Between roughly the Civil War and World War II, most American cities were at some point dominated by a boss and his machine. The term â??bossâ? referred not only a powerful politician, but one who acquired, held and exercised power outside the channels dictated by law. Progressive reformers fought the bosses for control of American city government for over a century. The Progressives ultimately won, or, at least, the bosses lost.
All this is well known. What is less well known is that the entire history of bossism is contained in three films: Martin Scorseseâ??s Gangs of New York (the origin), Preston Sturgesâ??The Great McGinty (the peak), and John Fordâ??s The Last Hurrah (decline).
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