"Boss" Tweed : the story of a grim generation / by Denis Tilden Lynch.

26

"Boss" Tweed

inated for any important public office. He sent naturalized
Germans to the State Legislature and placed them on local
tickets. The Irish outnumbered the German immigrants two
to one. Tweed gave the Germans everything in his power,
short of the offices of Governor and Mayor.
At the zenith of his power, in 1870, the Mayor was A. Oakey
Hall, the Beau Brummell of the times-"'Elegant Oakey" he was
called. Tweed made him. Hall was a society favorite, clubman, and litterateur. He was a man of extraordinary talents.
He had been a Republican and was now a Democrat. He was
now a patron of Roman Catholics. He had been a KnowNothing. In a word, Hall was always on the side of power,
which to him spelled pelf.
Tweed admired the Elegant Oakey's brilliancy of mind. His
faultlessness of attire amused him. Early in March of that
year Tweed whispered to Hall. The Elegant Oakey at first
demurred. Tweed insisted. His word was law. The result
was that the Elegant Oakey reviewed the St. Patrick's Day
Parade of 1870 from a platform raised in front of the steps of
City Hall, wearing an emerald green coat and vest, and adorned
with a cravat of the same vivid hue.
Treed loved a good joke.