Roscoe Conkling Quotes
When Dr. [Samuel] Johnson called patriotism the last refuge of a scoundrel, he forgot the possibilities contained in the word Reform.
The then President Rutherford Hayes was an aggressive reform advocate who had instituted Civil Service reform which eliminated a large proportion of the patronage appointments of the Federal Government. Conkling a classic political boss of the era felt that Hayes’ motives were just pandering to voters and saw him as a scoundrel. See {589693}.
Roscoe Conkling, 1829-1888, U. S. Congressman & U.S. Senator (Republican, NY), Remark in the Senate, 1878
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
The para-military Minutemen were an ultra-right wing, armed, militant group whose members have been convicted of crimes of violence and illegal weapons possession. On July 4, 1966 Minutemen leaders formed a political party—the Patriotic Party:
- Born: October 30, 1829
- Died: April 18, 1888
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Politician
Roscoe Conkling was a lawyer and politician from New York who served both as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. He was the leader of the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party, the first Republican senator from New York to be elected for three terms, and the last person to turn down a U.S. Supreme Court appointment after he had already been confirmed to the post. While in the House, Conkling served as bodyguard for Representative Thaddeus Stevens, a sharp-tongued anti-slavery representative, and fully supported the Republican war effort. Conkling, who was temperate and detested tobacco, was known for his physical condition, maintained through regular exercise and boxing, an unusual devotion for his time. Conkling was elected to the Senate in 1867 as a leading Radical, who supported the rights of African Americans during Reconstruction.
