The Man in the Green Hat - the Saga of a Congressional Bootlegger

During this very week in 1930, the Washington Post began running stories about George Cassiday, a bootlegger who was selling alcohol to lawmakers from rooms in the House and the Senate office buildings.

According to the U.S. House Office of the Clerk, Cassiday operated his operation from 1920 until 1930 – most of the span of prohibition.

(I am cross-posting this from a blog I wrote for work last year.)

The article says: “From a New York supplier, Cassiday routinely transported 35 to 40 quarts in two large suit cases by train. A Member, he claimed, secured basement office space for him that suited his illicit trade.”

After five years of investigating – one must wonder how hard they were trying in their investigation - the Capitol Police discovered Cassiday’s operation and arrested him. At the time of his arrest, Cassiday was wearing a green felt hat and that hat became his distinguishing characteristic as he made headlines.

The Washington Post reported that Cassiday said, “You find a more general spirit of good fellowship and conviviality in the House.”

Indeed.

You can read the article, “The infamous House bootlegger known as the ‘Man in the Green Hat‘” at the Office of the Clerk website.

Here is a fun video about George Cassiday and his exploits on the WETA TV website.

Photos courtesy of the Office of the Clerk Website and the Library of Congress.