Boss Tweed

William Marcy Tweed was the most corrupt "American Politician" the state of New York has ever seen. Tweed was known as "Boss Tweed" and he was the first man to be the boss of New York after the ten year struggle. ("American Heritage") The Boss was the leader of a political machine, which was a political organization that controlled enough votes to maintain control over the community. Political machines were able to restructure the city governments; they also resulted in poorer services, corruption and aggravation of the immigrants and minorities. ("Encyclopedia of American History") He was able to infiltrate Tammany Hall and bribe or smooth-talk any government official that stood in his way. Famously, Tweed is known for the construction of the New York Courthouse. It wasn't until the New York Times wrote an exposé on Boss Tweed that his grafting became publicly known and finally consequences caught up with his actions.

William M. Tweed was born the son of a chair maker in New York in 1823. He attended public school and then followed in his father's footsteps by learning the trade also. Tweed was born on April 3, 1823 in New York City, New York. He started as a street fighter in the Cherry Hill section of the Lower East Side where he was one of eight children. Because of this, he was sent to a boarding school in New Jersey for a year, where he focused on accounting. He began his early careers as a volunteer fireman and later took part in forming the Americus Engine Company No. 6 (the Big Six) in 1848. ("Ackerman") Curiously enough, the cause for Tweed's burning desire for money has never been established, and because of the lack of any primary source in his early life, never will.

Tweed was a large man, to say the least. He never smoked and rarely drank but instead preferred feasting on ‘culinary delights', such as oysters, duck and tenderloin. He had 300 pounds packed on to his almost-6 foot frame. ("Ackerman") His reddish-brown hair was always kept away from his face, revealing his eyes that were described as both "foxy and gritty". ("American Heritage") The Boss had no problem in revealing his wealth and was often seen sporting a 10 1/2-carat diamond stickpin. His rise to fame began in 1851 when he was elected alderman.

By that time, in 1851, the Board of Aldermen was already known as the forty thieves.