Tammany Hall was a political machine that provided the backbone of the Democratic party in New York City. It had existed since May 12, 1789—a few days after George Washington's inauguration. When Boss Tweed took hold of Tammany in 1863, the 6 feet tall, 300 pound leader wielded his power over party nominations and polling places. His crowning achievement, the fraud-infested construction of the New York County Courthouse, still stands today.