Connecticut's Kingmaker: Enlightened Machine Politics in the Era of John Bailey, Democratic Boss
Author
Hotaling, Andrew Richard
Subject
Washington and Lee University -- Honors in Politics
Bailey, John M. (John Moran), 1904-1975
Connecticut
Politics and government
Twentieth century
Politicians--Psychology
Metadata
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Demonstrating that modem political machines could function effectively and efficiently without harming America's constitutional system, Boss John Bailey returned Madison's trust by creating a responsible, republican, and reform-minded Democratic organization in Connecticut, advancing both Wilsonian democratization through his cultivation of underrepresented minorities and Madisonian pluralism through his support of strong inter-party competition and intra-party compromise. Practicing enlightened machine politics, John Bailey embraced the opportunity to lead his party responsibly, breaking away from the Tammany mold of party bossism to support reform proposals like party primaries. Though these proposals would serve to ultimately weaken his power in Connecticut politics and encourage legislators to buck the party authority, Bailey seized on them as an opportunity to gain popular support for the growing Democratic coalition. In addition, given his pragmatic approach to policy and his habit of always looking ahead to "the next ballgame," Bailey's penchant for co-opting Progressive
proposals and making them his own demonstrated that the purposes of principled government and partisan politics were not mutually exclusive in Connecticut. [96] Understanding the practical influence of both the Wilsonian and Madisonian schools of political science, Bailey recognized that both ideas and interests were important to the preservation of his own power within republican government, neither of which he could ignore in forming legislative policy and selecting candidates for nomination. Thereby bridging the gap between the graft-oriented machines of America's past and the increasingly accountable party organizations of America's future, the Bailey machine embraced enlightened bossism as the means to provide responsible, republican government to Connecticut's citizens in an efficient, highly disciplined manner. . . . Encountering the legacy of John Bailey through these public figures and from the enduring Madisonian structures of government and party in Connecticut, students of Madison and professional politicians may rightly discover, as I have in this thesis, five essential maxims for effective strong party action. First, political machines are an inevitable and indispensable force in America politics and a boon to republican government and a democratic people if properly managed. Second, a strong party platform means little without effective, politically savvy candidates who can turn ideas into policy and provide stable, energetic leadership in government. Third, effective management of a party agenda for legislative action demands careful moderation of special interests and exceptional knowledge of government frameworks and power structures. Fourth, electoral success for political parties in republican government requires a strong commitment to recognizing and organizing minority voter constituencies. Fifth, political pragmatism and the willingness to compromise are not only virtuous, but are wholly expedient for the long-term purposes of party politics in government. [From concluding section]