Thomas Taggart: Public Servant, Political Boss 1856-1929 [Hardcover]

James Philip Fadely (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1997

Thomas Taggart, powerful political figure of the 1890s and boss of the Indiana Democratic machine during the first quarter of the twentieth century, has been called "the wiliest boss of them all." As the undisputed Democratic power in Indiana he consequently played a large role on the national political stage because of Indiana's position as a crucial swing state, a veritable battleground for the national parties, during his lifetime. Unlike many bosses, Taggart compiled a public record as auditor of Marion County (Indianapolis), mayor of Indianapolis, Democratic national committeeman, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and United States senator. He ran a statewide, rather than just an urban, machine, and he frequently championed progressive issues of the day. Here was a political boss who helped make the careers of progressives like Senator John Worth Kern; Samuel M. Ralston, governor and later senator; Thomas R. Marshall, governor and vice president; and President Woodrow Wilson. James Philip Fadely's biography of Thomas Taggart, the first to be published, revises the image we have developed of the machine boss. Based on exhaustive archival research, as well as on extensive interviews with family members, Dr. Fadely offers here the first complete telling of the colorful story of Thomas Taggert.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The colorful life and times of Hoosier Democratic party boss and businessman Thomas Taggart is explored in Thomas Taggart: Public Servant, Political Boss 1856-1929. Coming from a humble Irish immigrant background, Taggart worked his way up from clerk at the dining hall at the old Union Depot in Indianapolis to proprietor of two hotels in the capital city. With his hotels and other far-flung business interests, Taggart became one of the state's wealthiest men. In politics Taggart achieved renown as Marion County auditor, county Democratic chairman, state Democratic chairman, and three-time mayor of Indianapolis in 1895, 1897, and 1899. He held the post of Democratic National Committeeman from 1900 to 1916. In 1916 he served as a United States Senator. Thomas Taggart is a fascinating, exceptionally well researched, and engagingly written political biography. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 267 pages
• Publisher: Indiana Historical Society (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871951150
• ISBN-13: 978-0871951151
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,239,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Government > Congresses, Senates, & Legislative Bodies

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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars masterful depiction of personalized politics in swing state, January 3, 2000

By 

Glenn Ralston (Bloomington, IN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Thomas Taggart: Public Servant, Political Boss 1856-1929 (Hardcover)

James Fadely provides a masterful depiction of personalized politics in a demographically swing state, then as now. Includes insider views of Taggart's critical last minute push for Senator Samuel Ralston's presidential nomination in the horrendous Democratic Convention of 1924. Serves as good contrast to Robert Murrray's "The 103rd Ballot: Democrats and the Disaster in Madison Square Garden".