Rhetorica Jun 2024

George Washington Plunkitt, Patronage, and Irish Catholic Identity in Tammany Hall

Emilio Horner

Abstract

Abstract: This paper is a rhetorical analysis of Plunkitt of Tammany Hall , a book of “plain talks” by George Washington Plunkitt. Plunkitt was a prominent politician in the Tammany machine. These talks expose the inner workings of how politicians become wealthy, how Tammany operated, and how to build a political machine. He rails against his enemies—those in the civil service, the Albany government, and the Republicans, to name a few. Ultimately, Plunkitt’s rhetoric is persuasive due to his use of Irish ethnic and Catholic religious identification, his appeals to the material efficacy of patronage politics, and his populist rhetorical style.

Journal
Rhetorica
Published
2024-06-01
DOI
10.1353/rht.2024.a950947
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Topics
modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism voice and style race and writing
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