Atlantic City is located off the southeast coast of New Jersey. It became a popular resort town in the mid 19th century. The island in which Atlantic City is located was a hub in which several railroads traveled. These railroads brought tourists, which in turn stimulated growth in hospitality services and businesses. According to Linky, “By the 1880s, apart from the sea and the sand, Atlantic City entrepreneurs had created man-made attractions that drew thousands of visitors. Its boardwalk, built in 1870 to keep hotel guests from tracking sand in hotel lobbies and railroad cars, became lined with amusements and entertainment offerings” (p.6, n.d.). The appeal of Atlantic City during this time brought in families from surrounding areas. It was a booming time for Atlantic City.
Atlantic City, because of its growth and profitability, saw a period of corrupt political leadership. Atlantic City had a rise in racketeering and dishonesty beginning in the 1880s. The first man that began this behavior was Louis Kuehnle. Kuehnle was a “son of the owner of a hotel which became the favored meeting place for South Jersey Republicans” (Linky, n.d., p.8). This particular hotel, The Kuehnle Hotel, was very profitable but not without illegal activity. The Kuehnle Hotel, provided illegal activities such as prostitution, gambling and liquor (Louis “commodore” kuehnle, n.d.). Because of his connections within this hotel and this Republican organization, Kuehnle was able to become a very wealthy man. Although Kuehnle was involved in illegal activities, Atlantic City and its businesses were growing and the majority of those on the “outside” seemed to tolerate his behavior.
One adversary of Kuehnle was Woodrow Wilson. Wilson won the gubernatorial election in the state of New Jersey in 1910, defeating Republican Charles Evans Hughes. Although Hughes lost, it wasn’t without the efforts of Kuehnle. Kuehnle was involved in voter fraud where he and his organization paid people to vote for Hughes, even acting as deceased citizens. After winning governor, Wilson attacked Kuehnle and his corruptness. According to Linky, “The Wilson Administration’s first attempts to indict Kuehnle for election fraud failed when a county grand jury, with its members selected by the sheriff from [Kuehnle’s] supporters, rejected widespread evidence of ballot-stuffing and tampering” (p.9). Kuehnle was eventually sentenced to jail time for getting paid on “kick-backs” based off a county contract. With Kuehnle out of the picture, a new leader continued the corruptness in Atlantic City. His name was Enoch “Nucky” Johnson.
Atlantic City, because of its growth and profitability, saw a period of corrupt political leadership. Atlantic City had a rise in racketeering and dishonesty beginning in the 1880s. The first man that began this behavior was Louis Kuehnle. Kuehnle was a “son of the owner of a hotel which became the favored meeting place for South Jersey Republicans” (Linky, n.d., p.8). This particular hotel, The Kuehnle Hotel, was very profitable but not without illegal activity. The Kuehnle Hotel, provided illegal activities such as prostitution, gambling and liquor (Louis “commodore” kuehnle, n.d.). Because of his connections within this hotel and this Republican organization, Kuehnle was able to become a very wealthy man. Although Kuehnle was involved in illegal activities, Atlantic City and its businesses were growing and the majority of those on the “outside” seemed to tolerate his behavior.
One adversary of Kuehnle was Woodrow Wilson. Wilson won the gubernatorial election in the state of New Jersey in 1910, defeating Republican Charles Evans Hughes. Although Hughes lost, it wasn’t without the efforts of Kuehnle. Kuehnle was involved in voter fraud where he and his organization paid people to vote for Hughes, even acting as deceased citizens. After winning governor, Wilson attacked Kuehnle and his corruptness. According to Linky, “The Wilson Administration’s first attempts to indict Kuehnle for election fraud failed when a county grand jury, with its members selected by the sheriff from [Kuehnle’s] supporters, rejected widespread evidence of ballot-stuffing and tampering” (p.9). Kuehnle was eventually sentenced to jail time for getting paid on “kick-backs” based off a county contract. With Kuehnle out of the picture, a new leader continued the corruptness in Atlantic City. His name was Enoch “Nucky” Johnson.
Nucky Johnson would hold the title of Republican leader and County treasurer while running Atlantic City. Under his 30 year reign, there was plenty of corruption, but Atlantic City prospered. Nucky held these titles during the Prohibition-Era in the United States. The Prohibition-Era began in the 1920s and was in place to ban production and sales of alcohol. Nucky, on the other hand, ignored this mandate and promoted the sale of alcohol, among other things, in Atlantic City. According to Linky, Johnson even promoted this illegal behavior as he was quoted, saying, “We have whisky, wine, women and slot machines,” he conceded. “I won’t deny it and I won’t apologize for it. If the majority of the people didn’t want them they wouldn’t be profitable and they wouldn’t exist. The fact that they do exist proves to me that the people want them” (p.10). Atlantic City prospered during this time because people went out of their way to partake in illegal activity. Although illegal, people clearly had a desire and need that was fulfilled when visiting Atlantic City.
