colonies and moving through important events like the Constitution and leaders such as Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. It explains how party structures changed, leading to powerful political machines, describing the early use of caucuses and conventions, and then demonstrates how Tammany Hall grew to power in city politics, as personal gain and political power became mixed, and the challenges of fighting corruption with entrenched interests.