Boss Tom Pendergast long ago earned a place on any list of the most influential people in Kansas City history.
His legacy, though, is rather mixed.
In response to a question from a Flatland reader, local historian Terence O’Malley adresses whether such a thing as a “Pendergast mafia” ever existed.
In O’Malley’s view, the answer to that narrow question is clear. The broader view of Pendergast’s influence on Kansas City is more nuanced. See his full explanation on this edition of curiousKC.
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