Ashbel P. Fitch
Champion of Old New York
by David F. Remington
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Pub Date Jul 01 2011 | Archive Date Sep 01 2012
Description
The concept of an "honest Tammany man" sounds like an oxymoron, but it became a reality in the curious career of Ashbel P. Fitch, who served New York City as a four-term congressman and a one-term city comptroller during the late nineteenth century. Although little known today, Fitch was well respected in his own day and played a pivotal role on both national and local stages.
In the U.S. Congress, Fitch was a passionate advocate of New York City. His support of tariff reform and his efforts to have New York City chosen as the site for an 1892 World Exposition reflected his deep interest in issues of industrialization and urbanization. An ardent defender of immigrant rights, Fitch opposed the xenophobia of the times and championed cosmopolitan diversity. As New York's comptroller, he oversaw the city's finances during a time of terrible economic distress, withstanding threats from Tammany Hall on one side and from Mayor William L. Strong's misguided reform administration on the other. In Ashbel P. Fitch, Remington succeeds in illuminating the independence and integrity of this unsung hero against the backdrop of the Gilded Age's corrupt politics and fierce party loyalty.
7 x 10, 328 pages, 32 black-and-white illustrations, notes, appendixes, bibliography, index
Advance Praise
"David Remington's biography of Ashbel Fitch has rescued this Gilded Age statesman from undeservedobscurity. As a congressman from Manhattan and then as New York CityController, Fitch was a shining example of probity and principle in an age notnoted for these virtues. Issues such as the tariff and gold standard thatusually cause a reader's eyelids to droop come excitingly alive in this book,which offers surprising new perspectives on American politics in the 1880s and1890s. "- James M. McPherson,Emeritus Professor of History at Princeton University
"In this well researched and nicely written bio, David Remington uses the storyof great grandfather, Ashbel Fitch, a signature politico from New York's GildedAge, to rediscover the City at a fascinating point in its constant state oftransition. He recreates a world of Tammany Hall fixers, immigrants ofevery stripe, reformers, socialists, and grasping entrepreneurs, peppered withfamiliar faces from Theodore Roosevelt to Jacob Ruppert to House Speaker ThomasBrackett Reed. This fine book is an essential tile in the mosaic of NewYork City history, and an enjoyable read to boot."- Kenneth D.Ackerman, Author of Boss Tweed: Rise and Fall of The Corrupt Pol whoConceived the Soul of Modern New York.
"Gives usinsight into some of the political ramifications of Gilded Age politics fromnational tariff and gold/silver currency to New York City issues of the Harlemship canal, public transit, consolidation of New York, and squabbles withRoosevelt and Waring in the Strong administration."- Harvey Strum, Professor of history andpolitical science, Sage Colleges
"In this richly detailed study,Fitch emerges as a talented and principled politician who followed anindependent course--often at great peril--to fight for important causes liketariff reform and fiscal responsibility. Remington has opened a window ona fascinating chapter of Gilded Age America." Edward O'Donnell, Associate Professor, College of the Holy Cross
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9780815609889 |
| PRICE | 45.00 |
| PAGES | 328 |
