Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist working for Harper’s Weekly, took it upon himself to harass the Tweed Ring continually with his drawings in an attempt to bring the ring down. During the crusade, Nast often focused his attention on Tweed. In one drawing entitled “Brains” Nast drew Tweed dressed in a three-piece business suit and replaced his head with a money bag to signify the money he had stolen from the city.

Tweed Demanded Pictures Stop

In time, the attention Nast focused on Tweed unnerved the ring’s political boss. Tweed demanded that the pictures be stopped. He did not care what the papers said about him. He knew many of his constituents could not read. “But they can’t help seeing them damned pictures,” Tweed remarked.

Tries to Bribe Nast

In 1871, the Tweed Ring tried to intimidate Nast and then bribe him. One day, an officer from the Broadway Bank, where the Tweed Ring kept its funds, came to visit Nast at his home. The banker told Nast that a group of wealthy men who admired Nast’s work wanted to send him to Europe to study art. He told Nast that they would pay him one hundred thousand dollars if he would go.

Nast was suspicious, and asked if they would raise the fee to two hundred thousand dollars. The banker said yes and added, “You need study and need rest. Besides, the Ring business will get you into trouble. They own all the judges and jurors and can get you locked up for libel. My advice is to take the money and get away.”

Nast convinced the Tweed Ring was trying to bribe him, asked “Don’t you think I could get five hundred thousand dollars to make the trip?”

The banker replied without hesitation, “You can get five hundred thousand dollars in gold to drop this Ring business and get out of the country.”

“Well, I don’t think I’ll do it,” replied Nast. “I made my mind up long ago to put some of those fellows behind bars and I’m going to put them there.”

 

[Excerpt from Thomas Nast: Political Cartoonist by Lynda Pflueger and e-book]