Tom Pendergast

Thomas Joseph Pendergast (July 22, 1873-January 26, 1945) controlled Kansas City as a political boss. "Boss Tom" Pendergast gave workers jobs and helped elect politicians during the Great Depression, becoming wealthy in the process.

Thomas Joseph Pendergast was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1873. He was raised Catholic and had nine brothers and sisters. In the 1890s he worked in his brother's saloon in the West Bottoms. Here, his older brother taught him about the city's political system and the advantages of controlling blocks of voters.

After his brother's death, Pendergast began to control the region's Democratic Party. Under Pendergast, prohibition didn't keep the city from being filled with alcohol and gambling. Additionally many elections were fixed to keep political friends in power. In return, Pendergast's companies like Ready-Mixed Concrete were awarded government contracts. Under a $40 million bond program the city constructed many civic buildings during the Depression. Among these projects were the Jackson County courthouse in downtown Kansas City and the concrete "paving" of Brush Creek near the Country Club Plaza. Pendergast handpicked Harry S. Truman, the 1934 candidate for U.S. Senate.

In 1939 Pendergast was arraigned for failing to pay taxes on a bribe received to pay off gambling debts. After serving 15 months in prison at the nearby United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, he lived quietly at his home, 5650 Ward Parkway, until his death in 1945.

Pendergast ruled from a simple, two-story yellow brick building at 1908 Main Street. Messages marked with his red scrawl were used to secure all manner of favors. Although he was unquestionably corrupt and there were regularly shootouts and beatings on election days during his watch, history has tended to be kind to his legacy since the permissive go-go days gave rise to the golden era of Kansas City jazz (now commemorated at the American Jazz Museum at 18th and Vine) as well as a golden era of Kansas City building. In addition he spotted the talent of Harry Truman (dubbed derisively at the time as "the Senator From Pendergast"). Pendergast was famed for his common touch and helped pay the poor's medical bills, provided jobs and had famous Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the poor. One way or another Kansas City voter turnout tended to be close to 100 percent in the Pendergast days.

Pendergast's downfall is widely believed to have occurred after a falling out with Lloyd C. Stark. Pendergast had endorsed Stark (famed for Stark Apples and is reputed to have had the largest apple orchard in the country) for governor in 1936. Pendergast was out of the country during the election and his followers were even more obvious and corrupt than usual in Stark's successful election. With investigations looming Stark turned against Pendergast prompting federal investigations and the pulling of federal funds from Pendergast's control.

After Pendergast was convicted of income tax evasion, Stark sought to unseat Harry Truman in the 1940 U.S. Senate election. It was a very bitter battle that made both Missourians lifelong enemies as Truman successfully was elected after U.S. District Attorney Maurice Milligan who had prosecuted Pendergast also entered the race causing Milligan and Stark to split the anti-Pendergast vote.

Truman shocked many when as Vice President he attended the Pendergast funeral a few days after being sworn in and a few weeks before Truman succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt as President. 1908 Main is listed on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places[1] although not on the National Register of Historic Places.

Opponents of the Pendergast organization

Various reform groups at different times attempted to challenge Pendergast's control of the city's politics. Notable leaders of these attempts included:

• L. P. Cookingham
• Harold Luhnow
• R. E. McDonnell
• Samuel S. Mayerberg
• Loren Miller
• Maurice M. Milligan
• Spencer Salisbury

External Links

Missouri's Most Important Politician (History Essay at Secretary of State Office) - Includes photos and cartoons[2]

Truman Library FAQ on Truman-Pendergast[3]

KC Police Memorial on Pendergast[4]