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The Passage of Power
- The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Book 4
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 32 hrs and 45 mins
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The Passage of Power
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Summary
National Book Critics Circle Award, Biography, 2013
The Passage of Power follows Lyndon Johnson through both the most frustrating and the most triumphant periods of his career - 1958 to 1964. It is a time that would see him trade the extraordinary power he had created for himself as Senate Majority Leader for what became the wretched powerlessness of a Vice President in an administration that disdained and distrusted him. Yet it was, as well, the time in which the presidency, the goal he had always pursued, would be thrust upon him in the moment it took an assassin’s bullet to reach its mark.
For the first time, we see the Kennedy assassination through Lyndon Johnson’s eyes. We watch Johnson step into the presidency, inheriting a staff fiercely loyal to his slain predecessor; a Congress determined to retain its power over the executive branch; and a nation in shock and mourning. We see how within weeks - grasping the reins of the presidency with supreme mastery - he propels through Congress essential legislation that at the time of Kennedy’s death seemed hopelessly logjammed and seizes on a dormant Kennedy program to create the revolutionary War on Poverty.
Caro makes clear how the political genius with which Johnson had ruled the Senate now enabled him to make the presidency wholly his own. This was without doubt Johnson’s finest hour, before his aspirations and accomplishments were overshadowed and eroded by the trap of Vietnam.
It is an epic story told with a depth of detail possible only through the peerless research that forms the foundation of Robert Caro’s work, confirming Nicholas von Hoffman’s verdict that “Caro has changed the art of political biography.”
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 07-09-22
Can't wait for book 5
One of the most detailed (series of) biographies/studies of power in politics I have ever read.
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- Manuel Monteiro Grillo
- 17-09-21
Robert Caro and generosity
The greatest writer, you see with Caro, is a generous one. His generosity is what enables him to depict a complex man like LBJ. He understands him better than LBJ ever understood himself, for better and worse.
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- Kirstine
- 01-03-14
Fascinating insight into a pivotal decade
This is third part of a monumental series charting the life of Lyndon Johnson. LBJ's early impoverished life, that coloured his political beliefs, is briefly alluded to and his time as Senate leader, but the vast majority of the book describes his political life from 1960 to 64 in immense detail. This was a pivotal decade for USA and the World with such events as the Bay of Pigs debacle, the Cuban Missile crisis and the assassination of President Kennedy. The corrosive mutual hatred between LBJ and Robert Kennedy pervades this masterly biography. I'm old enough to remember these events but had forgotten how well LBJ was regarded at the beginning of his presidency as his reputation was later tarnished by the horrors of Vietnam.
Though a very long listen I was gripped throughout by this pacy account of events and players in this pivotal decade in world history.
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Richard Boyle
- 21-12-21
Book 4 Passage of Power
Outstanding history, provocative clinical and yet full of humanity. Caro's words are brought to life as are Johnsons in this excellent work
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- KCCaerdydd
- 27-11-23
Fascinating account of the evolution of politics in mid-century America.
I learned a lot from this account of American politics through the lens of the career of Lyndon B Johnson. For those who have read the other volumes, there are many repetitions. However, this is acceptable, and makes the volume accessible to those who just want to dip into this episode of Johnson’s career.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Dr.A.Dyson
- 13-04-13
Tour de force
This book is a work of genuine brilliance. In addition to providing a wide narrative sweep of this page of the 20th century it also provides searching analyses of all the main characters involved. One feels that one gets to know the real character of those people who shaped the last century - Not just Johnson himself, but Robert and John Kennedy and all those in his cabinet at the time.
The prose is beautiful, the action unflagging. This is history as it should be written for the non-historian, and historian alike.
Lyndon Johnson in Robert Caro's hands, becomes one of the most fascinating people of the 20th century. I cannot wait for the next instalment.
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3 people found this helpful
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- John OHalloran
- 04-09-18
Astounding.
Thank you Mr. Caro. Thank you Grover Gardner. It's back to the start of Volume 1 for me.
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- Teeden
- 31-05-20
Detailed, Insightful and Informative
Enjoyed this very much. As well as plenty on Johnson, the Kennedys were prominent and engrossed by details of Dallas and Bobby too. Good to listen to and look forward to the next volume.
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- michael Billington
- 29-05-16
The fall and rise of LBJ
Would you listen to The Passage of Power again? Why?
Yes, this is a wonderful book and I have found more in it with repeated listening.
What did you like best about this story?
You see how Lyndon Johnson endured the worst period of his career and as a result of an assassination obtained the prize he had always wanted. You also see and learn how he rose to the challenges he faced.
Have you listened to any of Grover Gardner’s other performances? How does this one compare?
Yes and he was excellent as always in his narration of this series of books
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I found myself laughing when u hear some of the words and stories LBJ used to get other politicians to work with him.
Any additional comments?
This is the 4th volume of the years of lyndon Johnson. These are to my mind the greatest political biographies of any politician. Essential for understanding the use and abuse of power in mid 20th century America.
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2 people found this helpful
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- D
- 27-04-21
another superb edition
yet another installment of the life of LBJ. And we haven't even got to 1964 election!!
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