They called him Sunset Cox. Why? Because of a sunset. A truly magnificent sunset. He described it so vividly in the Columbus Statesman a newspaper he owned and edited. His words painted a picture so breathtaking people never forgot it. The name stuck. Samuel Sullivan Cox. This statue right here commemorates him.
Samuel Sullivan Cox wasn’t just any man. He was a Congressman. He represented Ohio then New York. He even served as US Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. A remarkable life. This bronze figure captures a moment of his powerful oratory.
He wasn’t always popular. During the Civil War he opposed the Thirteenth Amendment. He feared the end of slavery would lead to massive black migration to the North. He voiced concerns about competition for jobs. His views were controversial then and remain so today.
But Cox was more than just his stance on slavery. He championed postal workers. He fought for paid benefits and a forty hour workweek. Postal workers loved him. They called him their friend. After his death in 1889 they raised ten thousand dollars for this very statue. That’s remarkable.
Initially it stood in Astor Place. It was later moved here to Tompkins Square Park. It’s quite a journey for a statue. Some criticized the statue as a poor likeness. Others found it stiff and unartistic. Even today some might say it isn’t beautiful. But to the postal workers who erected it it’s a monument to a man who fought for them.
Cox was a writer too. He published several books. His memoirs Eight Years in Congress are especially interesting. He chronicled his time in the political arena with humor and wit. He was known for his quick wit and his short pointed speeches. Perhaps those qualities prevented him from becoming Speaker of the House.
Look at the statue. He seems ready to hail a cab. Locals even call it the Taxi. Sunset Cox. A complicated figure. A controversial legacy. But undeniably a man who left his mark on the United States. He is still remembered here. In this park. In this statue. In this story.