Prohibition in Washington, D.C.: How Dry We Weren't

by Garrett Peck

In 1929, it was estimated that every week bootleggers brought twenty-two thousand gallons of whiskey, moonshine and other spirits into Washington, D.C.'s three thousand speakeasies. H.L. Mencken called it the thirteen awful years, "? though it was sixteen for the District. Nevertheless, the bathtub gin, swilling capital dwellers made the most of Prohibition. Author Garrett Peck crafts a rollicking history brimming with stories of vice, topped off with vintage cocktail recipes and garnished with a walking tour of former speakeasies. Join Peck as he explores an underground city ruled not by organized crime but by amateur bootleggers, where publicly teetotaling congressmen could get a stiff drink behind House office doors and the African American community of U Street was humming with a new sound called jazz."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prohibition in Washington D.C.: How Dry We Weren’t is all about “the noble experiment” in the district. It was President Herbert Hoover who gets the credit for that quotation although it irritated him because the common phrase is not quite what he said—close enough though.

This book points out that yes, it was an experiment, and some of its proponents thought it was noble but in general it advanced lawlessness on the part of organized crime and worse yet made a large portion of the ordinary population breakers of the law. Many thought it was just plain cynical, not noble at all. Prohibition (of alcohol sales) came earlier to Washington D.C. (Nov. 1, 1917) than to the country as a whole. It also ended later, so the beleaguered district spent 16 years and 4 months dry. Peck says not really dry, not even close to. Just because Washington D.C. is the center of federal law and was occupied by politicians from 48 states and also the center of diplomacy, federal courts and national bureaucracy of all sorts doesn’t mean the law and local citizens were performing to a higher standard.

Garrett Peck has all sorts of wonderful anecdotes pointing out speakeasys of all types, embassies (the best parties were found in the embassies because of diplomatic immunity they could get legitimately made alcohol), presidents dry, nominally dry and thoroughly wet, and even a bootlegger who openly operated from the House and Senate Office buildings for approximately 10 years.

Ultimately D.C. was really not a lot different than the rest of the country. The citizens wanted their alcoholic drinks and disliked criminalizing what they viewed as personal choice. Organized crime never developed there in the way it did in New York City, Chicago and other cities. It also didn’t greatly change drinking habits other than to weaken the beer industry.

The author leads a very entertaining tour and a history of the place and times. I enjoyed the book greatly.

[Tom Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was loaned to me by a friend who knew I would be familiar with many of the Washington D.C. sites described in this book. Although it is explained how Prohibition got passed, it is still quite surprising given the immediate and continual ignoring of the law until it was repealed. Some anecdotes are more interesting than others, but it is an easy read and provides a concise summary of how it happened and what we can learn about human nature.

[Brooke Beard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guys the prohibition is literally so interesting

[Kelly Macfarland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read about local history. DC is one of those interesting places where, while it is the center of national policy, it also has a local culture and laws. It's interesting that prohibition both started and ended beyond the national prohibition constraints. If you've spent any time in DC, highly recommend this time capsule in local history.

[Angela Perry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting interesting stories that were unique but the stories were the same as everywhere else during prohibition. If you have read anything about prohibition you have read this book already, people like alcohol, people found a way to get alcohol. I only finished it because I am too stubborn to not read a book the entire way through once I start.

[Jack McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solidly interesting book

If you have lived in DC and is fond of the drink, this book will be a perfect read. It's short but doesn't quite feel like anything is really left out.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

An uneven, mostly disappointing effort. I did appreciate the sections about how the black community was affected by Prohibition and the narrative about the bootlegger who was in cahoots with so many politicians. But the author is often repetitious and wanders off topic. He could have benefited from a good editor.

[Kevin Kosar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Garrett Peck has produced a trim volume—158 pages and perhaps 40,000 words—that makes a splendid introduction to the subject of Prohibition and its implementation in Washington...(read more

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. Content is really fascinating if you're interested in the (de)evolution of drinking culture during prohibition.

[Tamlynem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think of this as tangential and supplemental to Ken Burns' recent documentary "Prohibition".

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting local and national history. I think DC acquitted itself quite well during the noble experiment.