He was born on November 17, 1842, in
Manhattan, New York City. He served in the
New York State Assembly (New York Co., 17th D.) between
1869 and
1873. He was a member of the
New York State Senate from 1884 to 1887 (11th D.), He was a cynically honest practitioner of what today is generally known as "
machine politics," patronage-based and frank in its exercise of power for personal gain. In one of his speeches, quoted in
Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, he describes the difference between dishonest and honest graft. For dishonest graft, one works solely for one's own interests. For honest graft, one pursues, at the same time, the interests of one's party, state, and person. Plunkitt defended his own actions, saying: "I could get nothin' at a bargain but a big piece of swamp, but I took it fast enough and held on to it. What turned out was just what I counted on. They couldn't make the park complete without Plunkitt's swamp, and they had to pay a good price for it. Anything dishonest in that?" Plunkitt was also a thoroughgoing party man, believing in appointments, patronage, spoils, and all of the practices curtailed by the
civil service law. He saw such practices as both the rewards and cause of patriotism. He hated the civil service system and fought against it politically. Plunkitt is also remembered for the line he used to defend his actions: "I seen my opportunities and I took 'em." On October 7, 1905, he underwent an operation for retro-peritoneal abscess, and almost died. He died on November 19, 1924, in
Manhattan, New York City. He was buried at the
Calvary Cemetery in
Queens. ==References==