ePub The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson; Vol. IV by Robert A. Caro in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Excellent!!By Lisa NelExtremely well researched and even more extremely unbiased. Mr Caro goes into great detail to outline Johnson's apotheosis from tyrant senate majority leader to the humiliation of his almost forced acceptance of vice presidential candidate and ultimately to the position which he coveted for his whole life. The presidency. What he didn't anticipate as no one could; his ascension to power would be under the most attenuated circumstances as any Vice President in history. The ways in which Johnson manipulated the Kennedy administration after JFK's assassination; not so much as to secure for the historical record his personal ascent to power; as to suggest his determination to send a clear global message that American democracy has the strength to withstand the most extraordinary and unpredictable occurrences.4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. LBJ's Political Zenith?By Andrew Desmond“The Passage of Power”; the fourth volume of five of Robert Caro’s biography of Lyndon Baines Johnson; is simply marvellous. It is a joy to read and places the reader in the position of looking forward to the final and concluding volume of this towering figure in modern American history.This fourth volume covers a very narrow period of time from the late 1950s until late 1964. However; in this period; much happened. LBJ went from being a leader of the senate to the Vice President under JFK. Arguably; in this role; he was far from happy. Whereas he formerly wielded considerable power; now he was confined to a minor role. US Vice Presidents; despite being a heartbeat from the Presidency; are often given only ceremonial tasks. This was the case with LBJ.Of course; when that heartbeat stopped with the assassination of JFK on that fateful day in Dallas; Johnson was thrust into a new role that he could never have really expected. He faced a critical task of binding the nation’s wounds whilst stepping into the shoes of a martyr. Johnson performed this task better than almost anyone could have imagined. It was undoubtedly Johnson’s shining career moment; the very zenith of his life. Johnson morphed from an often grubby politician into a statesman. He negotiated his budget through Congress and then nursed civil rights legislation into place. He undid decades of Jim Crow racism in the United States. He changed the country massively.To any student of American history; this book is a masterpiece. Robert Caro has produced a work for the ages. I am eager to read his final volume. I trust this will come soon.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Becoming Lyndon JohnsonBy Michael GriswoldWhile some people believe that the fourth volume The Passage of Power covers the Presidency of Lyndon Johnson; it actually covers roughly 1958-63 with the majority of time spent on the 1960 election and its aftermath; his time as Kennedy’s Vice President; and the transition following his assassination. I would argue that the most pointed part of this book is the viscous feud between LBJ and Bobby Kennedy.Much to many readers relief; this book is about 400 pages shorter than Master of the Senate and does not lose any of Caro’s detail. Because this is part of a series; if one has read the first three books; they will experience some overlap. Caro probably does this to ensure that one does not necessarily have to read the first three volumes. Although I wasn’t particularly bothered by this; it was a little jarring; but this could be because I read the previous three one after another.Eagerly awaiting Volume Five.