Of Power, Politics and Patronage

Martin Tolchin, former New York Times correspondent, founder and former publisher and editor In Chief of "The Hill" Newspaper and a Public Policy Scholar of the Woodrow Wilson Center; and Susan Tolchin, University Professor in the School of Public Policy at George Mason University.

Patronage is a time-honored practice in American politics and one which the modern media rarely recognizes as a major legislative force. Yet broadly considered, from earmarks for small projects to major contracts and political appointments, patronage continues to be a major instrument for political persuasion. This has always been true. But styles in political patronage have changed since the dawn of the republic and today we are witnessing "Pinstripe patronage". Authors Martin and Susan Tolchin explain the expression and its implications.