In the

politics Politics () is the set of activities that are associated with decision-making, making decisions in social group, groups, or other forms of power (social and political), power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of Social sta ...

of the

United States of America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...

, a boss is a person who controls a faction or local branch of a

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...

. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves; most historical bosses did not, at least during the times of their greatest influence. Numerous officeholders in that unit are subordinate to the single boss in party affairs. Bosses may base their power on the support of numerous voters, usually organized voting blocs, and manage a coalition of these blocs and various other stakeholders. When the party wins, they typically control appointments in their unit, and have a voice at the higher levels. Reformers typically allege that political bosses are

corrupt Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense that is undertaken by a person or an organization that is entrusted in a position of authority to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's gain. Corruption may involve activities ...

. This corruption is usually tied to

patronage Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, art patronage refers to the support that princes, popes, and other wealthy and influential people ...

: the exchange of jobs, lucrative contracts and other political favors for votes, campaign contributions and sometimes outright bribes.

History

In Spanish America,

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

, and

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

political bosses called '' caciques'' hold power in many places, while in

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

they are often referred to as '' ras''. Bosses were a major part of the political landscape during the 19th and early 20th centuries in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, such as the political machines of Tammany Hall in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

and the Choctaw Club in

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

, which controlled financing of campaigns and influence via owing of favors to arrange patronage public appointments. In the

Southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, Dixieland, or simply the South) is List of regions of the United States, census regions defined by the United States Cens ...

, charismatic populist politicians like Huey Long commanded large networks of supporters. Similar practices existed in the northern cities, particularly

, where Boss Tweed (arguably the most infamous political boss) wielded control over the powerful Democratic political machine. In

Denver Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

, Colorado, during the 1890s Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith operated as the Republican party boss and political fixer. Charles Brayton exercised great influence over the politics of turn of the 20th century

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...

. He exemplified rural bossism within the Republican Party.

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

had numerous colorful bosses, such as Democrats Hinky Dink and Bathhouse John, and Pat Marcy. Chicago's Republican counterparts included Big Bill Thompson, who became mayor in the 1920s. One of Chicago's most iconic figures was longtime mayor and chairman of the Cook County Democratic Committee Richard J. Daley, who had a major voice in state and national Democratic politics. With a few exceptions in the Southwest, such as Phoenix, most large cities of 100,000 or more in the early 20th century had machine organizations, and usually claimed one or more local bosses, most of whom were Democrats. Some had a major impact and hold on state politics, such as E. H. Crump in

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...

. A few bosses had reputations as reformers, such as Frank Hague of Jersey City. Political bosses exist today. ''

Politico ''Politico'' (stylized in all caps), known originally as ''The Politico'', is an American political digital newspaper company founded by American banker and media executive Robert Allbritton in 2007. It covers politics and policy in the Unit ...

'' in 2019 described insurance executive George Norcross as New Jersey's "most powerful unelected official", with "nearly uncontested control of South Jersey's Democratic machine". An October 2020 article in '' The Bulwark'' argued that

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

's appeal to white working-class voters in the 2016 United States presidential election was driven by the same kind of paternalistic and localist mentality that was exploited by the Democratic political bosses of the early 20th century. An April 2022 ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' article portrayed him as a modern party boss during his post-presidency.

In popular culture

Boss Jim W. Gettys, portrayed by Ray Collins, is a secondary character in '' Citizen Kane'' and Charles Foster Kane's political rival for the post of Governor of New York. The television series '' The Dukes of Hazzard'' (1979–1985) featured a character named Boss Hogg, played by Sorrell Booke. Boss Tweed was portrayed by Philip Bosco in the 1986 TV movie ''Liberty'', and by Jim Broadbent as a major supporting character in the 2002 film '' Gangs of New York''. Tweed is portrayed as a defender of the rights of minorities and helper of those in need in Pete Hamill's 2003 novel ''Forever''. The

HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...

television series '' Boardwalk Empire'' (2010–2014) focuses on Enoch "Nucky" Thompson (based on the historical Enoch L. Johnson), a fictional Republican Party boss and gangster who controls

Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Atlantic City comprises the second half of ...

during the Prohibition period (1920–1933).

Notable individuals

In the United States

* Marion Barry (1936–2014) * Bob Brady (b. 1945) * Boss Cox (1853–1916) * Richard Croker (1843–1922) * Boss Crump (1874–1954) * Richard J. Daley (1902–1976) * Tom Dennison (1858–1934) * Carmine DeSapio (1908–2004) * Johnny Dougherty (b. 1960) * Meade Esposito (1907–1993) * M. Harvey Taylor (1876–1982) * James A. Farley (1888–1976) * Frank Hague (1876–1956) * William King Hale (1874–1962) * Boss Hesing (1823–1895) * William J. Jefferson (b. 1947) * Enoch L. Johnson (1883–1968) * Huey Long (1893–1935) * Joseph M. Margiotta (1927–2008) * John J. McClure (1886–1965) * Michael Cassius McDonald (1839 – 1907) * Alexander McKenzie (politician) (1851–1922) * Hugh McLaughlin (1827–1904) * George Norcross (b. 1956) * Daniel P. O'Connell (1885–1977) * Tom Pendergast (1873–1945) * Frank Rizzo (1920–1991) * Alexander Robey Shepherd (1835–1902) * D. C. Stephenson (1891–1966) * John F. Street (b. 1943) * Boss Tweed (1823–1878) * William Scott Vare (1867–1934) * John S. Williams (1835–1887)

In the United Kingdom

* Archibald Salvidge (1863–1928)

References

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