By Renee McNamee
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Nelson Johnson, author of “Boardwalk Empire,” will appear in Civic Hall inside the Connector Building on the Blackwood campus of Camden County College at 7 p.m. Nov. 29. He will be there to compare the fictional character Nucky Thompson from the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire” to the actual Enoch “Nucky” Johnson of Atlantic City history. A short question and answer session will follow Nelson Johnson’s talk, followed by a signing of his book, “Boardwalk Empire.”
Nelson Johnson will talk about the amazing, true story of Atlantic City history that later inspired the HBO television series.
“Through most of the 20th century, Atlantic City was controlled by a powerful partnership of local politicians and racketeers. Funded by payoffs from gambling rooms, bars and brothels, this corrupt alliance reached full bloom during the reign of Enoch “Nucky” Johnson, the second of three bosses to head the Republican machine that dominated city politics and society,” reads http://www.boardwalkempire.com, the website about the book.
It has received good reviews.
“Growing up as a child in the fifties and going to Atlantic City I ordered this book and it’s a great read from beginning to end. The book takes you from the very beginning of Atlantic City to present day of Donald Trump and his casinos,” writes Robert R. Musser on Amazon.
Nelson Johnson is a lifelong resident of Hammonton, N.J. and his family’s presence in Atlantic County predates the founding of Atlantic City, according to the “Boardwalk Empire” website. He practiced law for 30 years and was active in Atlantic City and Atlantic County politics through much of that period.
“As attorney for the Atlantic City Planning Board at the time of the approvals for many of the casinos, Johnson was inspired first to make sense of Atlantic City and later to write an objective political history. The interviews, research and writing involved in preparing ‘Boardwalk Empire’ span nearly two decades,” reads the “Boardwalk Empire” website.
The event taking place in Civic Hall is put together by Dr. John Pesda, Camden County College history professor and director of the Center for Civic Leadership and Responsibility. To contact him with questions about the “Boardwalk Empire” event or other upcoming events presented by the Center for Civic Leadership and Responsibility, you can e-mail him at JPesda@camdencc.edu.