In Robert Caro’s office on the Upper West Side, the year appears to be 1965.
“Lyndon Johnson is creating Medicare right now,” Caro mentioned in a recent interview, pointing out that it was July 1965. Despite living and working in the year 2024, conversing with Caro about Lyndon Johnson and Robert Moses feels like a journey into a time machine.
This month commemorates the 50th anniversary of Caro’s first book, “The Power Broker,” which chronicled how urban planner Robert Moses reshaped New York City and state through his extensive infrastructure projects, often at the expense of communities and individuals.
“The Power Broker” also began to elaborate on the mechanics of political power in the United States, a subject that Caro continues to explore through his meticulous research, writing, and discussions.
Caro’s office presents a sense of timelessness. Quiet and sparse, the 88-year-old often works there alone, accompanied by a metallic blue Smith Corona Electra 210 typewriter and wooden boxes filled with typewritten draft pages marked with extensive edits and notes. A large bulletin board covers the wall behind him, displaying the outline of his final Johnson book, the fifth volume in what was initially intended as a three-volume series. This volume will address significant topics such as Vietnam, the creation of Medicare, and the transformative events of 1968.
Caro’s research on this book keeps him immersed in the world of 1965. Notably, he has recently embraced modern technology, using a laptop to receive digital versions of Vietnam-era documents from the Johnson Library. Despite this, Caro admits feeling uneasy about this concession to modernity.
Caro’s ability to transport listeners back in time is not confined to his office but also extends to his conversations. He recalls vivid details from his decades of research and interviews, such as those from the late 1960s and early 1970s, or even the 1930s. Recounting these stories, Caro reflects on the significance of seemingly mundane legislative details that granted Moses extraordinary power in New York State.
Caro’s persistence in exploring the depths of political power and its implications began with “The Power Broker.” He remembers the financial struggles he and his wife faced during its writing, underscoring his commitment to understanding and explaining how power operates.
While narrating an anecdote about uncovering a key document that elucidated Moses’s strategic legislative maneuvers, Caro demonstrates his dedication to accuracy by referring to the original text in “The Power Broker.” The document from New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia’s archives highlighted a critical exchange between La Guardia and Moses that revealed Moses’s shrewd consolidation of power.
This discovery was pivotal for Caro, enabling him to confidently explain Moses’s rise to power and its enduring impact. This moment underscored one of the most critical passages in his book, emphasizing how Moses’s legislative maneuvers secured him unassailable authority.
“The Power Broker” and Caro’s subsequent works on Lyndon Johnson have cemented his status as a preeminent American biographer. Valerie Paley from the New York Historical Society likened Caro to a rock star, highlighting his influence and the public’s admiration for his thoroughness.
The New York Historical Society houses Caro’s complete archives, available for future historians, and recently opened an exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of “The Power Broker.” The exhibit includes significant artifacts, such as Caro’s correspondence with Moses and research notes, providing insights into Caro’s meticulous process.
Caro’s dedication to experiencing the environments he writes about is well-known. For instance, he moved to the Hill Country of Texas to understand Lyndon Johnson’s upbringing better. This method emerged during his work on “The Power Broker,” when an oral history from Frances Perkins inspired him to immerse himself in Moses’s vision for Manhattan’s West Side.
Caro spent considerable time observing the area to grasp Moses’s urban vision, ultimately appreciating the unique genius involved in city planning.
Throughout his career, Caro has balanced documenting both the positive and negative aspects of his subjects, avoiding clear-cut judgments. This nuanced approach distinguishes his work in an era where polarized opinions often dominate.
As Caro delves back into his research, he reflects on Lyndon Johnson’s simultaneous creation of Medicare and escalation of the Vietnam War in July 1965, showcasing Johnson’s complex political genius and duplicity.
Caro acknowledges the challenges of his in-depth research process, emphasizing its importance for informed democratic participation. His commitment to understanding political power drives his ongoing work on the final volume of his Johnson series.
Despite the length and complexity of his books, Caro believes that a thorough understanding of political power enhances democracy. This belief fuels his meticulous research and writing, ensuring accuracy and depth.
Even as Caro continues to work on his extensive drafts and edits, his passion for uncovering the intricacies of political power remains unwavering, underscoring his dedication to the craft of historical biography.
