Roscoe

Author’ Note

This is a novel, not history. There was a political machine in Albany comparable to the one in this book, and some of the events here correspond to historical reality, and some characters here may seem to be real people. But I don’t do that sort of thing. These are all invented characters, the McCalls, the Fitzgibbonses, even Al Smith and Jack Diamond; and their private lives are fictional. They might be better than their prototypes (if they have any), they might be worse; but I hope they and their book are true. As Roscoe points out, truth is in the details, even if you invent the details.

For some of the details I owe abundant thanks: to my assiduous researcher of so many years, Suzanne Roberson, who finds whatever I need, including things I don’t yet know I need; to Bettina Corning Dudley, who gave me access to her-father-theMayor’s cabin and certain of his papers; to Dr. Juan Vilaró and Kiki Brignoni, who introduced me to fighting chickens; to Dr. Alan Spira, who gave me pericardial counsel; to Judge David Duncan, my legal counselor; to Joe Brennan, who twenty or more years ago gave me his World War One diary in hopes I would find a way to use it, and so I have — but Joe should not be held responsible for what Roscoe did with his war; to Bertie Reddish, who told me some exceedingly rare stories; to Detective Lieutenant Ted Flint, who has talked to me for fifty years about being an Albany cop; to Rikke Borge and her fellow trainer, Richard (Pinky) Edmonds, MOL, who counseled me on horses; to Paul Grondahl for his illuminating biography of Mayor Erastus Corning; and to S. K. Heninger Jr. from whom Roscoe learned about Pythagorean order and virtue.

I owe thanks to people who told me great stories: John and Tony Treffilerti, Ira Mendelsohn, Betty Blatner, Mae Carlsen, Peggy O’Connell Jensen, Marge and Andy Rooney, Ruth Glavin, Johnny Camp, Fortune Macri, and I revisit endlessly the marathon conversations I had with leaders and insiders, early and late, major and minor, and certain effective enemies of the Albany political organization; enemies first: Victor Lord, a Liberal, Congressman/editor Dan Burton, State Senator Walter Langley, and Assemblyman Jack Tabner, all Republicans; and the De mo c ratic players: Mayor Corning, the unbeatable, Mayor Tom Whalen, the first reformer, Mayor Gerry Jennings, the incumbent from North Al bany, Charley Ryan, Frank Schreck, Bob Fabbricatore, Swifty Mead, Johnny Corscadden, Joe Zimmer, Sheriff Jack McNulty, As semblymen Dick Con ners and Jack McEneny, Congressman/newsman Leo O’Brien, the Judges John Holt-Harris, James T. Foley, Edward Conway, Martin Schenck, and Francis Bergan, and the boss himself, Daniel Peter O’Connell.

Countless others, including unnamable Democrats, bemused Republicans, hostile reformers, a felon or two, and news reporters and editors back to pre-Prohibition days, enhanced my knowledge of the machine.

But don’t blame any of the people above for what’s in this novel. Blame Roscoe.