Menasha Public Library (Elisha D. Smith)

Corruption in America, from Benjamin Franklin's snuff box to Citizens United, Zephyr Teachout

eng

Includes bibliographical references (p. 313-358) and index

index present

non fiction

Corruption in America

bibliography

875999670

Zephyr Teachout

from Benjamin Franklin's snuff box to Citizens United

In 1785, Louis XVI presented Benjamin Franklin with a snuff box encrusted with diamonds and inset with the King's portrait. Americans believed it threatened to "corrupt" Franklin by altering his attitude toward the French in subtle psychological ways. In 2010, one of the most consequential Court decisions in American political history gave wealthy corporations the right to spend unlimited money to influence elections. With unlimited spending transforming American politics for the worse, warns Teachout, if the American experiment in self-government is to have a future, then we must revive the traditional meaning of corruption and embrace an old ideal

Four snuff boxes and a horse -- Intellectual influences on the framing conceptions -- Removing temptations -- An architecture of obstacles -- Corrupt kings, corrupt judges, and the critics -- Yazooism -- Is bribery without a remedy? -- The railroads, corruption, and judicial review -- Corrupt lobbying -- Treats, spoils, and the ballot with the flaming pink border -- Teddy Roosevelt's vision and the courts -- The jury decides -- Operation Gemstone -- Corrupt campaign contributions -- Citizens United -- The new snuff boxes -- Abstraction, innocence, dissonance, complacency, and contempt -- The revival of the American corruption principle -- Possibilities for current reform -- Conclusion -- Appendix 1: Anti-corruption constitutional provisions -- Appendix 2: Major twentieth-century anti-corruption law