From LBJ to Robert Moses: Robert Caro on Writing About Political Power & Its Impact on the Powerless

[@somelucifrostguy9208]

I'm from Florida, and I'm gen z, so I picked up The Power Broker partially for its size and also its premise. I'm nearly done with it, on the last four chapters, and I certainly felt the rage he felt. I cried reading about East Tremont and the other neighborhoods Moses destroyed. Caro really gets it. --Love from a Mexican-American

[@ChristiaanHartNibbrig]

Robert A. Caro, the greatest journalist/non-fiction writer of all-time. Thank you for interviewing this immensely talented man.

[@vernpascal1531]

Well it should gall him that Roger Stone and I can't stand him, has the true story of The JFK Assassination. Makes Caro look like an idiot ,supporting the endless pack of lies known as The Warren Commission.

[@scotgat]

I consider myself a very well read person: I have read Karl Marx's Das Kapital, Edward Gibbons, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's The Phenomenology of Spirit; yet, I have never even heard of Robert Caro and the titles of his books. It just goes to show you, you're never too old to learn something new (I'm pushing 60). A cliche, true; but oh so true.

[@SevenFootPelican]

Read Master of the Senate. Or better yet listen to the unabridged audiobook. You’ll understand what makes this man so magical.

[@Madasin_Paine]

Power of distraction and pr increasingly flooding attention and concept. Censorship of history is nearly on lock down virtually and these few exceptions are in a black hole for memories and BETTER sense and civility.

[@tomhefner6344]

Thanks for all that you do Amy, 20 years of following your work has made me a better and active citizen. In these days of need you are a foundation like no other.

[@chioma3100]

You are truly, extremely lucky. I've just come to RT and Amy Goodman within the last 4 months and I am now a paid monthly micro-dollar subscriber. I watch daily.

[@tomhefner6344]

@@chioma3100 Here is another of equal value Thom Hartman every good knowledge and information. but beware of RT You are aware that its Russian TV. I'am not sure where but they must be up to know good somewhere.

[@chioma3100]

@@tomhefner6344 Through all sources we find the truth through critical thought. I'm very much aware that it is Russian TV. I'm also aware that MSM speaks for corporate, 1%ers. I'm hyper aware of propaganda and love how Amy Goodman, et al. report the news objectively and more completely than American news.

[@tomhefner6344]

@@chioma3100 Besure to look into Thom Hartman. MSNBC yeah they have mostly refugee republicans that are all middle of the road centralists that are molding format not in favor of the democratic ideas. Manipulating against everything that is left of center. Sanders doesn't even register in discussions. Haven't watched CNN since 2003 when they rolled over on two illegal wars. Needless to point out they are all owned by the evil doers, corporate billionaires

[@andymcgill29]

I have read basically all of Caro’s work from The Power Broker to the 4th LBJ biography. He is the most careful researcher and incisive writer I have ever encountered. Can’t wait for the final installment!

[@Madasin_Paine]

So who is in charge, how do they dool and misrule perpetually amd what ate theur5 primary goals of total it arian global gentrification and deracination and elimination of history or free access to it or archives?

[@SevenFootPelican]

Master of the Senate is the best book I’ve ever read.

[@nickbarcheck1019]

The Power Broker and Master of the Senate are the two best nonfiction books I've ever read. Mr. Caro is a master.

[@kalishakta]

Caro is a 1st rate prose stylist. His books are both a joy to read and a data treasure house.

[@phyllishamilton165]

Excellent interview, Amy. Caro is the most significant biographer in American history. No contest.

[@cozycomfy589]

Thank you so much for this interview, so enjoyed Robert Caro and now interested in his book The Power broker, since I'm originally from the Bronx and Robert Moses destroyed my neighborhood.

[@beachmom2001]

It's a must read. I hope you get a chance to read it!

[@CranesNotSkyHooks]

I'm reading The Power Broker because of this interview, thanks Amy and Juan!

[@joniheisenberg6691]

Mr.Caro is a class act. Looking forward to the final volume in the LBJ series.

[@yomamaluvsu1]

This is a great interview.

[@KLara-ig7fr]

Fascinating. Incredible. TY Caro for this incredible interview and amazing work.

[@alwaysincentivestrumpethic6689]

Great interview !!! A great historian Robert Caro

[@kendalson7817]

Johnson was a complicated man. A mixture of good and bad and all things. An American. The Vietnam War was inexcusable, but The Civil Rights Act and the The War On Poverty were rare cases of Washington doing the right thing for all.

[@65minimom]

Ken Dalson - I remember VietNam began under IKE. tho this is the reason Johnson didn't run again, he was emotionally tortured by this war, died at 63. LBJ was a decent man & a great leader. Do'n't forget LBJ got Medicare passed & Right to Vote Act. If he had run again, we would have had single payer. Don''t think these were easy times. Integration may have been passed but it was not a smooth process esp in the South, lynchings still happened, boycotting schools & neighborhoods & other awful things but nothing like horrific violence & senseless killings today Rare cases when DC did the right thing??? Yes, I'm sure there was corruption & there were wars but don't look back with today's eyes. There was no Citizens United, taxes were high on the rich. Monopolies were regulated as were the banks. Press was free not corporate owned. The economy was strong & college was almost free but getting in was the hard part. The biggest difference was the people back then, everyone voted! We had the draft & peace protests. We read books & newspapers. It was not materialistic like now. Until Reagan, Nixon was the biggest bastard & scandal I can remember in recent history. Trump could never have gotten elected but neither could Obama. So? Evolution is a bumpy road. I''m 74 same generation as Bernie who is a truth-teller not a dreamer! He is the same FDR Democrat as Johnson. .

