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During Prohibition, members of Congress were able to obtain alcohol thanks to a distributor named George Cassiday. He made daily deliveries and was even given his own warehouse. Cassiday estimated that he supplied alcohol to about four out of five congressmen. Black market alcohol was blamed for the deaths of approximately 3,000 Americans each year during Prohibition. Speakeasies were underground booze establishments that required a password to enter.
It’s good to be king, but if you were a member of the United States Congress during Prohibition, you might have felt like a king too. Although a constitutional amendment banned alcohol nationwide from 1920 to 1933, Capitol Hill wasn’t hit so hard. Thanks to a distributor of alcohol named George Cassiday, nicknamed “the man in the green hat”, members of Congress did not have to stay dry if they didn’t want to. The delivery service began as a favor to two representatives who wanted some private action, despite publicly voting for Prohibition. Demand followed quickly, and soon Cassiday was making dozens of daily deliveries, unrestricted by the Capitol Police. In fact, Cassiday was so warmly received that he was given his own warehouse for his bootlegged liquor. Sure, Cassiday has been arrested twice, but that hasn’t stopped him from supplying alcohol to what he estimates is about four out of five congressmen. Cassiday allegedly kept a record of his clients, but his wife covered up his tracks by burning records after his death in 1967.
A Dry Period in America:
While you couldn’t make or buy alcohol during Prohibition, if you already had it on hand – or if a doctor prescribed it – you were free to drink as much as you liked.
Black market alcohol was blamed for the deaths of approximately 3,000 Americans each year during Prohibition.
Speakeasies were underground booze establishments that proliferated during Prohibition. They got their name from the requirement to whisper a password in order to enter.
