biography
| name: |
Platt, Thomas Collier
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1833–1910)
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| biography:
| Political boss, US representative, and senator, born in Owego, New York, USA. He started in business as a druggist and eventually rose to become president of the United States Express Co (1880–1910). His political career began in 1870 through his alliance with Roscoe Conkling, and although he served in both the US House of Representatives (Republican, New York, 1873–7) and in the US Senate (Republican, New York, 1881, 1897–1909), he was most effective in state politics. He ran the powerful New York Republican machine through patronage and power plays (1881–1902), but his political downfall came as Theodore Roosevelt ascended in New York. Platt worked to have Roosevelt sidetracked as vice-president in 1900, but Roosevelt soon became president, and Platt lost much of his power. |
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