Fighting Organized Crime: Politics, Justice, and the Legacy of Thomas E. Dewey [Hardcover]

Mary M. Stolberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 1995

Mary M. Stolberg brings to life the dramatic interplay between crime and politics in New York City during the 1930s, from the emergence of organized crime as a political issue in Fiorella La Guardia's 1929 mayoral campaign to the appointment of Thomas E. Dewey as special prosecutor and his use of that position to further his presidential ambitions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A thoughtful and colorful account of the 'law and order' issue in Franklin Roosevelt's own New York State, showing how a young Republican, Thomas Dewey, captured the nation's attention and almost succeeded FDR in the White House by waging war on big time crime and Empire State politics." -- Calvin Woodard, University of Virginia

Review

"A thoughtful and colorful account of the 'law and order' issue in Franklin Roosevelt's own New York State, showing how a young Republican, Thomas Dewey, captured the nation's attention and almost succeeded FDR in the White House by waging war on big time crime and Empire State politics."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Northeastern (October 5, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555532454
• ISBN-13: 978-1555532451
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,053,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Full of Promise, but it doesn't deliver, August 22, 1999

By 

Michael D. Pratt (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fighting Organized Crime: Politics, Justice, and the Legacy of Thomas E. Dewey (Hardcover)

I would rate this book at 2 1/2 to 3 stars. The subject matter is interesting in that it covers a period of our history that has long thrilled Americans. The author knows her subject matter very well. My main problem with the book was that it bordered on revisionist. I got the feeling while reading it that the author believed that everyone Dewey prosecuted was innocent and was railroaded by a fixed system. She never comes right out and says it. I feel that if she really believed it should she just say it and not beat around the bush. Still, all in all I would recommend it. It gives you a a good flavor of organized crime and New York City in the 1930s.