The Role of Two Prohibition Agents: Isador Einstein and Moe Smith - Thesis Proposal Example

The Role of Two Prohibition Agents: Isador Einstein and Moe Smith The research paper is going to include a comprehensive overview of the Prohibition act in the United States which was brought into effect in January, 1920, and a detailed insight into the unique tactics and strategies used by the two popular prohibition agents of that era- Isador Einstein (Izzy) and Moe Smith- who arrested many gangsters, bootleggers and speakeasies found breaking the law. The beginning of the twentieth century was a period when the country was going through a drastic economic growth which on one hand had many advantages for the financial infrastructure but on the other, gave birth to many illegal issues regarding alcohol consumption because people were having fun during the economic change (Rebman, 1999).

Thus, there was need to ban businesses that sold alcohol so that its consumption may be controlled on governmental level. But, it was ended in 1933 due to public’s annoyance. Izzy was born in 1880 (Newton, 2007, p.113) and moved to USA in the early twentieth century. The 1910 census shows that he was a trader in Pennsylvania, and 1920 census shows that he was a mail sorter in NYC. Moe was born in NYC and the 1920 census shows that he was a U.S. Marshall. When Izzy initially applied to become a prohibition agent when the Prohibition Act was brought into effect, he was ridiculed because officials said that he had no instincts to become a prohibition agent.

But when he made his first arrest and closed the “52nd Street speakeasy” (Newton, 2007), they started taking him seriously. He then proposed his friend, Moe, to become a prohibition agent. Izzy was well-known for disguising himself and speaking a number of different languages with the help of which he deceived his targets. With the help of Moe, he was able to make thousands of arrests with a high conviction rate (Jenis, 2007). However, both of them, after successful raids, would sit down and celebrate their achievement by drinking which is more of a diplomatic behavior.

Izzy and Moe both left the Prohibition Bureau in 1925 and the reasons are unknown. Their characters have been revived in a TV movie, Izzy and Moe, in 1985, after their deaths in 1938 (Izzy) and 1961 (Moe). The research paper will specifically discuss the interesting and outlandish techniques and disguises that the two agents used to deceive their victims, and how they were able to make successful arrests. The paper examines the Prohibition Act and its effect on the common people, and looks into how many people know about Izzy and Moe and their comic yet successful career.

I plan to visit different law enforcement agencies to locate answers to my research questions. I plan to conduct structured personal interviews with the lawmakers or their assistants. I will also distribute questionnaires among the participants who include common men, lawyers and literary personalities. The whole research will take around one month.ReferencesJenis, A. (2007). Izzy and Moe. Grand Lodge. Retrieved 12 February, 2011, from http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/izzy_moe/izzy_moe.

htmlNewton, M. (2007). The Encyclopedia of American Law Enforcement. NY: Infobase Publishing.Rebman, R.C. (1999). Prohibition. USA: Lucent Books.