[@kendalson7817]

@@65minimom Johnson definitely inherited Vietnam from both Ike and Kennedy, but he really ramped up our involvement. You're right, I'd forgotten about Medicare! It's not my place to judge, but as a President I think he had, on the whole, more positives than negatives. :-)

[@patrickmcshane7658]

His good doesn't absolve him.

[@heeeresjohnny7503]

Nope. LBJ was a simple man. He would do anything, as long as he got his cut...

[@kendalson7817]

@@patrickmcshane7658 yeah it does. I've yet to meet anyone who is perfect.

[@MagisterHenrik]

Wonderful reporting! Thanks a lot!

[@philchoy1283]

AMY LOOKING GOOD.

[@fiomcc8298]

Extraordinario

[@robbrown8483]

How can you write a book on LBJ on not mention Billy Sol Estes? Robert Caro did.

[@Cyallaire]

I would press LIKE multiple times if I could. Robert Caro applies a lot of white wash to LBJ's memory.

[@jonahperelman]

Maybe because Estes was a complete liar and fraud, none of whose allegations were ever proven. www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/us/billie-sol-estes-texas-con-man-dies-at-88.html

[@fredschnerbert1238]

@@jonahperelman Bernie Sanders on the street in front of the New York Times " You won't find the TRUTH in the NY Times...."

[@WeltschmerzvonGavagai]

what dark sorcery these ppl practice to be so smart&articulate when they are 80s or even 90s?

[@scj3188]

your ageism just jumped out.

[@bernardheathaway9146]

Dr Martin Luther King, speaking on the phone with President Johnson, looks like he can't believe how well it goes lol xD

[@stevenwilliambaylessparks3730]

LBJ was an American Tragedy: his heart was in the right place, but the Military-Industrial Complex brought him down, and the rest of the country with him.

[@heeeresjohnny7503]

Yeah, but he got rich off of them. By some estimates, he retired with around $25 mill, in 60's dollars.... Not bad for someone who started off as a "broke" school teacher...

[@jonahperelman]

Well... can't rape the willing, as they say.

[@Bingbang.1]

no part one part two title??

[@DynamicAllstarDuo]

East Tremont ah ah ah

[@jonahperelman]

The ignorance in the comments section sure provides one heck of a counterbalance to the erudition and deep knowledge in the video.

[@spooky_zen]

very gud:)

[@patrickmcshane7658]

Vietnam was the biggest folly post ww2.

[@nandi123]

If you asked black people today what they owe LBJ they would say "nothing".

[@sigridwalsh426]

A

[@pismo10]

DemocracyNow! Thats funny when she stands for the exact opposite.

[@stevensica89]

How so? Can you explain that?

[@ProgressiveVegan]

Excellent interview. A lot of new info for me, and great perspective. Thanks. However, it ignored LBJ's role in the JFK assassination, which is well documented.

[@jonahperelman]

Really? Can you provide any legitimate sources for this well-documented fact?

[@ProgressiveVegan]

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[@ProgressiveVegan]

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[@ProgressiveVegan]

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[@ProgressiveVegan]

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[@justmiming]

I was such a fan of Robert Caro until this morning. I grew up in The Bronx and enjoyed Jones Beach. Caro's The Power Broker is a masterpiece which changed how I looked at my surroundings. During the ensuing decades I have encountered other material about Johnson. I have researched the JFK assassination. Watching this interview and then doing some research , I realized that Caro's work on Johnson is basically hagiography.

[@jonahperelman]

I see you haven't read it yet.

[@Prof_Tickles92]

I implore you to check out Vincent Bugliosi’s book Reclaiming History. He definitively debunks the notion of a conspiracy once and for all.

[@dragonfly1929]

YOU SHOULD READ THE BOOK OF DOUGLAS VALENTINE 'THE CIA.A CRIMINAL ORGANISATION',BOOL 1/2/AND WHO RUNES THE GOVERNMENT.

[@marcellustone]

Everybody is out with a new book. This is america, you can ride books on violations against a lot of amoral stuff, if you lucky u get rich, get famous and win a lot of prices. Although the author reveals strong evidence of malfeasance or else. But nothing changes. And me getting more n mor suicidal over this uncontrolling injustice that these people are talking about. So good luck Mr. with your book. No personal disrespect

[@65minimom]

Charles Bronsen - yes, I wish him luck on his 3rd Pulitzer too! How many do you have?

[@marcellustone]

@@65minimom you didn't understand my sarcasm. Writing a book at this level is awesome and beatiful. If I had somebody like him in the family it would be beautiful. Just read my first comment again

[@p8entlyobvious383]

Caro trys to turn lbj into a demigod . Caro would have us believe that there would be no electricity in lbjs hometown to this day if it were not for his grand policies .the fact is it would of been done with or without johnson in similar time .

[@p8entlyobvious383]

Johnson stole jfks whole agenda .johnson wanted kennedy dead .

[@Prof_Tickles92]

p8ently obvious Why? Johnson had more power in the senate. He was Mr. Senate in fact, the moment he becomes president the senate stops being prosperous.

[@dragonfly1929]

@@p8entlyobvious383HE WAS PART OF THE PLAN IN THE MURDER OF KENNEDY. HE WAS IN HOT WATERS,TO BE CONDEMNED FOR A BIG CRIME,AND BECOMING THE PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE SAVED HIM..AN IT DID.

[@jimpikoulis6726]

Democracy Later!

[@kentabruxis]

LBJ was considered the Hillary Clinton of his time

[@65minimom]

飛シャークWolffgang write your own book

[@nicenonya3]

LBJ passed the civil rights bill because he needed to make amends for killing JFK

[@josephmurphy9723]

Your tin foil hat is too tight. Calm down.