Nucky Johnson wasn’t only involved with illegal activity when it came to sale of alcohol. He also was able to work his power in the political game. He supported Walter Edge, a republican governor candidate, with generous monetary donations that helped Edge win over Otto Wittpenn. Edge and Johnson’s relationship would momentarily build off of this election win as Nucky was appointed the clerk of the State Supreme Court. They were able to help each other whenever either needed it because of their status and power. Edge rewarded Johnson with plans to build a bridge from Philadelphia to Atlantic City in hopes of bringing more tourists to Atlantic City. Their relationship was short lived as Edge was out as governor in 1919 (Linky, p.11).
Nucky continued to influence many people in his time and was involved heavily in many facets of Atlantic City life. Like noted earlier, Nucky was adept in circumventing the mandate to prohibit alcohol. According to Linky, “some 40 percent of all alcohol smuggled into the country was estimated to come through Atlantic City’s shoreline, coves and beaches” (p.12). Johnson benefitted greatly from this business of buying and selling illegal alcohol. He was reimbursed by speakeasies and hotels that engaged in the illegal behavior. Also, the city itself was booming.
By 1925, according to Johnson (2002), Atlantic City had:
Nucky Johnson wasn’t only involved with illegal activity when it came to sale of alcohol. He also was able to work his power in the political game. He supported Walter Edge, a republican governor candidate, with generous monetary donations that helped Edge win over Otto Wittpenn. Edge and Johnson’s relationship would momentarily build off of this election win as Nucky was appointed the clerk of the State Supreme Court. They were able to help each other whenever either needed it because of their status and power. Edge rewarded Johnson with plans to build a bridge from Philadelphia to Atlantic City in hopes of bringing more tourists to Atlantic City. Their relationship was short lived as Edge was out as governor in 1919 (Linky, p.11).
Nucky continued to influence many people in his time and was involved heavily in many facets of Atlantic City life. Like noted earlier, Nucky was adept in circumventing the mandate to prohibit alcohol. According to Linky, “some 40 percent of all alcohol smuggled into the country was estimated to come through Atlantic City’s shoreline, coves and beaches” (p.12). Johnson benefitted greatly from this business of buying and selling illegal alcohol. He was reimbursed by speakeasies and hotels that engaged in the illegal behavior. Also, the city itself was booming.
By 1925, according to Johnson (2002), Atlantic City had:
- “More than 1,200 hotels and boardinghouses capable of accommodating nearly 400,000 visitors at a time.
- Ninety-nine trains in and out daily in the summer, and 65 daily in the winter. Of the 16 fastest trains in the world, 11 were ins service to Atlantic City.
- A Boardwalk lined with hundreds of businesses, extending seven miles.
- Five ocean piers with amusements
- Twenty-one theatres
- Four newspapers: two daily, one Sunday, and one weekly.
- Three country clubs.
- Three airports - two for seaplanes and one for land planes
- The Easter Parade and the Miss America Pageant” (p.90)
Nucky Johnson was a very controlling and influential man in Atlantic City. Like Kuehnle, most of his dealings were corrupt. Nucky was successful in building up this tourist location during the Prohibition-Era by providing products that couldn’t be found elsewhere. He was powerful in the political, social, and economic sector as well as organized crime in Atlantic City. According to Johnson, “speakeasy owners, gambling room operators, number writers, pimps, whores, policeman on the take, and corrupt politicians who elsewhere would be viewed as lowlifes and crooks were respected members of the community” (p.102). This town was shaped by Kuehnle, Nucky, and their corruption.
Although Atlantic City was going strong, The Great Depression hit in the 1930s. This economic crisis struck Atlantic City just like it had everywhere else in Atlantic City. For a city that predicated itself on tourists it would inevitably see a decline as families didn’t have the necessary means to vacation. The business such as hotels were going bankrupt. According to Johnson, “By the end of the ‘30s, Atlantic City’s per capita debt was not only for its class of 30,000 to 100,000, but was higher than that of any other city in the country” (p.104). This city suffered just as bad, if not worse, than any city out there. The appeal of the city had been lost. To make matters worse, the Prohibition had been lifted in 1933. The intrigue of traveling to Atlantic Cit for illegal alcohol was gone. Nucky’s life also got worse as he was eventually indicted for tax evasion. "He was convicted in July 1941 and sentenced to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine" (Boss nucky johnson, n.d.) Through good times and bad, Nucky's reign was over.
Although Atlantic City was going strong, The Great Depression hit in the 1930s. This economic crisis struck Atlantic City just like it had everywhere else in Atlantic City. For a city that predicated itself on tourists it would inevitably see a decline as families didn’t have the necessary means to vacation. The business such as hotels were going bankrupt. According to Johnson, “By the end of the ‘30s, Atlantic City’s per capita debt was not only for its class of 30,000 to 100,000, but was higher than that of any other city in the country” (p.104). This city suffered just as bad, if not worse, than any city out there. The appeal of the city had been lost. To make matters worse, the Prohibition had been lifted in 1933. The intrigue of traveling to Atlantic Cit for illegal alcohol was gone. Nucky’s life also got worse as he was eventually indicted for tax evasion. "He was convicted in July 1941 and sentenced to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine" (Boss nucky johnson, n.d.) Through good times and bad, Nucky's reign was over.