Thomas C. Platt
Thomas Collier Platt (July 15, 1833 – March 6, 1910), also known as Tom Platt and Easy Boss, was an American politician who was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1873–1877) and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in 1881 and 1897 to 1909. He is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Upon his death, the New York Times stated that "no man ever exercised less influence in the Senate or the House of Representatives than he," but "no man ever exercised more power as a political leader." He considered himself the "political godfather" of many Republican governors of the state, including Theodore Roosevelt.
Thomas C. Platt | |
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Platt in 1903 | |
| United States Senator from New York | |
| In office March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1909 | |
| Preceded by | David B. Hill |
| Succeeded by | Elihu Root |
| In office March 4, 1881 – May 16, 1881 | |
| Preceded by | Francis Kernan |
| Succeeded by | Warner Miller |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York | |
| In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877 | |
| Preceded by | Horace B. Smith |
| Succeeded by | Jeremiah W. Dwight |
| Constituency | 27th district (1873–75) 28th district (1875–77) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Collier Platt July 15, 1833 Owego, New York |
| Died | March 6, 1910 (aged 76) New York City, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Yale College (did not graduate) |
| Signature | |
| This article is part of a series on |
| Conservatism in the United States |
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Platt played a key role in the creation of the City of Greater New York, which incorporated together the boroughs of New York (Manhattan), Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Richmond (Staten Island) and Bronx counties.