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History of the Treasury
Secretaries of the Treasury
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Benjamin H. Bristow
(1874 - 1876)
Benjamin H. Bristow (1832-1896) served as the first Solicitor
General (1870-1872) and was appointed Secretary of the Treasury by President
Grant in 1874. He promptly initiated a much needed internal reorganization
of the Department, dismissing the Second-Comptroller
for inefficiency, shaking up the detective force, and consolidating collection
districts in the Customs and Internal Revenue services.
Bristow argued vigorously but unsuccessfully for
the resumption of specie payments: "The history of irredeemable paper
currency repeats itself whenever and wherever it is used. It increases
prices, deludes the laborer with the idea that he is getting higher wages,
and brings fictitious prosperity ... until it is discovered that trade
and commerce have become fatally diseased." Bristow's greatest accomplishment
was the breaking up in 1874 of the Whiskey Ring, a powerful group of moonshiners
who evaded the internal revenue tax on whiskey. Bristow's investigation
implicated many local and Treasury officials, including some close to
Grant. The ring, fighting back, convinced Grant that Bristow was using
his office to scheme for the Republican nomination. Fearing competition,
Grant pressured Bristow to resign in 1876.
About the Artist
Virginia born Richard Norris Brooke studied painting
in Philadelphia and Paris before settling permanently in Washington, D.C.
An active member of the capital's art community, Brooke served as Vice-President
of the Washington Art Club and president of the Society of Washington
Artists. He was a founder of the Art Students League of Washington. In
addition, he taught classes at and was Vice-Principal of the Corcoran
School of Art. Involved in the official art business of Washington, Brooke
was commissioned to paint portraits for the Treasury Department and the
U.S. Capitol. Although Benjamin Bristow was still alive when Brooke painted
this portrait in the early 1890s, it does not appear to have been done
from life but is probably based on available documentation such as engravings
or earlier paintings.
Office of the Curator
All rights reserved. 2001
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