Eastern Establishment

Cultural  

1. The elite universities and financial institutions of major cities in the northeastern United States. These institutions, by virtue of their long-standing economic and social dominance, are often believed to exert an influence out of proportion to their size. In American politics, the Eastern Establishment often takes a liberal Republican stand. (See also Ivy League, Madison Avenue, power elite, and Wall Street.)

---

Example Sentences

With the West Texas city at the center of the oil boom, young George functioned as a crucial link between the Eastern Establishment, the next Republican administration, and Midland’s oil-based new wealth.

From Salon • Dec. 9, 2018

Despite their privilege and power, in this story they were all outsiders taking on an Eastern Establishment.

From Salon • Feb. 9, 2016

During a difficult moment in of one Rockefeller’s three failed presidential bids, a frantic aide begged him to call in the support of the so-called Eastern Establishment.

From New York Times • Oct. 24, 2014

A product of night law school in Minnesota rather than the Eastern Establishment, Burger had been a judge on the prestigious U.S.

From Time Magazine Archive

Given a day or two to learn their lines, they could have substituted with much improvement in subtlety of characterization for the cereal-box astronauts and Comsymp Eastern Establishment journalists who snooze about Drury's stage.

From Time Magazine Archive