How Members of Congress Are Bribed

In this revealing work, listeners are taken into the shadowy world of 19th‑century American politics, where a single powerful lobbyist pulls the strings of Congress and the railroads. Through the lens of Collis P. Huntington’s own correspondence, the author sketches a portrait of a man who saw the halls of Washington as a marketplace for influence, using promises, threats, and money to shape legislation. The narrative draws on a selection of the infamous Huntington‑Colton letters, showing how private deals were discussed openly among business magnates and politicians.

The book also offers a contemporary perspective, explaining why these documents mattered then and why they still resonate today. Listeners will hear a careful analysis of the tactics—bribery, committee fixing, and the manipulation of public officials—that defined an era of unchecked corporate power. By exposing the methods and motives of this early lobbyist, the work invites reflection on the enduring challenges of corruption in democratic governance.