In 1934 one could argue the most powerful man in America operated out of a dilapidated building in a run down area of Kansas City, Missouri. Tom Pendergast (TJ) headed a political machine so widespread and powerful that virtually every elected official and government employee in Missouri was touched to some degree by his patronage. Rare was the candidate who could win election swimming against Pendergast waters. Harry Truman, himself was created and wholly supported by TJ’s operation. Known as the “Senator from Pendergast” when he arrived in DC, Truman was in fact as honest a politician as one could find. That TJ allowed Truman the autonomy to carry out his duties in a completely transparent manner, often times at odds with the overt graft the organization required from others, speaks to the total confidence and control Pendergast exerted.
While Tom Pendergast ultimately met with ruin and prison, the result of an ill-timed trip abroad, colon cancer, and a serious horse betting addiction, at the zenith of his influence no political organization was ever more impressive.
He even inspired Jeff Smith’s arch-nemesis Jim Taylor in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, such was the noteriety of his machine. Yet and still, the Pendergast network was, like its boss, complex. It was corrupt and criminal to be sure, but it also delivered benefits to at least thousands, whose gratitude could always be counted on come Election Day.
It’s doubtful Donald Trump has sat through many movies, particularly productions with much of a plot and multiple characters. And it is more certain he has never read any book of history, or a biography, cover to cover. Getting through the preface and several pages of the first chapter would likely have him crowing with pride to anyone in the unfortunate spot of having to listen. Yet and still, were Trump to have a role model from our past, it would surely be Tom Pendergast.
More than anything else, Trump acts the part of a machine boss, granting patronage over, not just the US, but the entire world. He believes the goodies are his to dole out – pardons and tariffs, executive orders and regulatory relief, trade deals and endorsements – all his to bestow. His ignorance of government is genuine, his belief he hovers above accountability unshakable. “Negotiation” is simply what circumstances he imagines he can induce to reward or punish his counterpart.
Trump conflates his election with the omnipotence of one soley in charge of the fortunes of millions loyal to him. As the depression worsened in the early 30’s, the daily line to see old Tom Pendergast would extend blocks from his Kansas City office, all hoping for a job or benefit he alone had the ability to provide. When Trump sees the lines of his wretched core forming for one of his rallies, he, and I suppose they, fantasize about the same kind of power; but his acolytes will be forced to make do with a touch of heatstroke and 90 torturously boring minutes of their lives they will never get back.
When Trump meets with our allies and trading partners it is in the character of a Don ready to discuss territory. The zero-sum paradigm he relies on for context could be put forth by Sonny Corleone… “What’s mine is mine. What’s yours we can discuss…” Of course, all of the subtleties and careful intrigues men like Pendergast innately understood after years of developing their operation from the ground up are absent in Trump as he lurches from one tweet storm to the next. His real frailties await meetings with foes, who are treated to docile servility from Mr. Tough Guy. Indeed, the “Big Boss” persona is merely a fantasy our lawmakers seem intent on indulging. Where it leads is anybody’s guess; uncharted territory provides nothing more than uncertainty.
But make no mistake, these “instincts” analysts default to when coming up short in finding a way to describe utter cluelessness are merely the delusions of a faker, an imposter of no intellect, discernment or measurable educational base, careening from one self-made predicament to the next.
I can imagine myself with the baller skills of LeBron, but that doesn’t make it so. And my delusion is really only pertinent if some GM were stupid enough to put faith in my guff and feature me in his starting five. We’ve done that. TJ had a line for turning down those he felt were undeserving of his patronage… “we’ve got somebody else in mind.” While it’s more tactful than our naked emperor requires or deserves, its essentials need to be displayed yesterday, while we remain a going concern. BC