Montana Medicine Show: William Andrews Clark Part 2

Welcome to the Montana Medicine Show. I'm Derrick strong. Political reformer Robert lawful called copper king William Andrews Clark one of the hundred men who own America. Clark was obsessed with more than tremendous wealth he craved a seat in the U.S. Senate according to historian Mike Malone to soothe his vanity and demonstrate to all the world that he was more than an upstart an unlettered mining neighbor. Before 1913 state legislators elected U.S. senators Clarke shelled out four hundred sixty one thousand dollars in bribe money to buy votes. As his son Charlie said will either send the old man to the Senate or to the poorhouse. Helen his representatives voted to send Clark to Washington. The Nation magazine called it the most intricate case of corrupt politics ever known. The St. Paul dispatch featured a cartoon with a sheaf of thousand dollar bills in the caption. The kind of bill most often introduced in the legislature of Montana. Mark Twain vilified Clark. His

history is known to everybody. He is as rotten a human being as can be found anywhere under the flag. He is a shame to the American nation. Clarke served one undistinguished term in the US Senate between one thousand one and one thousand 07 and narrowly avoided corruption charges. He did not seek re-election. Summing up Clark's infamous career Malone said his insatiable political ambitions would bring down upon him a lasting and well-deserved disgrace. From Kay GLT studios. I'm Derrick strong. Montana medicine show is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. A private corporation funded by the American people.