Teddy below could be speaking of modern-day Washington politics (esp. since there are some there who would like to see the political clock turned back to before Roosevelt's Progressive Era).
"Political parties exist to secure responsible government and to execute the will of the people. From these great tasks both of the old parties have turned aside. Instead of instruments to promote the general welfare they have become the tools of corrupt interests, which use them impartially to serve their selfish purposes. Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government, to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics, is the first task of the statesmanship of the day."
(The linked source includes a sound recording of TR giving this statement; he use newfangled records to distribute his speeches beyond his barnstorming path.) #ddtb
Embedded Link