In Defense of Corruption

This from Vincent Cannato's The Ungovernable City: John Lindsay and His Struggle to Save New York:

Wagner made a point to have union officials over to Gracie Mansion for drinks, invite them and their wives to formal diners and parties, and do favors for their families. This way, when it came time for negotiations, the mayor and the union leaders spoke as friends rather than antagonists. Depending on one's point of view, Wagner used the relationship to convince union leaders to take less money or the union leaders used their coziness with the mayor to win fat settlements.

If only John Lindsay had been so "corrupt."